Renault could introduce a new hybrid and EV variant of the Duster alongside the standard Petrol variant soon
The mid-size SUV from Renault started the trend of compact SUVs in the country, and now after almost ten years of its existence, the French Automaker has finally decided to pull the plug.
The French Automaker has stopped the production of its popular compact SUV at its Sriperumbudur plant and even delisted the SUV from its official Indian website.
Renault Duster: A Brief History
The Duster was the first SUV in India that underpinned a monocoque chassis
- The Renault Duster debuted in July 2012 with the 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine. The Duster was the first SUV in India that underpinned a monocoque chassis, and it also laid the path for other compact and midsize SUVs.
- Renault sold close to 40,000 units of the Duster within a year of its launch, and it crossed the one lakh milestone in just two years in 2014. Needless to say that the Duster was the most successful product from the automaker.
But the new generation Duster might retain some of its design highlights from the previous generation models
- To celebrate its success, Renault even introduced multiple special edition models, while the All-wheel-drive variant of the SUV was introduced in 2014 to attract the attention of offroad enthusiasts.
- Initially, the Duster was available with a 5-speed gearbox and CVT transmission. Renault introduced an AMT gearbox with the Duster facelift.
- To compete with the stringent emission norms, Renault replaced the 1.5 Litre K9K diesel unit with the smaller 1.3 Litre turbo-petrol unit, which was available with a six-speed gearbox. The French automaker re-introduced the CVT gearbox with it.
So is this the end of the Road for this SUV?
After its successful 10 years stint in the Indian market
No, The Renault Duster will make a comeback in a new avatar!
According to Autocar, Renault has plans to introduce a new model with the same nameplate soon.
The significant change that you can expect in the upcoming SUV is that it will sit on a new platform. The new generation Duster will underpin the CMF-B Platform while stepping away from the B-Zero platform.
The B-Zero Platform was developed by the Renault-Nissan alliance for their compact and sub-compact cars. The platform underpinned some other popular Renault cars like the Logan and Verito.
While the new CMF-B LS (Lower spec) platform already underpins some higher-end cars like the Renault Captur and the Clio and is aimed to reduce manufacturing costs.
Will the Upcoming Duster Get A New Styling?
Besides launching the petrol variant Renault might also introduce an EV and a hybrid variant of the Duster as well
the upcoming Duster will take its styling inspiration from the previous generation model
There is a high chance that the upcoming Duster will take its styling inspiration from the previous generation model. So don’t be surprised if you spot the flared wheel arches, squared-off fenders, and headlight integrated into the grille of the upcoming SUV.
If you are still curious about how the new Duster will look? You can read about it here.
Is there a possibility of an electric variant?
There is a high chance that they might introduce the new SUV soon
Duster EV and the hybrid variant will sit on Renault’s CMF-BEV platform
There is a high possibility that Renault might provide the new generation Duster with hybrid and EV powertrains besides the petrol variant.
The Duster EV and the hybrid variant will sit on Renault’s CMF-BEV platform. Since this platform is identical to the CMF-B platform, Renault will not have to make too many changes to the bodywork and the chassis of the upcoming Duster EV (which will be financially beneficial for the company).
But, there is one considerable drawback to this platform. The CMF-BEV platform is not designed to accommodate a second electric motor at the rear. So expect the new Duster EV to come with a single electric motor at the front. So the possibility of a Duster EV all-wheel-drive variant is faint.
Expected Launch Timeline
Renault India has recently discontinued the Duster SUV
Renault will bring the new generation Duster to India. Unfortunately, there is no specific timeline yet.
But one thing is for sure since the demand for EV vehicles is on the rise, the EV and the Hybrid Duster certainly make sense now alongside the petrol variant.
Source: Autocar India, Autocar
Keyword: The Renault Duster Has Run Its Course: The Popular SUV Has Been Taken Off The Official Website; What Could This Mean?