Renault Make Koleos facelift for Indians; New Version of Renault Koleos Price, Images, Specification & Features

The first images of the face-lifted version of the Renault Koleos are out ahead of its official unveiling which was earlier planned for the Frankfurt auto show later this year.

The new SUV gets redesigned front end as the design team has dropped the vertical split grille of the earlier model for a more conventional package with headlights that resemble that on the Latitude sedan. Mirrors now get integrated LED turn-signals. Renault has also improved the interior of the SUV and now offers more toys including hands-free entry and ignition, electronic parking brake, automatic headlights and wipers and Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control systems on the 4×4 version of the Koleos.

Renault has released a list of diesel engine options for the Koleos ranging from 150 bhp to 175 bhp. A 170 bhp petrol engine also makes the cut but in India, we could get the 150 bhp oil burner from the Nissan X-Trail. The main competition for the Koleos would come from the Chevrolet Captiva and the Mitsubushi Outlander both of which offer seating for seven unlike the Koleos which offers room for five.

We expect Renault to price the Koleos around Rs 18 lakh.
Renault is also coming up with the Duster SUV which could be priced under Rs 10 lakh.

Low Cost SUV for Indians by Renault - Renault Duster

Renault India launches the Dacia Duster SUV badged as the Renault Duster for India, in the second half of 2012, as a low cost SUV to be priced under 10 Lakh Rupees. Renault India though will hope that the Duster SUV doesn’t meet the same fate as the Logan.

India is a country whose road infrastructure is rapidly developing. But, at the same time, there are plenty of bad roads or even no roads in a large part of the country where a Sedan’s suspension and under body face a lot of trouble negotiating. It is precisely in such conditions where the low cost SUV which can seat 5 adults comfortably and costs slightly lesser than the C+ segment sedan will make a bunch of sense.

Also, over rougher roads, an SUV can maintain a higher speed comfortably. While vehicles like the Mahindra Bolero and the Maruti Gypsy do exist, the former is too utilitarian and the latter having a bone jarring ride that would leave most of your family fuming at you every time you drive across the slightest of road imperfections. So, a comfortable and rugged SUV under 10 Lakh Rupees is just what the Indian market is looking for and the Renault Duster could very well fill that void.

The Duster is available in both petrol and common rail diesel engine options with both 4X2 and 4X4 drive modes. This coupled to a 1.2 Tonne kerb weight makes it a light SUV that will be quick too with the 100 plus Bhp output of both the petrol and diesel engines.