Key highlights
- Renault Duster to get lower-spec AT variants
- Engine details not disclosed yet
- The current AT variant list starts at Rs 14.49 lakh
Renault India recently conducted the test drive of the new-gen Duster equipped with the 1.0-litre turbo engine. While this drive gave us more clarity regarding the affordable variants of the Duster, a top official also confirmed that a more affordable automatic gearbox-equipped variant is on its way.
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What to expect from the upcoming Renault Duster AT variant?
Renault Group CEO, Stephane Deblaise, confirmed to Autocar India that the brand is planning to shorten the gap between the 1.0-litre engine MT variants and the entry-level 1.3-litre DCT variant. He cleared the air by saying that a new, more affordable automatic variant will be launched in the near future to cut short the gap in the lineup.
Since the majority of buyers are plunging towards the automatic gearbox, and the affordable variants of the Duster only have the 6-speed MT gearbox to offer, that too with the Kiger-sourced 1.0-litre turbo engine, this new AT variant could prove beneficial to sales.
Currently, the most affordable automatic variant of the Duster is the 1.3-litre Evolution that gets the 6-speed DCT automatic. However, it is priced at Rs 14.49 lakh, which makes it more than Rs 1 lakh costlier than the fully-kitted 1.0-litre 6-MT variant. Therefore, launching a new variant would be more sensible for buyers who want AT but fall short on the budget.
We assume that the Authentic trim makes good sense to get the DCT automatic gearbox. With all the required features in it, this trim with an AT gearbox could be positioned around Rs 13.50 lakh. More details will be revealed soon, and we expect this new variant to be followed by more such affordable variants in the future.
