Renault (including Duster Unveil) @ Auto Expo 2012 - EDIT: Now launched at 7.19 Lacs

[sumeshmani]

Originally Posted by h@r$h@l

Renault Duster review, test drive - Review - Autocar India

This article says that the 110BHP Diesel version will come with the 6 speed manual gear box.
The steering assist is "electro-hydraulic". I have not heard of this mechanism. Is this supposed to bring us the best of both worlds?
I am glad to read that the rear seats are spacious and comfortable. It would have been nice if the article spoke about practicality of 3 passengers sitting in the back.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by sumeshmani

This article says that the 110BHP Diesel version will come with the 6 speed manual gear box.
The steering assist is "electro-hydraulic". I have not heard of this mechanism. Is this supposed to bring us the best of both worlds?
I am glad to read that the rear seats are spacious and comfortable. It would have been nice if the article spoke about practicality of 3 passengers sitting in the back.

Electro hydraulic I think is the same as electro mechanical. Experts?

Now electro mechanical in the Yeti translates to speed sensitive steering where it tightens and hardens up at higher speeds.

If this is indeed being offered in the Duster too, then that is a real boon in terms of being able to control the vehicle at speeds. Take the Scorpio whose steering is incredibly light and responsive for such a large vehicle - it is positively dangerous to twiddle and twaddle the wheel at speed on the highways because it just lunges this way and that, which, in such a large top heavy vehicle is downright dangerous!

[paragpatankar]

Will the rear seat get a 1/3:2/3 split option ? My use case involves 3 people and carrying a couple of Bicycles inside, and not having the split means it goes to either carrying 2 people,and the bikes without much dis-assembly, or keeping the seat up and carrying 3 people, but dismantling the bikes and stuffing them into the boot.

[sumeshmani]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Electro hydraulic I think is the same as electro mechanical. Experts?

Did a little research and found out that when the hydraulic pressure is created with the help of an electric motor instead of the engine, it becomes electro-hydraulic steering. I see two benefits, (i) engine does not have to be running for steering assist (ii) load on engine will reduce, not sure if this will have significant improvement in economy
Please correct me if i'm wrong..

[vishnana]

IAB had broken the news on exact variant details . RxE , RxL alone for Petrol and RxZ added up for Diesel . RxL Diesel will be available in both 85PS and 110PS versions and i assume RxZ Diesel is 110PS one . For complete technical specifications , see below
Renault Duster to be launched in RxE, RxL & RxZ trims

[MAS]

The interiors of the Duster as given in Autocar - First Drive looks pretty good.



The "light Beige" instead of "regular Beige" looks like a dust magnet. When i saw the red car last week, it did not have the dual colour interiors. The top-end does not get a ACC, but a manual one.

I guess, i am falling for the Duster, not sure if i can hold on to my policy of "buying a newly launched car only when it is atleast a year old in the market". I broke the rule when i bought the Fiesta. I guess i will do it again.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by vishnana

IAB had broken the news on exact variant details . RxE , RxL alone for Petrol and RxZ added up for Diesel . RxL Diesel will be available in both 85PS and 110PS versions and i assume RxZ Diesel is 110PS one . For complete technical specifications , see below
Renault Duster to be launched in RxE, RxL & RxZ trims

Still does not explicitly call out 2WD and 4WD though it must be surmised that only 2WD shall be available in India now.

[magikrider]

this looks like a small compact SUV. no where as spacious or comfortable as XUV500. interiors looks as spacious a Jazz or maybe Yeti at the most. nothing more. not comparing it with XUV but many people here on the forum were waiting for the unveiling of duster before taking the plunge for XUV. I guess both are from different segment and so not much of competition there. you get a more clear picture after watching the overdrive video.

[BUXX]

Had a little free time, so gathered variant info from Abbey's post, pricing from Rehaan's and checked Pulse's intra variant difference. Here's a ballpark variant breakup (ex showroom ):

Petrol RXE 7.4L , RxL : 8.2L
Diesel 85bhp Rxe; 8.5L , RxL 9.25L(Optional:ABS,airbag,16"alloy,rear sensor,Navigtn)
Diesel 110bhp RxL: 10.5L (ABS,airbag standard ) ; RxZ: 11.5L (ABS,airbag,16"alloy,rear sensor standard) (optional:Navigtn etc)

[2cents]

Originally Posted by sumeshmani

Did a little research and found out that when the hydraulic pressure is created with the help of an electric motor instead of the engine, it becomes electro-hydraulic steering. I see two benefits, (i) engine does not have to be running for steering assist (ii) load on engine will reduce, not sure if this will have significant improvement in economy Please correct me if i'm wrong..

My pre facelift Fabia also has electro-hydraulic steering, but don't know if it is the same. If so (i) not true - it isn't easy to turn the wheel without the engine running, (ii) no clue. The current ones, thanx to Polo, get electrical steering.

[itwasntme]

Some more pictures from the ACI First Drive article.

Also note the composure during the high speed turn? Body-roll is much lower than what you would expect from Indian SUVs (e.g. Safari or Scorpio.

[StarrySky]

Is that rear AC vent just a blower as in Nissan Sunny? Looks very similar to the arrangement in Sunny.

[suhaas307]

That's a well appointed interior! And the room seems to be just alright. I wouldn't call it very spacious, especially for a 12 lakh car (OTR). But I think it should be about alright for the average family.

Some of the plastics, by the looks of it, have a glossy finish and I hate that.

The rear seats look like they lack under-thigh support. The contour of the seats resemble that of a larger hatch like the Swift or Jazz. Over long distances, taller people and larger people may not find it too comfortable.

This is just an observation. I'm very excited about sampling this car, just as much as the EcoSport.

As I see it, it's the C segment sedan market (City, Vento, Rapid, Verna..) that would be hit, more than the Scorpio and Safari. People who want a SUV that seats 5+2 (and that's a large market) will continue to opt for the Scorpio, Safari, and even the XUV.

[Fordmanchau]

Where is the "seatbelt warning" sign on the instrument cluster ? I don't see it there .

The Duster is gonna be more of a wokhorse than a ego massaging SUV. It is more of a utility vehicle. Very unlike the Ecosport, which would pull the strings of your heart.


Edit: Found it, it's in the 4th pic besides the hazard warning light switch.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Is that rear AC vent just a blower as in Nissan Sunny? Looks very similar to the arrangement in Sunny.

Rear AC vent seems bit crude not well designed (they could have incorporated armrest on the top)
It also seem to foul in to the legroom of the center passenger.