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

mikemba · 22nd April 2012, 07:36

Saw this on the route to Oragadam from GST road Chennai. Are these dusters? Sorry about the bad photo quality.

hubolt · 22nd April 2012, 08:15

I think more than the HP what will matter is how much torque is available and at what rpm's (ideally atleast matching the Vento diesel).

Seeing that Renault is already working on an export strategy for Duster to UK from India, they already may be anticipating a non-VFM proposal for India. I mean a performance-feature-price positioning that may not add up favourably vs the present , future competition OR they don't expect good initial numbers.

Rigid Rotor · 22nd April 2012, 08:40

Check out this pic of a few Duster test mules in a convoy-
http://indianautosblog.com/wp-conten...er-spied-5.jpg

The last one (closest to the camera) with steel wheels and therefore presumably a lower variant appears to have the standard Black-Grey interiors.

The Red-Maroon mule with alloys has the Beige. So it would appear that Ms Renault's marketing team have also fallen for the 'Beige for Snob Value' thing in the Indian market.

There's another trivia - (as per some specs sheets available in the web), the 4x4 has a reduced boot space of 400 litres, against the 4x2 with 475 litres.

shankar.balan · 22nd April 2012, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by m_upreti

Lets hope they come up soon as the suspense is killing now. 86 BHP would be too low for any kind of SUV, 110 BHP seems more practical with both adequate power and fuel efficiency

Did you know that the Bolero XD3PU came with some 68BHP? It was a good luggable engine for quite a heavy vehicle.

An SUV is not meant for high speeds and high performance in that sense, so I would not agree with your statement the way you have made it. However, I would definitely say that it would be ' desirable' to have a more powerful engine than a less powerful one.

Rigid Rotor · 22nd April 2012, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemba

Saw this on the route to Oragadam from GST road Chennai. Are these dusters?

Yup, definitely the beast in question!
And its that Maroon-Red variant with the Beige interiors again!

ampere · 22nd April 2012, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemba

Saw this on the route to Oragadam from GST road Chennai. Are these dusters? Sorry about the bad photo quality.

Its Duster alright. This looks like is the first non-camouflaged version I have seen.
Good road presence. Need to see what levels of comfort and fit/finish Renault provides.

Digital Vampire · 22nd April 2012, 16:43

Something tells me Duster is going to be positioned above Fluence (which itself is not selling due to the higher price).

Isn't it logical that the input costs would be higher for an SUV than a Sedan?

Animesh · 22nd April 2012, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire

Something tells me Duster is going to be positioned above Fluence (which itself is not selling due to the higher price).

Isn't it logical that the input costs would be higher for an SUV than a Sedan?

Any source you would like to quote? It would be helpful because just saying something way-off isn't going to help much.

sumeshmani · 22nd April 2012, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire

Isn't it logical that the input costs would be higher for an SUV than a Sedan?

Not necessarily. If you see the episode of fifth gear which featured Duster, he mentions the expected price of duster in UK is less than entry level fiesta (hatch I assume). In that case it might be comparable to sedan costs.

Digital Vampire · 22nd April 2012, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animesh

Any source you would like to quote? It would be helpful because just saying something way-off isn't going to help much.

No source... it was just a hunch but I'd like to be proven wrong though.

Why do you think I'm saying something way-off?
Is it because we are tuned to a 7-10 lac pricing (assumed again)?

On the contrary, do we have any concrete information from the manufacturer on even a ball park pricing? I guess not.
All we still got is just the European pricing but when it comes to India pricing, that can hardly be of any reference.

From Wiki:

Quote:

prices starting from €11,900 (~8,90,000 INR) for the two-wheel drive version, and from €13,900 (~9,57,000 INR) for the 4x4 version.

sathyaprakash · 22nd April 2012, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire

Something tells me Duster is going to be positioned above Fluence (which itself is not selling due to the higher price).

Isn't it logical that the input costs would be higher for an SUV than a Sedan?

Every Auto mag have quoted an price tag between 8-11 lakhs

I hope its true as you compare the overseas price of Duster in other countries,and many a times the officials of Renault have time and again said this Vehicle is the game changer of Renault in India meaning they definitely want this vehicle to succeed by all means which indicates price cannot be higher than products from Mahindra as i think they will be their main competitor.

By the way seeing the test vehicles in chennai with minimum camouflage indicates the launch is very soon may be in June and delivery in Aug any concrete scoop regarding it ?

Digital Vampire · 22nd April 2012, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by sathyaprakash

Every Auto mag have quoted an price tag between 8-11 lakhs and i hope its true

I too hope for a sensible pricing but these very automags also predicted Santa Fe to be 15-16 lacs price range... And we know where it stands now!

Animesh · 22nd April 2012, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Vampire

No source... it was just a hunch but I'd like to be proven wrong though.

@ Digital Vampire: A hunch wouldn't warrant a reply or discussion. We would all want you to be proven wrong. Lets wait for the launch of the product.

@Everyone: Seems like there is still no official reliable word on the launch of Duster. Spotting of test vehicles are encouraging somewhat.

I remember the last time I was too eager of waiting for a product launch, it was for Thar and I was very disappointed with the finishing of the product and lack of hard top and AC. And we all remember the hype that was created years before the product's actual launch.

Hopefully Renault/ Dacia will know better than that considering the fact that Duster is very close to the center of their India and Global strategy.

mikemba · 22nd April 2012, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rigid Rotor

Check out this pic of a few Duster test mules in a convoy-
http://indianautosblog.com/wp-conten...er-spied-5.jpg

The last one (closest to the camera) with steel wheels and therefore presumably a lower variant appears to have the standard Black-Grey interiors.

The Red-Maroon mule with alloys has the Beige. So it would appear that Ms Renault's marketing team have also fallen for the 'Beige for Snob Value' thing in the Indian market.

There's another trivia - (as per some specs sheets available in the web), the 4x4 has a reduced boot space of 400 litres, against the 4x2 with 475 litres.

I think this is the same group of vehicles we saw a bunch of 5-6 vehicles.

m_upreti · 23rd April 2012, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemba

Saw this on the route to Oragadam from GST road Chennai. Are these dusters? Sorry about the bad photo quality.

Look like Duster's allright, seems that the launch is close. All we need to see the pricing point.

22nd April 2012, 07:36	#406
mikemba BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 26 Thanked: 3 Times	What SUV is this? Saw this on the route to Oragadam from GST road Chennai. Are these dusters? Sorry about the bad photo quality. Attached Thumbnails
	(3) Thanks

22nd April 2012, 08:15	#407
hubolt BHPian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Pune Posts: 230 Thanked: 89 Times	Re: Renault (including Duster Unveil) @ Auto Expo 2012 :: EDIT: Scoop pictures on pag I think more than the HP what will matter is how much torque is available and at what rpm's (ideally atleast matching the Vento diesel). Seeing that Renault is already working on an export strategy for Duster to UK from India, they already may be anticipating a non-VFM proposal for India. I mean a performance-feature-price positioning that may not add up favourably vs the present , future competition OR they don't expect good initial numbers.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2012, 08:40	#408
Rigid Rotor BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 380 Thanked: 647 Times	Re: Renault (including Duster Unveil) @ Auto Expo 2012 :: EDIT: Scoop pictures on pag Check out this pic of a few Duster test mules in a convoy- http://indianautosblog.com/wp-conten...er-spied-5.jpg The last one (closest to the camera) with steel wheels and therefore presumably a lower variant appears to have the standard Black-Grey interiors. The Red-Maroon mule with alloys has the Beige. So it would appear that Ms Renault's marketing team have also fallen for the 'Beige for Snob Value' thing in the Indian market. There's another trivia - (as per some specs sheets available in the web), the 4x4 has a reduced boot space of 400 litres, against the 4x2 with 475 litres.
	() Thanks

22nd April 2012, 16:43	#412
Digital Vampire BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Utopia! Posts: 604 Thanked: 120 Times	Re: Renault (including Duster Unveil) @ Auto Expo 2012 :: EDIT: Scoop pictures on pag Something tells me Duster is going to be positioned above Fluence (which itself is not selling due to the higher price). Isn't it logical that the input costs would be higher for an SUV than a Sedan?
	() Thanks