Renault is testing the new XBA hatchback in Himachal Pradesh and the vehicle will be a low-cost one aimed at the mass-market segment.
Renault India is facing a not-so-good innings with only the Duster selling in decent numbers while the Scala, Pulse and Koleos are almost extinct in the market. To counter this, the French automaker is coming up with a new hatchback that will be positioned in the entry-level segment and it will compete with the Maruti Alto 800 and the Datsun GO. The hatchback has been codenamed XBA and a prototype of the same was spotted undergoing testing in Himachal Pradesh. The Renault XBA is based on the India-specific Common Module Family – Affordable which means that the new vehicle will be aimed to provide practicality as well as low cost.
The Renault XBA will be powered by a 800cc, three-cylinder petrol engine which has been codenamed BR8. The engine is an all-new unit and it comes with a twin-cam, four valves per cylinder setup. The engine will be mated to an AMT gearbox. The interiors carry a basic and functional layout. The body shell is expected to have a stiff and robust set up. Cost-cutting is evident looking at the single front wiper and traditional ORVMs. The Renault XBA is being developed at the Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India and it will be launched by the first half of 2015. We can expect it to be priced between Rs. 3-4.25 lakhs.
In other news, the Datsun Redi-GO is also being developed at the RNTBCI. The Redi-GO will be launched slightly before the XBA in Maybe 2015 and it will also be priced as an attractive proposition. Looking at these developments, we can safely assume that Nissan and Renault are aiming for the mass-market segments with great optimism and it is only a good thing. Customers will get to choose from more options and some competition between manufacturers will also lead to each one of them trying to outdo the other by providing attractive price points, better features and equipment, better service, etc.
Source – Motoroids.com
