News Source: autoblog.com

Renault-Nissan has been betting big on budget-oriented vehicles in developing markets especially with its Dacia and Datsun brands, and now it's revealed another bargain-basement mode of transportation in the form of the new Renault Kwid.

Previewed in (albeit a very different) concept form last year in New Delhi, the production Kwid looks a bit like the Dacia Duster, but is actually an A-segment hatchback with SUV-inspired styling. That means it's in the same size class as the Chevy Spark, Fiat Panda, Toyota Aygo, and Suzuki Splash. It's only a few inches longer than the Twingo that represents the company in the same segment in Europe, but is almost unfathomably a couple of inches narrower. Or to put it in a different context, it's nearly two feet shorter nose to tail than a Jeep Renegade or Fiat 500X. Yes, that small.

Renault surely gave the Kwid a rugged design for appeal, but adopted the tall box form for increased interior space. Renault boasts class-leading space for the Kwid, and despite its budget orientation, it still offers a seven-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, with black lacquer and chrome trim to jazz it up beyond the usual hard plastics.

The automaker has yet to reveal full technical details, but we wouldn't expect anything much larger than a 1.0-liter inline-three, and we can already see the five-speed stick shifter in the cabin. Contrary to some of the Datsuns that tend to recycle old hardware, though, Renault has revealed that the Kwid is build on a new CMF-A modular architecture that will underpin future products as well.

Underscoring Renault's increased focus on international markets – selling 46 percent of its vehicles outside Europe last year, compared to 37 percent in 2010 – the Kwid was developed largely in India for the Indian market. About 98 percent of its components are sourced from within the country, and 60 percent in the Chennai region where it will be built. It'll launch there later this year with a price positioned between 3 and 4 lakhs – or around $5,000 at current exchange rates. Kwid pro quote indeed.

Renault reveals the KWID,
An attractive, innovative and affordable vehicle for international markets

As an innovator since 1898, Renault has constantly sought to pioneer new ideas, question conventional thinking and reinvent the way we use cars.

"With KWID, Renault continues to pursue its strategy of accessible mobility for all to step up its international growth. Using a new Renault-Nissan Alliance platform and following the trail blazed by the Duster, the KWID will enable Renault to continue its expansion and address the needs of customers who want a vehicle that is stylish, robust and easy to use."
Carlos Ghosn - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Renault

The KWID overturns established A-segment design cues thanks to a robust, stylish exterior plus a modern, welcoming interior equipped with features normally associated with models from the next segment up.

This eminently modern newcomer features SUV styling and construction, combining generous cabin space with unprecedented features for its segment, while its compact footprint makes it particularly versatile.

Quality interior appointments include a modern Media-Nav navigation/multimedia system complete with large seven-inch touchscreen display and Bluetooth connectivity.

The KWID combines the comfort and functional user-friendliness of a family city car with a modular interior and a raft of stowage solutions.

Renault has long showcased its ability to develop unique, innovative vehicles designed to meet the specific needs of its international markets.

With the introduction of the KWID, the brand has gone a step further down the road of designing attractive, affordable vehicles in the small-car segment.

The KWID will be launched in India in the second half of 2015 with a price tag of between 3 and 4 lakhs.