After acquiring the Mitsubishi, the Renault-Nissan alliance will be working along with their new Japanese brand to create a new compact SUV. The report was even confirmed by Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Renault-Nissan, at the Paris Motor Show.
Renault will likely position the SUV under the Duster. When launched, it will be competing in the much-coveted crossover market, against the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford Ecosport.
Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi will be using the CMF-B, the common and shared modular platform of the Renault-Nissan alliance. For India, Renault will also be making it a sub-4m SUV, since it’s a compact SUV.
So, the powertrains will also be the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel motor currently doing duty in the Nissan Micra. The new compact SUV will cater almost to the entry-level SUV-Crossover that has been becoming popular in recent times. It being a sub-4m compact SUV will also make it eligible for tax breaks.
Carmakers have begun eyeing the SUV-Crossover segment of late, after the Ford, Maruti Suzuki and other manufacturers made the best out of it. It’s a medley of India’s SUV craze, government’s tax benefits, lower price and love for hatchbacks that have collectively made the crossover segment successful in India.
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi compact SUV may be expected to launch in 2018, though the carmaker hasn’t come out with any sort of official announcement. The efforts towards bringing up new SUVs reflects on the growing SUV market trend around the world.
Following the Duster, the new sub-4m compact SUV is also expected to turn successful for the Renault, especially with its new acquisition Mitsubishi.
Source: Vicky.in
