The new and more powerful version of the KWID has been showcased in Brazil. Unveiled by Carlos Ghosn, Renault Global CEO, the 1.0-litre engine variant of the car is made in India. The KWID has received a tremendous response in the Indian market, and its manufacturer, Renault wants to repeat the act in Latin American territories. When production commences later this year, Renault plans to manufacture the series car in its production facility at the Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in Curitiba, Brazil.
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The Kwid has been a runaway success in India with its 800cc motor. So much so that it has single-handedly brought Renault the tag of the third-largest passenger car seller in India, after Maruti (first) and Hyundai (second).
It has been reported that the Brazil-spec Kwid is about 130kg heavier compared to the Indian version. This significant increase in the weight clearly indicates that the car is much stronger in the chassis construction making it safer than the Indian Kwid. It is also expected to get two front and two side airbags as standard. The increased safety can be attributed to the strict safety norms enforced by the Latin NCAP.
Moreover, the Brazil-spec Kwid is also said to be better in the terms of interior quality and NVH level refinements. All of this certainly will add to the overall price of the car, which, in Brazil, will be much higher than the Indian version.
Speaking of the 1.0-litre motor, it will be a three-pot unit and will be mated to a five-speed manual and an optional AMT transmission in the Brazilian market. This motor is expected to produce a power of around 75PS, which will make the car quite lively to drive, courtesy a low power to weight ratio. Notably, Renault had showcased the 1.0-litre Kwid at the Indian Auto Expo early this year. The car was displayed with both the manual and automatic transmission options.
Source: Zigwheels.com
