Showing its commitment to the Indian market, French car maker Renault today made the global launch of its concept car KWID here besides introducing new variants of models Fluence and Duster.
"This is the first time we have chosen to reveal a concept car outside Europe and this is eloquent sign of our commitment to India," Gilles Normand, Senior Vice President and Chairman Asia Pacific Region Renault said at the 12th Auto Expo here.
Young customers in India are often trend setters, looking forward to pushing the envelope when it comes to technology and enjoyable drives. The KWID, with its Flying Companion, meets this forward-looking spirit with both its dynamic styling and hyper connectivity, he added.
The KWID has been designed with inputs from Renault Design India and is targeted at meeting the needs of young customers, Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault Operations in India said.
Breaking the previous conventions of left or right hand drives, the concept car, that looks like a buggy car, has steering console at the middle.
Besides the concept car, the company also showcased latest versions of its best-selling model Duster and sedan Fluence which would be available in the market by the end of this month.
Duster Adventure edition will come with new exterior look, Sawhney said, adding new Fluence will also have new interiors as well as exterior look.
Giving details of concept car, he said the interior of the KWID is designed to serve as a snug cocoon and is inspired by a bird's nest.
The vehicle's seats, suspended over a solid base in white, give an impression of lightness, while its 2-tone elastomer material provides a sense of brightness. The KWID also features rear air conditioning with controls on the driver seat's back as well as ventilation through concentric perforations. The dashboard is an integrated tablet for commanding the navigation of the Flying Companion, Sawhney said.
The concept car has special feature central driving console.
The global launch of the concept car in India comes at a time when the domestic auto industry is facing challenging times.
"Despite Indian market experiencing challenging time the company's view about its long term potential remain unchanged," he added.
