Renault will showcase the Lodgy MPV at the 2014 Auto Expo. The MPV, under its original manufacturer Dacia, made its global debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. It has been designed on the same platform that underpins the Duster and Logan and is a proper seven seater.

We expect a more than a badge change; a few cost cutting measures will be incorporated before the MPV is launched here as was the case with the Duster. Reports suggest the re-badging process is currently underway at the French automakers design centre in Mumbai where the Pulse and the Scala were (re)born. 

On the outside the MPV is 4.5 meters long and 1.7 meters wide, this means that it is bigger than the Ertiga and its cousin the Evalia but only a little smaller than the Toyota Innova. Predictably, under the hood, the Lodgy will be powered by the 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine which produces 85bhp and 200Nm of torque. This is the same mill that does duty in the Duster and the Evalia among other Renault-Nissan models.

Renault has launched vehicles in almost every segment of the car market and the Lodgy seems like the next ‘Lodgy’cal step. With the competition in the MPV segment heating up and the fact that the fleet market has grown a lot over the last few years, it is likely that Renault may bring the Lodgy here much sooner.    

Meanwhile, Renault has said that exports of the India-made Duster to the United Kingdom will commence from January 2013.