Duster to be launched in India on 17 March
Bridger compact SUV concept to be showcased on 10 March
RGMP for India
Ahead of the new-generation Renault Duster's India launch, the automaker showcased its new Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP) that forms the basis of Renault's future push in the country. This is the first time in close to a decade that the French automaker is getting a new platform, and here are five things that we learnt about it.
Length Is the Key
An important point it made, was that the platform could go from a sub-four-metre length, all the way to 4.7 metres, indicating that this would be the base for the Bridger and the upcoming three-row SUV. Consequently, it is capable of offering wheelbases going all the way from 2.63 metres to 2.7 metres across multiple powertrains.
One Base, Multiple Hats
This was a much-expected step, and a common practice in the industry to make a platform that's capable of supporting multiple top hats. In this case, Renault hinted that SUV would be the top priority, but it could also spawn hatchback, MPV, coupé SUV, and sedan body styles, depending on the demand.
One Base, Multiple Powertrains
Along with multiple top hats and lengths, Renault said that RGMP is capable of supporting petrol, CNG, flex fuel, hybrid, and electric powertrains, the last being a crucial one, as Renault had to switch from CMF-B to this platform in order to integrate the Google SWEET400 vehicular architecture. The Duster will start its life with 1.0-litre turbo petrol and 1.3-litre GDi turbo-petrol motors, while a 1.8-litre hybrid will be launched during the 2026 festival season.
Two- and Three-row Seating
Another much-expected step – this platform can support both two- and three-row seating, irrespective of the powertrain, giving Renault the option to move in all directions if demand were to crop up. This is expected to include the next-gen Triber, going all the way up to the three-row SUV, the latter of which is due in 2027.
Engineered for Five-star Crash Rating
While not stating outright that it was aiming for a five-star GNCAP and BNCAP rating, the automaker was clear that it had engineered systems in place to achieve both these numbers across the table. BNCAP has become the new byword in safety in the country, and having a top rating will certainly help the Duster's cause.
Nissan in the Party
Given that Renault and Nissan will now have exactly the same lineup, we expect all of these benefits to be passed on to the upcoming Nissan offerings – The Tekton, three-row SUV, and Nissan's version of the Renault Bridger.
