Latest news with #Renault-Nissan
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Renault, Nissan To Launch New SUVs To Rival Hyundai Creta
Renault and Nissan are poised to mark their presence with the launch of new products in India's competitive midsize SUV segment, currently dominated by the Hyundai Creta. Both automakers plan to launch their respective competitors to the Creta in quick succession, with the goal of capturing a substantial share of the market. The upcoming Renault and Nissan SUVs will be built on the CMF-B platform, developed by the Renault-Nissan alliance. This platform is known for its versatility and will serve as the foundation for both the new Renault Duster and Nissan's yet-to-be-named SUV. Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Dzire Ditches AMT For CVT, But There's A Catch Renault has unveiled the new Duster in the international market, which features 18-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional features include satellite navigation, a wireless phone charger, and USB-C ports. However, unlike many rivals, the Duster does not offer a panoramic sunroof or even a standard sunroof. It appears that Renault may be working on an Indian version that will include a sunroof. The Renault Duster is set to return to Indian showrooms with its third generation, showcasing a bold design. The new model measures 4,343 mm in length, 1,921 mm in width, and 1,616 mm in height. It features a wheelbase of 2,657 mm and provides a ground clearance of 209 mm for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) version and 217 mm for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) version. The new Duster is equipped with six airbags, a driver fatigue detection system, Lane Change Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Traffic Sign Recognition with Speed Alerts. However, it does lack a surround-view monitor. The Duster is expected to be powered by a 1.3-liter turbocharged petrol engine that produces around 154 hp and 254 Nm of torque. Buyers will have the option of a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT, with an AWD option available. The launch of the all-new Duster in India is anticipated as early as January 2026, followed closely by Nissan's similar model. Unlike the Terrano, the new Duster will feature a completely different exterior design. Nissan's teasers suggest that their upcoming SUV will resemble the seventh-generation Patrol, which was unveiled in September of last year. The design will feature sharp lines in the headlights, grille, lower air intake, and bumpers. While the interior may not be as distinctive, it is expected to stand out more than the Terrano's design.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- India.com
This popular car company leaving India? not Ratan Tata's Tata Motors nor Anand Mahindra's M&M but it is…, shutting down plant in…
According to Japanese media reports, Nissan Motor Co is considering shutting down its manufacturing operations in India. Nissan is going through a major global restructuring process like cost-cutting and operational realignment. Media reports suggest that the company is planning to close several plants worldwide as part of its new strategy. The Renault-Nissan joint plant in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu manufactures Nissan's only model in India, the Magnite. If this plant shuts down, Nissan's presence in the Indian market will be almost negligible. Renault Group had announced plans to acquire Nissan's 51% stake in Renault-Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL). It means Renault can take complete control of the plant and bring major shifts in operations. Nissan's Sales It was once a famous brand in India but later on its sales started declining in recent times. It didn't bring new models and fewer options compared to competitors led to low share for the company in the market. Another reason was weak presence in the EV segment reduced customer trust. Nissan had earlier announced plans to launch three new cars in India like SUV, a 7-seater MPV (set for a 2025 launch), and a locally-developed electric SUV. However, if the company shuts its factory in India, these plans will be unsure and put Nissan's future in the Indian market will also be at stake. Nissan is trying to reduce global costs by 500 billion yen (around Rs 28,000 crore). The plan includes laying off around 20,000 employees. Apart from India, plants in Argentina, South Africa, and two facilities in Mexico are also reportedly being closed down as part of broader restructuring strategy. Nissan's subsidiary, Nissan Shatai Co., is planning to shut down two major plants in Japan Oppama and Hiratsuka which accounts for nearly 30% of its domestic production. So far, neither Nissan nor Nissan Shatai has given an official statement regarding these developments. Both companies have called the media reports as speculative.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Test-Driving The 2025 Dacia Duster Hybrid
2025 Dacia Duster tackling rough terrain Dacia sold more than 100,000 first and second-generation Dusters in Britain, but the latest third-generation car is even more of a hit. It looks good, has a hybrid powertrain and is affordable, but what's the Dacia Duster like to live with? I spend a week with it to find out. Almost everything. The new Duster sports chunkier off-road-like bodywork with its plastic trim (made from 20 percent recycled material) and boxy nose. Like older Dusters, the new car, alongside the Dacia Jogger and Sandero, sits on a Renault-Nissan platform known as the CMF-B LS. Put simply, this means more space, better noise insulation and crash protection. Dusters of old had spartan interiors, but these were affordable cars after all. This carries across to the new entry-level Duster; it's basic but usable. Mod cons are added from the 'Expression' trim onwards and buyers get 17-inch alloy wheels, a reverse camera, a 7-inch instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen. Similarly, two or four-wheel drive becomes available and buyers can choose from a 130 bhp petrol or a 140 bhp hybrid, the latter is only available with two-wheel drive. I spent a week with the old TCe 90 car, and while I wanted to enjoy it I just couldn't. It was glacial. The gearbox felt cumbrous and at the end of a trip, the economy meter would show three stars out of three for driving efficiency. A maddening thing, as planting the throttle was the only way it moved. Luckily, this isn't the case with the latest car. The hybrid, paired to the four-speed automatic gearbox, is a delight. The electric motor provides enough shove at low revs for town driving although this depletes whenever the battery is low. 2025 Dacia Duster over rough terrain 0-to-62mph arrives in a smidge under 10 seconds and although the Duster hybrid doesn't feel particularly quick in gear, there's enough oomph to overtake slower traffic. Likewise, the gearbox swaps cogs smoothly and there's a neat brake regen function which can be enabled or disabled via the gear selector. The Duster has an SUV-like seating position with plenty of driver seat and steering wheel adjustments. There's also a built-in distance meter, which measures the gap in seconds between you and the car ahead, and information is displayed on the instrument cluster. It comes with heaps of safety tech such as lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition and speed limit alert. The lane-keep assist and speed warning can be annoying, but this is easily turned off via a button. At a steady 60mph cruise, the Duster hybrid showed a relatively hush 67db on my sound meter, but wind noise is apparent above 60mph. Throughout the week, the Duster hybrid returned a 45mpg average through towns, on motorways and backroads with single trip data occasionally showing 54mpg. Dacia claims an official 55.3mpg figure and I believe that's more than achievable. The shapes used throughout the cabin solidify the Duster's rugged character, but a quick knuckle tap on the various plastics quickly reminds you of its affordability factor. Quality isn't its strong suit and most of its rivals like the Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq have plusher interiors. The infotainment screen is easy to use and contains Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but it can be slow at times. 2025 Dacia Duster interior Dacia has given the Duster lots of cubby storage: the front and rear door bins are large, and lifting the armrest reveals a deep area ideal for storing a flask. Passengers have generous room too. I'm just under 6ft, and a similarly tall passenger could sit comfortably behind me without any seat adjustment. Pop the boot, and you'll find a large 430-litre area, complete with a false floor. Opt for the two-wheel drive non-hybrid car and this increases to 517 litres. Fold the 60/40 seats flat and this rises to a mighty 1,696 litres. It's good. Really good, and if you're not fussed about mod cons or hybrid tech, one can be sat on your driveway for just £18,850 ($24,388). There are four trims: Essential, Expression, Journey and Extreme. My Journey press car had everything I needed and more while tipping the scales at just £26,700. Would I buy one? Yes, I would. It's a dog mobile, a people mover and an economy wagon rolled into one. It's the best Duster to date, and you can't get much for £18,850 nowadays, so what's not to love? Although not direct Dacia Duster competitors, the Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-80 PHEV are great family alternatives.
