Renault has major plans to revive its presence in the Indian market. This involves facelifted Kiger and Triber slated to launch this year. And not to forget the launch of the all-new Duster and its seven-seater sibling named Boreal that have already been spotted testing on several occasions in the recent past. Both these SUVs are expected to launch this year.
Another significant step for Renault in India would be stepping into the electric vehicle (EV) segment with the Kwid EV. The French carmaker has been contemplating on bringing the all-electric Kwid to India for a long time. The company even displayed a pre-production prototype of the same a few years ago at the Auto Expo.
Now, a working prototype of the Kwid EV has been caught in the camera testing on Indian roads for the first time. Previously, it was spotted on the back of a trailer bed a few weeks ago. Wearing a complete camouflage, the test mule carried a typical red number plate registered in Tamil Nadu. Even though the Kwid EV prototype is heavily wrapped under the camouflage, it can be safely assumed that its looks will resemble its combustion engine sibling to the T.
Renault Kwid EV: Expected Specs
The Renault Kwid EV is essentially a rebadged Dacia Spring EV which is on sale in several European countries. In the global market, the EV comes in two trims — the Electric 45 and Electric 65, both variants equipped with a 26.8 kWh battery pack.The Electric 45 variant generates 44 bhp between 2,521 and 8,200 rpm, with peak torque of 125 Nm arriving at 2,521 rpm. Dacia claims this version accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 19.1 seconds, reaching a top speed of 78 kmph.
The higher-spec Electric 65 delivers 64 bhp from 4,057 to 6,000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque available between 500 and 4,057 rpm. It improves the 0–100 kmph sprint time to 13.7 seconds, while maintaining the same top speed of 78 kmph. Renault states that both variants offer a driving range of 225 km on a full charge. When it comes to charging times, the Electric 45 recharges from 20% to 100% in under 5 hours, while the Electric 65 can be charged from 20% to 80% in just 45 minutes.
Renault Kwid EV: Expected Features
The Kwid EV comes loaded with features such as a 10.1-inch infotainment display, a 7-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a height-adjustable steering wheel, and an e-Shift gear lever. It also offers wireless smartphone integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The higher-spec Electric 65 variant additionally includes a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function as standard, along with two USB charging ports.
In terms of storage, the Kwid EV provides a 308-litre boot, while a 35-litre frunk is available as an optional accessory. The international version is equipped with a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, driver fatigue detection, and traffic sign recognition with speed alerts. However, it remains uncertain whether Renault will offer these safety features on the India-spec model.
