duster is back – Chennaionline

Renault India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault Group, today unveiled new Renault Duster, marking the return of a nameplate that helped establish the mid-size SUV category in the country. New Renault Duster preserves rugged, adventure-first character while advancing in areas critical to Indian SUV buyers: design, powertrain technology, comfort, safety and ownership experience. True to its iconic image, new Renault Duster was unveiled in a first in industry event witnessing a gathering of over 15,000 peoplealong with Gang of Dusters community making a resounding comeback at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai. New Renault Duster marks the first product unveil under Renault Group’s International Game Plan in India, where the brand is prioritizing targeted investment and product expansion as part of a broader global strategy. “As part of the Renault International Game Plan 2027, we are making India a key pillar of our growth outside Europe.We now have a strong ecosystem in Chennai, bringing together design, engineering, manufacturing, and local operations at the highest level - making India one of the most complete and powerful hubs in Renault’s global network.Today, we have the means to fully support our ambitions in Inda, to better understand customer expectations, and to deliver products truly adapted to this market. The new Renault Duster is the first step in Renault’s renewal in India.” Fabrice Cambolive, Chief Growth Officer Renault Group & CEO Renault brand. New Renault Duster is made for India, with close to 90% of the car made specificallyforIndia. It underpins the new Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP). The platform is validated for extreme conditions and engineered for 5-star safety standards. The platform is ultra-flexible in terms of dimensions, powertrains suited to google automotive system. New Renault Duster is powered by a full range of powertrain options to access every Indian roadand making the “unreachable reachable”. It is powered by a Turbo TCe160 engine to go limitless which churns out best in segment 163 PS of power and 280 Nm of torque, while Turbo TCe100 is meant for smart and accessible segment. New Renault Duster also marks the debut of the strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 engine, powered by 1.8L engine along with a 1.4 kWh battery,making it the most efficient and powerful hybrid, allowing segment’s best up to 80% EV mode in city drive conditions. The Turbo TCe 160 and Turbo TCe 100 petrol engines come paired with advanced transmission choices that elevate the driving experience. The 6speed DCTwith wet clutchavailable with Turbo TCe 160,deliverslightningfast‑ gear shifts for maximum performance and is utmost suitable for Indian driving condition. On the other hand, the 6-speed manual offers precise mechanical control with direct gear engagement for maximum driver command. Both options are engineered to bring out the best in the Duster combining performance, confidence, and driving pleasure Speaking at the launch of new Renault Duster “With the new Renault Group Modular Platform, Renault brings an advanced hybrid technology and top-tier safety engineering. With Renault Forever program, we also offer our customers a significantly improved ownership experience. New Renault Duster is the start of a renewed product cycle and for an exciting trajectory for Renault in India. Renault is back”said Stéphane Deblaise, CEO, Renault Group India. New Renault Duster will be offered with seven years warranty for enhanced trust and peace of mind, thanks to Renault Forever programme. Rugged, Bold and Modern Exterior Design New Renault Duster reinvents an icon with a bold, muscular design that stays true to its legendary DNA while evolving into a modern SUV. Rugged yet refined, it blends function with style through strong proportions and purposeful details. The car has a distinctive presence and stands out on the roads thanks to a strong character line and a Duster emblemuniquely placed on the front grilleand enhancedwith yellow accents. “New Renault Duster marks the rebirth of an icon. It is more than just a bold, authentic SUV; it's a powerful statement of our design philosophy, meticulously shaped through the seamless collaboration of our design teams in India and in France. Every confident line, every modern and sculpted detail has been crafted to embody the spirit and aspirations of India, while resonating with Duster’s unique DNA."Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group With its 212 mm ground clearance, its best-‑in-‑segment approach and departure angles of 26.9° and 34.7°, the vehicle is built to tackle demanding terrain with confidence. Its trapezoidal grille, fullLED headlamps featuring Renault’s global light signature, and LED tail lampsall underscore its precision and presence. At the rear, the horizontal LED light barcreates width and stance. The perception is amplified by the bold yellow‑accented‘Duster’ mark – a confident signature that signals quality and identity. The car comes with wheel arches, door side protection, and diamond‑cut 18‑inch alloys. In terms of dimension, new Duster also has a length of 4,346mm, width of 1,815 mm, height of 1,703 mm and wheelbase of 2,657 mm which ensures agility in the city and confidence beyond it. New Renault Duster makes its appearance in a stunning Mountain Jade greencolour as an exclusive shade inspired by the Himalayan forests. A two‑tone finish with mystery black roof and spoiler adds sophistication and upmarket credentials. The New Renault Duster is more than a design statement,it is a modern adventurer’s SUV, built to withstand, built to perform, and built to inspire confidence on every journey. Interior Design: Fighter-Jet Inspired Driver Centric Car Step inside the New Renault Duster and you enter a fighter-jet inspired cabin, purposefully designed to be drivercentric for an engaging and confident experience. Every element puts the driver first – from tactile switches positioned for intuitive control, to the raised central console with its electronic shifter that ensures effortless engagement and precision. It’s a cockpit built to empower, making every driver feel commanding and connected. The seats set a new benchmark in the segment with sculpted cushion and backrest, finished with iconic yellow stitching and perforations inspired by the Renault losange. Technology is seamlessly integrated with a best‑in‑segment multimedia layout giving customers the best viewing and accessibility to multimedia screen. The screen is positioned at an optimal 502 mmand 17.9 degrees viewing angle to provide visibility and comfort. Premium details elevate the cabin further. Mountain Jade leatherette seat upholstery featuring the Renault logo pattern sets a distinctive tone. The upper dashboard is wrapped in Mountain Jade leatherette with a refined carbon finish, while the door inserts carry matching leatherette and carbon accents. The Duster emblem is highlighted with iconic yellow stitching, complemented by softtouch wrapping and yellow embroidery details across the dashboard and door panels. Carbon fibre accents and metallic finishes on the instrument panel complete the premium and modern aesthetic.Anelectric panoramic sunroof crowns the experience, flooding the cabin with natural light and enhancing the sense of space, making every journey not just comfortable, but memorable. Advanced Technology delivering Comfort and Personalisation The New Renault Duster brings an unapologetically modern approach to in-car technology. At its core is the 25.65 cm (10.1”) OpenR Link multimedia system with Google built-in. It is the first time this experience is being offered in a mass-market car in India. With native Google Maps, real-time traffic, streaming apps, voice assistance and a direct Play Store with 100+ compatible apps, users enjoy the full ecosystem without smartphone pairing. It also comes equipped with Google’s AI-assistant which will be updated to Gemini as part of a future update.A second 26.03 cm (10.25”) TFT driver display replicates maps and driving data for easier situational awareness. With 60+ connected features, Duster elevates everyday use beyond the mechanical domain. Comfort has been engineered with the same depth. Ventilated, electric front seats (six-way power adjust with manual lumbar), automatic dual-zone air conditioning, a clean air AQI display with PM2.5 filter, electric parking brake with auto-hold, and anelectric powered tailgate support modern practicality. Where New Duster advances meaningfully are in how it personalises the driving experience. By allowing drivers to sign in with their Google account, the vehicle doesn’t just connect to apps, it connects to individual habits and preferences. ADAS assistance, for example, is not treated as a fixed bundle. Drivers can select which functions they want to activate and which they prefer to disable. Once set, these choices are saved to the user’s Google profile and automatically restored each time that profile is selected. It makes assistance technology feel supportive rather than prescriptive. The same logic extends to drive character. Multi-sense drive modes: Eco, Comfort& Perso provide the driver control over enginebehavior, steering feel and ambient lighting settings. With profiles stored and recalled seamlessly, the Duster adapts to its user, not the other way around. It underlines Renault’s belief that the future of SUVs lies in pairing mechanical substance with technology that feels personal, intuitive, and unobtrusive. The New Renault Duster is a testament to Renault’s strong R&D and engineering capabilities. Our teams have worked relentlessly to blend rugged design with advanced technology, ensuring the SUV remains true to its adventurous DNA while evolving to meet modern expectations.” said Dr. VellandiVikraman, Chief of Renault Engineering. Trust and Peace of mind with Renault Forever Program New Renault Duster comes with a maximum warranty of up to7-year or 150,000 kmthanks toRenault Forever Program. It is Renault’s pledge of trust, quality, and long‑term commitment to India along with its wide sales and service network spread across the country. With world‑class manufacturing in Chennai, a strong product line‑up, and a focus on durability and innovation, the company is here to deliver mobility solutions that customers can rely on. Renault Forever reflects our promise to be a partner in this journey offering vehicles that combine global standards with local confidence. Availability, Delivery &Pre-bookings Customers can pre-book new Renault Duster by purchasing R Pass for INR 21,000. The R Pass holders will gain: Special introductory pricing Priority delivery Complimentary Gang of Dusters merchandise Opportunity to see new Renault Duster being built While the price of new Renault Duster will be announced mid-March, customer deliveries will begin in April 2026. The Strong Hybrid E-Tech160 deliveries to commence during Diwali 2026. Annexure / Elaborated Dossier: 14 Best & First-in-Segment Highlights Vehicle dynamics Turbo TCe 160 Engine Power and Torque: 163 PS and 280 Nm Strong hybrid E-tech 160 with 1.4KWh battery Driver Eye-to-multimedia distance: 502mm Multimedia viewing angle: 17.9° Approach Angle: 26.9° Departure angle: 34.7° openR link multimedia system with Google built-in multi-sense drive modes with 48 colour ambient lighting customization Boot capacity: 518L (under parcel shelf), 700L (till the roof) Interior storagecapacity:32.6L Maximum warranty of 7-year or 150K Km under Renault Forever program 50+ accessory categories YouClip accessory system Iconic Launch Edition - Fully Loaded Himalayan-inspired side embellisher iconic yellow door decal iconic yellow accents on front grille, roof bars & tailgate 72cm (18”)“Adventure” black alloy wheels mountain jade leatherette seat upholstery with Renault logo pattern upper dashboard with mountain jade leatherette wrap and carbon finish door inserts with mountain jade leatherette and carbon accents Duster emblem with iconic yellow stitch Exterior Rugged exterior with muscular silhouette, retaining the adventure DNA 7° departure angle and 26.9° approach angle 212 mm Ground Clearance FullLED headlamps, LEDtaillamps,LED fog lamps LED horizontal rear light bar 72cm (18”) black “Outback” diamond cut alloy wheels Mountain Jade Green exterior colour option (Himalayan inspired) Interior Drivers’s car with fighter jet-inspired cockpit Elevated centerconsole with e-shifter Physical buttons for most-used functions mountain jade leatherette seat upholstery with Renault logo pattern upper dashboard with mountain jade leatherette wrap and carbon finish door inserts with mountain jade leatherette and carbon accents Duster emblem with iconic yellow stitch Renault Group Modular Platform Specifically made for India 90% parts specific to India Built for endurance 1Million+ KM Extreme climate proof ( -23°C to 55°C) Globally tuned Altitude master (tested at 18379 ft above sea level) Engineered for 5 Star safety standard 35 standard safety features Powertrains & Transmission Turbo TCe 160 New Turbocharged GDi Best in segment power & torque - 163 PS & 280 Nm respectively Patented power-glyd coating 6 Speed manual transmission & 6 Speed DCT with wet clutch Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 Based on 1.8L engine 4 kWh battery with almost 80% electric drive in city conditions Market’s strongest & advanced hybrid system Turbo TCe 100 Accessible turbo petrol option 6 speed manual transmission Tech & Safety 65cm (10.1”) OpenR link multimedia system with Google built-in Google maps Google Assistant (to be upgraded with Gemini in coming days) Google Play Seamless entertainment streaming 60+ connectedfeatures with MYR app 03cm(10.25”) TFT driver display Map replication in driver display 17 ADAS features Hill descent control Comfort & Convenience Electric panoramic sunroof Electric powered tailgate Electric parking brake with Auto-hold Automaticdual zone air conditioning Clean Air AQI display with PM2.5 display Multi-Sense drive modes with 48 ambient lighting customization Electric front seats with 6-way adjust Front seats with Manual lumbar adjustment Ventilated front seats Auto headlamps Rain sensing wipers Renault handsfree access card with push start Auto-dimming rearview mirror All power windows with auto up/down Touch activated cabin lighting Arkamys auditorium sound system with 6 speaker system Wireless smartphone charging Puddle lamps