What's the news?
Renault has unveiled the Kwid Concept at the Delhi Auto Expo, its first concept car to debut outside of Europe. The chunky looking crossover has been designed to appeal to younger Indian buyers and (Renault says) shows its ability to offer appealing products in the compact car segment.
Exterior
The design of the Kwid was a multinational process with input from designers in Brazil, Japan, Russia, France and India. Designed for emerging markets like that of the Indian sub-continent it is aimed at younger car buyers for whom 'playfulness' and chunky styling are thought to be primary concerns. Oversized wheels and short overhangs give the Kwid a beach buggy look while the body is finished in a dual-tone style reminiscent of the Renault corporate colours. Access to the interior comes via McLaren 12C-style dihedral doors, one on each side.
Interior
Renault says the interior of the Kwid was inspired by a bird's nest and is meant to serve as a snug cocoon for its five occupants. We're not kidding. Seating for those passengers is laid out McLaren F1-style with a centrally mounted driving seat flanked by a pair of passenger and another two in the back. The seats themselves are made from a two-tone elastomer material with the seat backs suspended over a solid base. Quite how that works for making adjustments to the seat angle etc. we are unsure but it certainly looks cool. The back of the driver's seat also features dials for the rear climate controls - there is no central tunnel on which they would normally be placed. The dashboard features an integrated TFT tablet that acts as the car's dials, infotainment system and also the controller for the 'Flying Companion' (see below...).
Mechanicals
Despite the concept car styling the powertrain for the Kwid is positively conventional. Packed away under the snub-nosed bonnet is Renault's latest 115hp 1.2-litre tCe petrol engine. It's mated to the French firm's dual-clutch EDC automatic transmission that does without a gearstick inside the car, inputs instead made via buttons next to the steering wheel.
Renault says that the concept is Z.E. ready with the space for batteries etc. already identified and ready to go. The concept even has a charging point hidden behind the Renault logo despite being petrol powered.
For those thinking the Kwid would make for a good off-roader, think again. Despite the chunky tyres and short overhangs it is front-wheel drive only, which leads us to believe it, like the Renault Captur, is based on the Clio platform, which cannot accept a four-wheel drive layout.
Anything else?
One of the biggest technologies Renault is touting in the Kwid is the 'Flying Companion', which, bizarrely, is exactly what it sounds like. At the flick of a switch a special 'quadrocopter' will rise from a canopy behind the rear cabin and can be used for scouting out traffic conditions ahead, locating a parking spot or even finding a decent burger joint with information being relayed back to the Kwid's on board TFT screen from the Flying Companion's built in camera. Quite how you fly a helicopter while driving a car is beyond us, though Renault does state that it is a world first.
Paul Healy - 7 Feb 2014
