Renault India has opened the Duster hybrid’s bookings for Rs 21,000, ahead of its launch on October 17. Interested customers can book the vehicle through the Renault India website or at authorised dealerships across the country. This will be the third powertrain option for the Renault Duster, adding to the existing 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engines. Called the E-Tech system, it draws from the carmaker’s experience and expertise in Formula 1. Renault has also revealed that the Duster hybrid has an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency figure of 29kpl.
Renault Duster hybrid powertrain details
The Duster hybrid features a 1.8-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, which works with two electric motors – a 20hp generator and a 49hp unit powering the wheels. A 1.4kWh battery pack supports this system, which makes 160hp and 172Nm. Since this is a strong hybrid setup, the battery charges while the vehicle is being driven and does not require connection to an external charging source.
Power is sent to the wheels via a multi-mode automatic gearbox, which uses fixed gear ratios and can shift between them. Renault claims that depending on the driving conditions, the system can switch between electric drive, engine drive and a combination of both.
The gains in efficiency come from low-speed electric running, regenerative braking and the ability to keep the petrol engine off when it’s not needed. Renault claims the Duster hybrid can cover 80 percent of city driving in electric mode. However, real-world fuel economy will still depend on traffic conditions, speed, ambient temperature and driving style.
The choice of a hybrid powertrain is expected to help make up for the absence of a diesel option on the new Duster. This will also directly compete with the Maruti Grand Vitara, Victoris and Toyota Hyryder, all of which currently offer a hybrid powertrain option.
