Renault Arkana likely to be Duster's replacement

It seems that the French carmaker is in no mood to give up on India, for Renault is evaluating the Arkana for the Indian market and re-entering the mid-size SUV space. 

The Renault Arkana has been spotted on Indian roads, and the images have been circulating over the internet. Sources hint that Renault is evaluating the Arkana for the Indian market. These speculations are likely to be true, as Renault India recently stopped the production of the Duster, and the firm currently has no presence in the mid-size SUV segment. Once upon a time, Renault sold the Koleos in India via the CBU route, and it seems like the carmaker wants to re-enter that segment.

The Renault Arkana could be imported via the CBU route but in limited numbers – something similar to what Volkswagen Group did with the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Skoda Karoq. However, this will make the SUV more expensive than it should be.

The Arkana is essentially based on the same (CMF-B) platform as the new international-spec Renault Duster. Overseas, the Arkana gets two engine options. A 1.3-litre turbo-petrol motor called TCe 140 EDC, paired to a battery pack (mild hybrid system) that regenerates energy while braking. The engine produces 136bhp and 260Nm torque.

And a larger 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor powered by a 1.2kWh battery pack. The engine develops 94bhp; however, the combined power output of this hybrid system is 140bhp. This engine is mated to a Dog clutch multi-mode automatic transmission.

The Arkana is a crossover-SUV-coupe, which sits between the Hyundai Creta and the MG Hector in terms of size. The international spec Arkana packs some modern features and has an up to date cabin. The Duster and Captur didn’t impress many Indian buyers due to the lack of a feature-rich cabin. If launched in India, the Renault Arkana could grab some attention, but only if it's priced appropriately.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQrJd-hjebU