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20 September, 2011 French car-maker Renault on Monday launched its premium SUV Koleos and said it will launch its small car and two other new models in the domestic market by early next year.
The two-litre, 4x4 diesel Koleos comes at Rs 24.1 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).
“We will launch our small car in India by next January. Besides, we will also launch an SUV and a mid-segment sedan in the same year,” Renault India Sales & Marketing Vice President Len Curran told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Koleos.
The French car major, which came to the country through a tie-up with the Mahindras earlier had exited from the JV in April 2010, and made its solo debut in the domestic market with the premium sedan Fluence in May.
The launch of the Koleos is a step forward in Renault India’s plans to introduce five cars here by the end of 2012, Curran said.
The Koleos made its international debut in 2008 and this is the first face-lift the vehicle has received since its launch, and being sold across five continents.
“The new Koleos made its world debut last week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We are highly optimistic about the product and we are confident it will cater to the needs of all the customers who are looking for a premium SUV, which combines both style and dynamic abilities,” Curran said.
Curran also said the company will launch a mini SUV, the Duster by May-June next year and a mid-size sedan by next year-end. By 2015, Renault is hoping to be among the top three brands, he said.
Curran said that the company’s strategy for India is to first consolidate position in the premium segment and then to go in for volumes. Renault has also plans to expand its dealership network to 40 from the existing 14 by this December, he said adding by December 2012, “we aim to have 100 dealerships”.
Going by the enquiries and on-going festival season, we are confident of selling a good number of the Koleos.

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13.7 km/l (Overall), 2.0L CRDi Turbo Diesel
2.0L CRDi Turbo, 150 bhp Diesel
6-speed Automatic Transmission (AT) * Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Certified by 5-star rating achieved in the EuroNCAP tests. Comfortable and classy interiors. "Easy fold" function facilitating user-friendly stowage. Highest safety with high technology. Comfort of a sedan and spaciousness of an MPV. Hill descent control. Available only in its diesel version.

The Renault Koleos, a compact SUV from the Renault Motors, was first introduced as a concept car at the 2006 Mondial de l'Aumotobile in Paris. Designed by Renault and developed by Nissan, The all-terrain crossover Koleos has been inspired by the X-Trail platform, scheduled for assembly at the Renault-Nissan production facility at Orangadam near Chennai.

Renault launched the Koleos in India in September 2011, with a lot of promise, claiming that the car is a perfect blend of power with pleasure. The car is claimed to offer precise steering feedback, outstanding stability and road view, contributing to a sedan-like driving experience. In India, the car will be available in three colour options, Black Metallic, Ultra Silver and White Pearl.

The Renault Koleos will be available only in its diesel version in India. The SUV is equipped with a 1,995 cc 2.0 litre Direct injection common rail + turbo engine which produces an output of 150 bhp @4,000 rpm and a maximum Torque of 320NM @2,000 rpm. The engine will be available in a four-wheeled drive option with six-speed automatic transmission.

The Koleos SUV, featuring 4-cylinders and 16 valves, can zoom from 0-100 kmph in 12.3 seconds, from 0-400 m in 18.8 seconds and from 0-1000m in 34 seconds and has a top speed of 180 kmph.

The Koleos is best described as a good looking, compact, 4x4 car with clean lines and as an SUV which works overtime to keep you comfortable. The car offers user-friendly stowage solution, comfortable interiors and carrying capacity that would please most! The comforts can be accessed at the flick of a switch or a finger touch. The revised and forceful front-end styling of the Koleos combined with elegant chrome grille contributes to an unmistakably dynamic appearance, while the carefully crafted interiors would please one with refined tastes. The car features new slimmer headlights and modern door mirrors with LED indicators. The "easy fold" function which allows one to fold the rear bench down from the trunk allows one to transport bikes. The split-opening tailgate enables one to carry objects over one meter wide.

The multi-tasking car is said to have the comfort of a sedan and the spaciousness of an MPV. The four-wheel drive transmission and off road-functions with hill descent control would be ideal for an adventure enthusiast and also for a person who wants to ride a city car. Music enthusiasts won't be disappointed when they go for a Koleos. Bose sound system comes as a standard with every Renault Koleos. The acoustics, keeping the cabin space and interiors in mind, is described as amazing, making the drive a pleasurable experience! Other features of the car include alloy wheels (including spare wheel), silver finish door handles, fully chrome surround grille, front and rear Skid plates, LED Integrated Outside Rear View Mirrors, Rear Spoiler, Silver Satinated Roof Rails, Rain Sensing Wiper and Rear Glass (Electric Defrosting) amongst others. The interiors feature soft touch dashboard, front arm rest with storage box and cup holder, all-leather upholstery, sun visors, coat hanger, closed storage in front door armrests, Smart Access Card Entry, Rear Parking Proximity Sensors, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Rear Sunblinds and a cooled and illuminated Glove Box amongst others.

The Renault Koleos is claimed to be one of the safest cars with both active and passive safety features. The safety of the car is also certified by a 5-star rating which it has achieved in the EuroNCAP tests. Being both intuitive and practical, the car is loaded with the latest technology and safety features including 6 SRS airbags, making sure that each drive is safe. Renault claims that the car offers precise steering feedback, impressive stability, a commanding road view along with a responsive 6-speed manual gearbox. The main controls are within easy reach on the ergonomic dashboard with instrument lighting, stylish speedometer housing and display.

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