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Renault may not be a strong force to reckon with as it once was, but the brand still has a long way to go before being discarded completely. Before that happens, the French carmaker has planned out its appropriate remedial measures. The company is now banking on the new-gen Duster to bring back its glory days, especially in the Indian market.
Along with the Duster, Renault is also planning on bringing out a seven-seat SUV based on the same. An initial concept model, named Dacia Bigster, broke covers a couple of years back. Now, a test unit of the upcoming three-row SUV has come to light. Images of a camouflaged prototype have surfaced on the internet recently.
Renault Duster 7-seater: Exterior
Based on the CMF-B platform that sees duty on many Renault-Nissan products globally, the 7-seater SUV will share many elements, including body panels with the upcoming Duster. At 4.6 metre, the 7-seater utility vehicle will be around 300mm longer than its smaller sibling. This will result in changes to the side profile.
For starters, the SUV will have larger rear doors in comparison to the Duster. It will also have a slightly longer wheelbase. Styling cues will also be borrowed from the Duster with a similar front fascia featuring the Renault branding on the nose flanked by the signature Y-shaped LED elements on each side.
Other visual highlights evident from the recent spy shots include a flat roofline, roof-mounted rear spoiler, a shark-fin antenna, and five-spoke blacked-out alloy wheels.
Renault Duster 7-seater: Powertrain
Renault hasn’t yet confirmed powertrain options for the seven-seat SUV but it is expected to carry forward the same options as the third-gen Duster. The new Duster gets three powertrain options— a 1.6-litre hybrid petrol unit with a mild hybrid system, a turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol unit mated to a 48V battery, and a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol mill.
There will be no diesel engines on offer. Like Duster, its seven-seat version will offer both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrain depending on the markets. That said, it will be an electronic all-wheel drive system and not a proper 4×4 unit with a low-range transfer case. It will also benefit from Terrain modes including Auto, Snow, Mud/Sand, off-road and Eco.
Renault Duster 7-seater: Will it come to India?
Besides Duster, there are talks of this 7-seater SUV to land in India. While the Duster is expected to make its India debut around Diwali 2025, the seven-seater SUV will only hit the markets after that. It could carry the same name as its concept prototype– ‘Bigster’, since it is an acronym for “Big Duster”. When launched, it will go up against the likes of Mahindra XUV700, Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar, and MG Hector Plus.
Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
