Renault Kwid 1.0-litre to take the Micro Hatchback category by storm!

Renault showcased the 1.0-litre version of Kwid at the Indian Auto Expo 2016 and frankly, the car didn’t look any different from the 800cc one. I mean, yes there were two other Kwids that were customised to crazy, dubbed as the Climber concept and the RaceR Concept. Although, then they will hardly see the light of production. Speaking of the production ready Kwid 1.0-litre, there is more to it than just another variant addition to the lineup. It can not only serve the people who wanted a powerful micro hatch, but can also act as a trailblazer for a category that only saw boring cars made to ship people from point A to B. Let’s see why?

The Figures

To put this into perspective, let’s take a hot hatch in consideration, say the VW Polo GT TSI. It weighs approximately 1100 kilos and has a power figure of 103 bhp. So, in terms of power to weight ratio, for every ~10 kilos of Polo there is one bhp that hauls it around. That’s power to weight ratio in simple words. Kwid, with its current variant weighs 660 kilos and has 53 bhp, which leaves its power-to-weight ratio at around ~12 kilos per bhp. Now, if rumours are to be believed, the 1.0-litre variant could have little over 70 bhps. Considering the bigger engine will have an added weight, the car can land somewhere at 700 kilos, making the PTW fall in the ballpark of 10 kgs per bhp. That my friends will make this new Kwid absolutely bonker to drive and certainly it won’t be as expensive as the Polo GT TSI, so that’s a Win Win! Wait, it doesn't end here, this 1.0-litre version was also showcased with a manual gearbox, so enthusiasts will be really fine with this tranny.

What the Kwid has right now!

Let’s just forget this update, the current Kwid with its 800cc engine has a decent 5-speed manual gearbox, is already lighter by 60 kg than the used-to-be lightest car in the segment. Then there are the SUV-ish looks, that nobody in this segment has. It is the biggest dimensionally with class leading space and a MediaNav touchscreen infotainment system. It also comes with an optional SRS driver airbag and in the future will receive another one for the passenger with the upcoming variant. Moreover, the 1.0 litre Kwid will also get ABS and EBD in turn adding to the safety of the car.

How it's to sit in?

The car is exactly same as the 800cc-ed Kwid, but it can certainly change into something different, as Renault might offer rear power windows as well, which were absent from the show car. The front seat with the AMT knob on the dashboard offers a different experience altogether. It opens up more space to keep belongings on the central tunnel and this setting feels kind of airy.

Bottomline

Like its younger sister, this car will attract and motivate people who never wanted to buy a car from this segment. It will act as an everyday hot hatch, provided the figures are as good as I hope they will be. I am not saying that it can nail a GT TSI everywhere, but maybe somewhere on a busy street or a tight lane, somebody can actually utilise those small dimensions and a small weight. One can get away with a smirk while being seated inside a Kwid, though the person behind the steering in GT will still be contemplating whether to push their car through the narrow lane or not. In addition, it might just be the Godzilla of its own category. Period.

Watch Showcase Video of Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT

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