All-new Renault Duster spied for the first time: To launch in India

The French automaker Renault’s wholly-owned subsidiary Renault India Private Limited launched the country’s one of the very compact SUVs the Duster back in 2012. The model became an instant hit. Although after years of stagnancy, the model was discontinued. It was believed that it might make a comeback but reports were never too solid up until now. Recently it was reported that the model could be relaunched and would most likely be based on Renault-Nissan’s new CMF-B platform. Now just a few days ago a test mule of the Duster replacement was spotted in Spain.

The pictures of the alleged Duster replacement were shared on a Spanish Forum and the pictures were taken from another moving car. There are two pictures that show the new Duster in a fully camouflaged state. The first picture shows the side profile of the SUV and we can note that it will have a huge presence on the road. The test mule resembles the Bigster SUV concept a lot and we can note those signature LED DRLs on the front. The SUV has a boxy design and looks butch.

The second picture is from the rear of the SUV and from this picture we can further confirm that it is based on the Bigster concept because of those unique taillights. The SUV in the spy shots has a small rear windshield and it can also be noted that there is a double bubble design on the rear spoiler mounted in top of the windshield. Chunky roof rails can also be noted on top of the SUV.

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For those who are unaware, Renault’s subbrand Dacia unveiled the Bigster 3-row SUV’s first concept to the public in 2021. The front fascia of the concept car was aggressively styled, with a full-width grille taking centre stage. The concept SUV boasted a squared-off front bumper which had two vertical air intakes in the centre of a large centre grille. It had LED lighting that appeared to be built into the grille. The vehicle’s flared wheel arches and massive 5-spoke alloy wheels gave the side profile the appearance of being a larger Duster SUV. Two Y-shaped taillights and a sleek tailgate with a large Dacia emblem were also features of the Bigster concept.

As of yet there is no concrete info if the Duster moniker will be making its comeback in India but it is believed that a replacement could be on its way. The launch of the first generation Duster in India back in 2012 marked a significant turning point for the brand, so if the Renault Duster does make a comeback there, it could help the French automaker a lot.

The Duster, was the company’s first-ever mass-market product in that country. The Duster was the first midsize SUV with a monocoque design, which sparked the emergence of a completely new market segment that later attracted and was dominated by SUVs like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

A prior report suggested that Renault is preparing to invest more than Rs 4,000 crore in India to launch the new CMF-B platform, which would pave the way for the arrival of other new cars, including the next Duster generation. It was also reported that the alleged Duster replacement could hit the Indian market between 2024 and 2025.

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