Exclusive: Renault Lodgy MPV to be discontinued before BS6 norms kick in

Renault India is steering clear of diesel power. The French automaker will not make its only diesel engine on offer in the Indian market – the 1.5 liter K9K turbocharged motor – Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms compliant. This is was confirmed to us post launch of the Triber MPV by none other that Venkatram Mamillapalle, the Managing Director of Renault India. What this also means is that the Lodgy MPV, which is a diesel-only vehicle in Renault’s line up currently, will be discontinued once the BS6 norms come into place. Other cars such as the Duster and Captur, which are currently offered with both petrol and diesel engines, will dump the diesel and go petrol-only. Mr. Mamillapalle also noted that the Renault Captur will not offer a CVT automatic option, which was speculated to be in the pipeline.

The Lodgy is a large MPV that rivals the likes of the Maruti Ertiga and the Mahindra Marazzo. The MPV has been a slow seller for Renault right from the outset, and is currently bought mainly by cab operators. The Lodgy is offered with the 1.5 liter K9K turbo diesel engine in two states of tune: 85 Bhp-200 Nm and 108 Bhp-240 Nm. The less powerful tune gets a 5 speed manual gearbox while the more powerful tune gets a 6 speed manual gearbox. The Lodgy is front wheel driven, and is based on the same platform as the Duster compact SUV. The MPV is known for its ride quality, which makes it more comfortable than its rivals. It gets a seven and eight seat layouts depending on the variant chosen, and is also sold with a more muscular styling package called the Stepway. Prices of the Lodgy start from Rs. 8.63 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.

After the Lodgy’s discontinuation, Renault India will be left with a single MPV option in its line up – the Triber. Launched earlier today, the Renault Triber is a lot smaller than the Lodgy, and is a lot cheaper as well. Prices of the Triber start from Rs. 4.99 lakhs, making it one of the least priced MPVs in the country. It is powered by a petrol engine and measures under 4 meters in length. Don’t let the length fool you though. The Triber comes with seven seats, out of which the last two seats in the third row can be fully removed to make more room for luggage. The Triber’s seating layout can be varied, adding to its versatility. The MPV can be configured to seat 2, 4, 6 or 7 passengers. The Triber is currently offered only with a 5 speed manual gearbox and Renault is likely to add an AMT option in future.