EXCLUSIVE: Renault Triber-based HBC compact SUV to be shown at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo

Renault is betting big on the Indian car market. The French car maker has already launched the facelifted Duster SUV earlier this year and will follow up with another SUV next year, at a much cheaper price tag. Code-named the HBC, the new compact SUV from Renault will measure under 4 meters in length, and will be based on the Triber’s CMF-A platform. Cartoq sources have confirmed that the HBC compact SUV will make its debut at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo in near production form, and that the official launch will happen soon after.

The CMF-A platform that’s used on the Triber compact MPV is longer than that used on the Kwid budget hatchback. The Triber MPV and the HBC code-named compact SUV are likely to share a large amount of parts to keep costs low. The new vehicle will be the brand’s least priced SUV, and is expected to take on the likes of the Maruti Brezza and the Hyundai Venue in the sub-4 meter compact SUV space. This will be Renault first stab at this highly competitive segment, which is witnessing a big increase in new launches.

The HBC is likely to be a petrol-only SUV given the fact that the French automaker is steering clear of diesel engines in the face of the upcoming Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms. The 1 liter petrol engine used on the Triber is likely to make it to the HBC SUV as well. However, turbocharging this 3 cylinder motor to liberate more power and torque for the compact SUV cannot be ruled out. On the Triber, this engine is used in naturally aspirated guise, and makes 72 Bhp-96 Nm. 5 speed manual and AMT options will be offered with this engine on the Triber, and similar option are likely for the new SUV as well. Like the Triber, the HBC is expected to be quite light. Twin airbags, ABS, reverse parking sensors, reverse parking camera, seat belt reminders and speed alerts are likely to be various safety features offered on the vehicle.

While the Triber gets a 7 seat layout with flexible seating options including the two removable seats in the third row, the HBC compact SUV is likely to get a conventional 5 seat layout with emphasis on a large boot. The design of the new SUV is likely to be quite trendy yet muscular. There are big expectations that Renault would price the Triber very competitively, and this could be the case with the SUV as well. Just so that you know, the Triber will be officially launched in India on the 28th of August, 2019, and bookings for the compact MPV are already open. Once the compact SUV is launched, Renault will have three cars based on the CMF-A platform, which has been designed specifically for emerging markets of the world.