After a false start in India with Mahindra as their partner, Renault has decided to come back with a vengeance and with a new outlook and strategy. They launched the the very competent Renault Fluence in the month of June and even showed the world their strategy for India till 2013 by putting a launch schedule teaser on their website. As per that the Koleos was due in September, 2011. And Renault has not disappointed. They have launched the Koleos with a price tag of Rs.22.99 lakhs (ex showroom Delhi). The softroader SUV is powered by a 2 litre diesel engine that is shared by the X Trail from sister company, Nissan and puts out a respectable 150 PS of power from the all aluminium common rail diesel engine. The car also has a split tail gate, tray tables behind the front seats for the back seat occupants, 17 inch alloy wheels and cruise control. The Koleos competes with the likes of the Honda CR V, the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Chevrolet Captiva.The Koleos will come to India through the CKD route and be assembled at Renault-Nissan’s facility in Oragadam, Chennai.
The Renault Koleos will be powered by a 1995cc Direct injection Common rail + Turbo diesel mill delivering 150 PS at 4000 rpm. The top speed is claimed to be around 180kph with a 0-100 kph time of 12.3 seconds.The Renault Koleos will be available in three colors, White Pearl, Ultra Silver and Black Metallic. The new Renault Koleos is also available in a new dynamic body colour, Cayenne Orange elsewhere in the international markets, wonder if India will get this colour too.
The split rear tailgate enables easy access to the boot. Distinguishing it from its previous interation, the new Koleos has integrated LED indicators in its outer rear view mirrors.
Renault’s crossover benefits from expert input from across the Alliance. In addition to being conceived and designed by Renault, it benefits from Nissan technologies (notably its 4×4 transmission) and outside India, is manufactured at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan, South Korea, which is acclaimed for its outstanding build quality.
From the press release:
Technologies for enhanced comfort and safety. New Renault Koleos is available with a raft of useful, reassuring and user-friendly high-end features, including hands-free entry and ignition, an electronic parking brake, automatic headlight and windscreen wiper activation and a joystick-operated Carminat TomTom navigation system. The 4×4 versions of New Renault Koleos also incorporate Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.
Use of the audio, navigation and dual-zone climate control systems is perfectly intuitive and their controls fall readily to hand. Meanwhile, careful attention has been paid to eliminating mechanical and road noise which means that occupants are able to fully appreciate the premium Bose® sound audio system which has been tailor-engineered to match the characteristics of the cabin.
Renault’s expertise in the realm of active and passive safety saw the brand’s crossover earn a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating at the time of its launch thanks to features such as ESP, emergency brake assist, programmed structural deformation, six airbags and seat belt pretensioners.