Renault LBA will reportedly be based on the heavily localised CMF-A platform and it could be powered by 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine
Renault India has the Triber as its biggest launch of the year. Waiting to go on sale in July, the sub-four-metre model will be trying to make a name for itself in the entry-level MPV space that has largely remained unexplored. It carries plenty of importance for Renault as it’s the first brand new launch since the introduction of the Captur.
Moreover, since the sales of the Kwid has been going down and is struggling to maintain its consistency, the Triber has reportedly been given the task of 60,000 annual sales initially. Renault targets doubling its sales volume to two lakh units by 2022 by increasing its market penetration to 50 per cent by launching new vehicles and the Triber will play a major role in it.
Logically speaking, for any mainstream manufacturer wanting to increase volumes, it is important to be present in as many sub-10 lakh segments as possible. The French brand was planning to enter the sub-four-metre sedan segment earlier but aborted the project. However, it may not have any other choice but to reconsider having a subcompact sedan.
Just as the Triber, it will sit on the CMF-A architecture as Renault will certainly bank on aggressively pricing the sedan with high local content. The Earlier codename LBC could have now been renamed to LBA. Venkatram Mamillapalle, Managing Director, Renault India has told recently that an entry-level budget sedan could be introduced in the near future.
The platform will also spawn a subcompact HBC SUV competing against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV300. Expect the SUV and sedan to share several components with each other. With Renault looking to price the Triber affordably, the chances of the sedan undercutting its rivals are also high.
If the LBA comes into existence, it will go up against Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Aspire and Volkswagen Ameo. It could be powered by the 2020-bound HBC’s 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine. Expect five-speed manual and five-speed AMT transmission choices to be provided. The success of Triber, HBC and LBA will determine whether Renault can reach its target of 5 per cent market share by 2022 or not.
*Pics for reference only