Renault clarifies rest of 2024 plans by postponing Duster and Clio

Renault South Africa has revised its product outlook for the rest of the year by announcing the delay of several models, some only expected to now arrive in 2025.

Initial plans

Back in November, local importer, Motus, stated that updates would be applied from the second quarter of the year to its core models, the Kiger and Triber.

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For the moment, nothing has materialised, most likely as a result of no alternations having been in India where both originate from.

‘Market conditions delaying Clio

The biggest development involves the postponement of the facelift Clio that was expected to arrive in the third quarter of the year.

In a statement to The Citizen, Renault attributed the delay to market conditions that would likely have resulted in a less-than-desired price tag if introduced now.

Delayed no less than four times before going on-sale in 2022, three years after its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the revisions had been expected to bring one of the Daimler co-developed 1.3-litre turbocharged engines mated to the seven-speed EDC transmission.

At present, the three model Clio range, priced from R312 999 to R367 999, all utilise the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol delivering 74kW/160Nm to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

Facelift Captur

Unveiled in April this year, the updated Captur faces more uncertainly given that the current pre-facelift model’s local market launch happened last year after the same delays as the Clio.

Available in Europe since 2019, Renault South Africa said it is “conducting feasibility studies on the Captur” and that an eventual launch date will be announced once approval is given.

New Duster pushed back

Arguably the biggest highlight, the planned fourth quarter reveal of the all-new Duster has been pushed back to “the first half of 2025” with a launch date to be announced then.

Revealed in Renault guise in February for markets where the Dacia brand isn’t sold, the third generation Duster takes leave of the 1.5 dCi turbodiesel engine in favour of a mild-hybrid 1.2-litre turbo-petrol, a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol fuelled by liquefied petrol gas, and the hybrid E-Tech that combines a normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol with a 1.2-kWh battery pack.

As it stands, speculation points to only the former being available locally, however, this is still to be confirmed officially.

SUVs being looked at, but no Kardian

Similar to the Captur, Renault further indicated it is conducting additional feasibility studies on making the Austral, Espace, Rafale and Symbioz SUVs available in the long run.

A no-no is the South American-market Kardian that replaces the Sandero now that Dacia will be selling it exclusively in Europe.

“Kardian is a unique offering exclusive for the Latin America market and is currently only available in left-hand-drive,” Renault told The Citizen.

In Brazil, motivation comes from a locally-made 1.0-litre turbocharged engine supposedly unrelated to the Captur and Clio with outputs of 92kW/220Nm. The only transmission is a six-speed EDC.

For Argentina, outputs have been detuned to 88kW/200Nm, though, unlike Brazil, a normally aspirated engine can be had, a 1.6 that sends 85kW/156Nm to the front axle through a five-speed manual.

Reinvented Koleos

Surprisingly, the brand indicated it will retain the Koles nameplate despite the current generation being on run-out and soon to cease production at the Busan Plant in South Korea.

The expected replacement will be the Grand Koleos shown at the Busan Motor Show in June, which originates from China and is based on the Geely Xingyue L sold in the People’s Republic since 2021.

A first-of-its-kind partnership between the two brands signed in 2022, the Grand Koleos rides on Geely’s CMA platform and measures 4 780 mm long with a wheelbase of 2 820 mm.

Similar to the Xingyue L, which sits above the Haoyue, known locally in rebadged form as the Proton X90, the Grand Koleos derives motivation from two Geely-made engines; a conventional 2.0-litre turbo-petrol developing 154kW/325Nm and a hybrid comprising a 1.5-litre turbo and a 1.64-kWh battery pack.

Combined, the hybrid, which carries the E-Tech moniker, produces 180 kW and is mated to a multi-mode transmission whereas the petrol is paired solely to a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box. Front-wheel-drive is standard fare on both with the petrol having the option of a BorgWarner four-wheel-drive system.

“Koleos is an important nameplate for us as a brand locally. Grand Koleos is currently only available in left-hand-drive, however, there are plans to make it available for right-hand-drive markets, “Renault said.

Hinting at the Grand Koleos possibly becoming a reality in the event of right-hand-drive approval being given, Renault said, “We intend on maintaining the legacy of the Koleos nameplate locally”.

Additional information from autotribune.co.kr.

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