New Renault Duster Spied With Camouflage Even After Launch: Hybrid Version Being Tested?
Renault launched the new (third-generation) Duster in India on March 17th. Priced from Rs 10.49 lakh, ex-showroom, the new Duster has already positioned itself as a strong contender in the mid-size segment. It has two engine options at launch- 1.0L turbocharged petrol and 1.3L turbo-petrol. Deliveries have already begun in some cities. Now, a new test mule of the Duster has been spied testing in Bengaluru, with heavy camouflage. This made many wonder- What is Renault testing now? This is likely to be the carmaker testing the hybrid version, expected to be out around Diwali.
The mule was spotted in Bengaluru, parked by a street. Usually, when a new car launches, test mule sightings stop. The vehicle seen in these images has heavy camouflage on it. This points to the possibility of the company testing a different powertrain or version of it.
In the case of Duster, it is likely to be the hybrid powertrain. A strong hybrid engine was announced on the Duster when it was first revealed in India. It was then also mentioned that this version will arrive around the festive season.
The mule seen in these images remains identical to the non-hybrid Duster. In one of the images, we can also see the interior. The 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster can be seen in these.
The hybrid Duster will be powered by a 1.8L strong hybrid powertrain. It combines a 1.8-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery pack. One of these motors will drive the wheels while the other will act as a generator.
The setup is said to have a combined output of 160 hp and 172 Nm, and is mated to a clutchless, high-torque transmission. This setup, called the HR18 HEV, is manufactured by Horse Powertrain- a company co-owned by Renault, Geely and Saudi Aramco.
The strong hybrid setup is claimed to deliver a sweet balance of performance and fuel efficiency. It will be able to run on all-electric mode for up to 80% of city driving. It will likely become one of the most fuel-efficient products in its segment, and will appeal to a new set of buyers. The hybrid version will also be underpinned by the same RGMP platform as the regular Duster.
The hybrid powertrain is likely to be offered on higher trims of the Duster. It now comes in five broad trims- Authentic, Evolution, Techno, Techno Plus, and Iconic. More details of the same are expected to surface closer to the launch.
Before launching the Duster, Renault had introduced the R-Pass program- a pre-booking program for customers to express interest in the products and specific powertrain options. R-Pass owners will also get exclusive perks and priority deliveries. The results of this program revealed an interesting finding- the strong hybrid version had an overwhelming response from Indian buyers.
Nearly 40% of pre-bookings came from metro cities.The explosive popularity even made Renault confirm that the 2026 production allocation of hybrids has already been sold out. This shows a major shift in consumer interest toward hybrid mid-size SUVs. It used to be a relatively less crowded segment till recently. Now, multiple strong hybrid mid-size SUV models are being readied for this space, including the Duster.