Renault Kwid continues testing, SCe (1.0L variant) and RxT with alloy wheels spotted

The Kwid has been a game-changing car for Renault in India. With the Duster losing the plot, the Kwid single-handedly brought Renault back into the game with more than 100,000 bookings and waiting periods extending to more than six months in some cities. Importantly, the Kwid has so far managed to do what the Hyundai Eon and Tata Nano couldn't, that is challenge Maruti-Suzuki's supremacy with the Alto. That's a real confidence-booster not just for Renault but for every other brand that intend to take Maruti-Suzuki head-on in a segment it has ruled for decades.

But Renault wants more. Both the Alto and Eon, Kwid's direct competitors, come with two engine displacements - a basic 0.8-liter mill and a peppy 1.0-liter unit in the top variants. The Kwid currently has the base engine variants of its competitors covered with its 799 cc, 3-cylinder engine that produces 52 PS of power and 72 Nm of torque. Very soon, the 1.0-liter variants of the Alto and Eon would be facing the heat as well as Renault is readying an all-new 1.0-liter 'Smart Control efficiency' engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. Though the specifications aren't released yet, Renault showcased this variant at the 2016 Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this year. 

Here's proof this variant could soon see the light of the day. Caught testing on the busy GST Road near the Chennai airport, this silver-coloured Kwid caught our attention due to the additional 'SCe' badge on the right side of its hatch. No other change could be observed externally and the car looked exactly like a stock Kwid in RxT trim. 

Not far behind the Kwid SCe were a couple of red Kwids with test registration plates. One of them was bone stock but the other had an interesting change. Haven't you noticed the smart-looking alloy wheels that one of the red Kwids was shod with? We know that all current trim levels of the Kwid come with steel wheels. While the base variants have exposed wheels, the RxT gets plastic wheel covers. Though no other visual add-ons could be identified, this spotting makes us believe Renault is planning more features for the Kwid already.

Since we know Renault is also planning to launch an Automated Manual Transmission variant of the car with an 'Easy-R' badge, we kept our eyes wide open to see if an AMT-equipped variant was also part of the test fleet. Sadly, it wasn't. 

We are glad Renault isn't getting complacent with the Kwid's success and is putting in a lot of efforts to widen the car's appeal. Once the production constraints are resolved and the third shift starts at the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant in Chennai, the Kwid's sales numbers are bound to go up. With these powerful and feature-loaded variants in pipeline, expect it to grow further. All we can say is 'Alto, beware!'