Renault is making a strong comeback in India with the all-new Duster. While electric cars continue to grow, Renault is following the same path other Japanese car makers are following. Renault is betting big on hybrid technology for Indian roads. The upcoming Renault Duster will also be the brand’s first strong hybrid SUV in India.

The new Duster hybrid was recently unveiled and the company confirmed that the SUV will be launched around Diwali this year. This makes the festive season an important one for the French carmaker.

The highlight of the new Duster is its strong hybrid powertrain, called the E-Tech 160. Renault claims the hybrid Duster can offer a driving range of up to 1,000 kilometres on a full tank. This is a big talking point, especially for Indian buyers who value long range and low running costs.

The E-Tech 160 system uses a series-parallel hybrid setup. It combines a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and a small 1.4 kWh battery. One motor helps drive the wheels, while the other works as a starter generator. Power is sent through a dedicated hybrid transmission that does not use a traditional clutch.

Renault says the Indian version of this hybrid system has been specially tuned for local conditions. The company has increased torque at lower engine speeds to handle Indian traffic, highways, and rougher road surfaces better. This should help make the Duster easier to drive in daily city use.

In Europe, the same hybrid system delivers impressive efficiency figures. Renault claims fuel consumption of around 25 kmpl in overseas models. The CO2 emissions are also much lower than regular petrol cars. While official Indian mileage figures are yet to be announced, expectations are high.

The new Duster will not get a diesel engine. This is a major change, as diesel once made up nearly 70 percent of Duster sales in India. Renault discontinued diesel engines when BS6 norms came into effect and has no plans to bring them back.

According to Renault, the hybrid is meant to replace diesel. Company officials believe the hybrid does a better job than diesel in terms of fuel economy and driving experience. Since the SUV can run in electric mode most of the time in the city, drivers also get strong low-end torque and quieter operation.

Apart from the hybrid, the new Duster will also be available with turbo-petrol engines. These include a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and a more powerful 1.3-litre turbo-petrol. These versions will arrive first, with deliveries expected to begin from April.