Renault Triber spied testing yet again

The Renault Triber has been spotted testing on the outskirts of Chennai yet again. The test mule seems to be a lower variant of the upcoming hatchback as it lacks alloy wheels and front fog lamps.

• Lower-spec variant gets projector headlamps, wheel caps and rear wipers.
• Expected to be powered by a 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre petrol motor.
• Will be launched by the end of June.
• No buzz around the diesel Triber for now.

In the above spy shot, the Triber gets a Kwid-esque front grille flanked by a set of projector headlamps which merge into the grille. Nope, no split headlight set up like the Kwid facelift that was spied testing recently. Seen on the side are possibly 15-inch steel wheels with a 5-spoke plastic wheel cap. Also seen on the side is a strong character line that runs from the front wheel arches and ends in the rear fender. Unfortunately, the rear of the Triber spied here doesn’t reveal any details as it is heavily camouflaged.

The spy shots also reveal that the lower-spec Triber looks decently kitted out as it gets a set of projector headlamps and a rear wash and wipe. We also expect features like a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, climate control, rear parking camera and others. And with the latest safety norms in play, we expect Renault to kit the Triber with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, front occupants seatbelt warning and an over-speed alert system as standard.

The Renault Triber will be underpinned by a new modular platform which is most likely a CMF-A platform. Engine options for the Triber are not yet confirmed but we expect Renault to plonk in the Kwid’s 1.0-litre motor or the Micra’s 1.2-litre motor under the hood. News of the Triber getting a turbo-charged variant of the Kwid’s 1.0-litre are also doing the rounds, and that can’t be ruled out. Apart from a manual transmission, the premium hatchback will also employ Renault’s Easy-R 5-speed AMT as the two-pedal setup has been spotted on test earlier. For now, there is no word on a diesel variant for the Triber. Diesel engines are set to get costlier with the onset of the upcoming BS6 norms in April 2020. And with most carmakers looking to phase out smaller diesel cars, Renault might opt to launch the Triber with just the petrol engines.

The Triber is expected to be launched by the end of June 2019. Prices are expected to start from Rs 5 lakh and go up to Rs 7.5 lakh. At this price point, the premium hatchback will take on the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz and the upcoming Toyota Glanza.

(Source: ZigWheels.com)