Renault’s Indian division thought the first Formula One Grand Prix in India would be a perfect opportunity to launch the brand new Renault Pulse on the local market. According to the official press release, the company is extremely proud of the new Renault Pulse, considering it the first premium urban car launched in India. The new small car will become the third model in the French carmaker’s range available in India, alongside the Renault Koleos and the Renault Fluence. But what’s perhaps even more interesting is that the car is based on the new Nissan Micra, a car which will definitely be available in more markets than the Pulse.
Basically, we’re talking about a Nissan Micra that has been restyled so it would fit the Renault brand image. But we’re not talking about the new image which has been previewed by concept cars like the Renault DeZir concept and which has been introduced for the first time on a production version on the facelifted version of the Twingo. Instead, we’re looking at a special brand image created especially for the Indian market by the local design center that has been opened since 2008 in Mumbai.
On the interior, the new Renault Pulse doesn’t bring any important surprises (actually none at all), the only difference compared to the Nissan Micra’s interior being the Nissan badge being replaced by the Renault one. Aside from that, the standard and optional features list seems to be extremely impressive for a car competing in the small class segment in India.
As for the engine range, the new Pulse will first be available with the 1.5 liter dCi diesel engine and later on a 1.2 liter gasoline engine will also be released. One of the things that allowed Renault to offer the Pulse with the 1.5 liter diesel is that the engine is produced in India, at the company’s facility in Chennai. And what’s even more interesting is that since Formula One was in town, Renault had Formula One drivers Mark Webber and Karun Chandok officially unveil the Pulse RS, a special version of the Pulse that features a more sporty look and several special stickers typical to the carmaker’s high performance RS versions.
In India, the new Renault Pulse will compete models like the Maruti Swift, Maruti Alto or Honda Brio and the local market is extremely important to Renault, the French company looking to sell a million cars here by 2013. Actually, it’s these kind of markets that Renault wants to focus on the future, India, Brazil and Russia being their most important targets.