Renault are all set to launch an automatic variant of their recent offering, the Scala, with the promise
that it would rock the segment. Will it? We drove it recently to find out the same
They all start by making good-looking cars. Arrest the attention of the masses by the looks first and then take them into the technicalities, something that wouldn’t keep them interested for long. Have they done something similar? “Their cars are quite an eye-candy.” I have heard a lot of people say this about Renault, so that’s step one and for step two, they have got that sorted too. The company, as a sole entity, has already brought an array of five different models into the country after the end of their association with Mahindra. Needless to add, their products have grabbed the people’s attention too, with the recently launched Duster achieving an impressive sale figure of 23,000 units since its launch in July last year.
Looking at the prospects in the Indian four-wheeler market and the response, the company believes that India has risen to be ranked among the top 10 countries in terms of sales. So it becomes quite obvious that the company is taking the Indian market very seriously. So how do Renault India plan to do this? Is their latest launch a step in that direction? Perhaps.
The Renault Scala, launched in September last year, posted 25,000 units on the sales chart until the end of 2012. By adding another variant to the Scala range, the company has made the best of their technological association with Nissan and given Nissan’s X-tronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) to the Scala. So what’s the USP of the car, you may ask. According to Renault, this new entrant in the automatic A3 segment would be more efficient than its manual counterpart. Well, was it? And what about driveability? To answer all these questions I took it out for a spin to the Kashid beach in Raigad district to see how good or bad the transmission is when clubbed with the Scala.
Powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as in the manual variant, with no tweaks whatever (thus delivering the same 99 PS of maximum power and 134 Nm of peak torque), the four-speed Xtronic is the only addition to the car.
The engine is a high-revving one, with well distributed torque throughout the curve to support it. The transmission scores on its smoothness and the hassle-free drive it offers, but demand some quick power for overtaking and one
experiences the rubber-band effect CVTs are known for. The handling, suspension, brakes and other characteristics are the same as in the manual car.
The other options in the segments are the Volkswagen Vento, Hyundai Verna and Ford Fiesta, etc. The car has been priced between Rs 8.99-9.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
VERDICT
The Renault Scala Automatic is a good car to drive and with the auto ‘box, convenience takes a major leap forward. Good looks and convenience can be defined as its USP
RENAULT SCALA AUTOMATIC
PRICE: Rs 8.99- 9.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
ENGINE: 1,498 cc, 99 PS@ 6,000 rpm, 459 Nm@ 4,000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Four-speed CVT
SUSPENSION: McPherson Strut (front), Torsion bar (rear)
BRAKES: Disc (front), Drum (rear)
WHEEL-SIZE: 185/70 R14
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 41 litres
BOOT SPACE: 490 litres
Story: Gasha Aeri-Alawani
Photography: Rommel Albuquerque
