Hyundai Venue-rivalling Renault HBC SUV To Debut At 2020 Auto Expo

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• The Renault HBC will most likely be based on Triber’s platform.
• It could use a turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre Energy motor.
• The chances of the SUV getting a diesel engine are extremely thin.
• The Renault HBC is expected to go on sale by mid-2020.

Having launched the Triber, a niche sub-4 metre MPV which boasts of a unique seating layout, Renault is now gearing up to launch an SUV to take on rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, the Mahindra XUV300 and the recently launched Hyundai Venue, among others. Yes, we are talking about the much anticipated Renault SUV codenamed the HBC.

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The HBC will be based on the same platform as the Triber - a modified version of the Kwid’s CMF-A platform. Like the Triber, expect the HBC to come with some innovative features to set it apart from other SUVs. It could also feature some sort of modular seating like the Renault MPV.

As for the powertrain, we expect Renault to use a force-fed version of the Triber’s 1.0-litre Energy petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. However, expect the HBC’s engine to comply with BS6 emission norms from day one. And as reported earlier, the Triber will soon get the option of an AMT. Naturally, we can expect Renault to offer this gearbox with the SUV as well as its rivals such as the Nexon, XUV300 and the Vitara Brezza offer similar options. Only the Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Venue get a more sophisticated torque convertor and a first-in-segment dual clutch transmission respectively.

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Renault will most likely not offer the HBC with a diesel engine as the carmaker expects the demand for oil burners to dip post the implementation of BS6 norms. However, we cannot rule out diesel variants of the HBC powered by the company’s tried-and-tested 1.5-litre K9K diesel motor either.

Set to be unveiled at the 2020 Auto Expo, the HBC will not only have to go up against the above-mentioned rivals but also take on Toyota’s version of the Vitara Brezza. While Renault hasn’t announced a launch date yet, we believe it could go on sale in mid-2020. Expect Renault to price the HBC between the Triber (Rs 4.95 lakh - Rs 6.49 lakh) and the Duster (Rs 8 lakh - Rs 12.5 lakh).