Concept cars allow automotive engineers to be at their imaginative best as they come up with various ideas that may or may not actually work in the real world. The new Renault Kwid is the first concept car from the automaker to be unveiled outside of Europe. Displayed first at the 2014 New Delhi Auto Expo, it showcases the company’s commitment to young customers from the emerging markets of Russia, Brazil, and India.
The Kwid makes for a robust looking vehicle coming with a two-wheel drive transmission, protective guards, short overhangs, chunky wings, and over-sized wheels. With the interiors set pretty and snug, the seats give an impression of lightness. The concept also features rear air-conditioning with controls behind the driver’s seat and ventilation through concentric perforations. The steering wheel is centrally positioned on the dashboard with a tablet fitted on the left. And, now it gets interesting.
The most striking feature of the Kwid is a flying quadrocopter drone located on the roof.
The “flying companion” can be controlled manually or fly autonomously, and is considered to be the first of its kind in the automotive world. It can photograph landscapes, help park, and detect obstacles and traffic jams ahead. Other technology-rich features include LED lighting, electronically operated front seats, electric opening doors, lack of gearshift, and a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine with dual-clutch transmission.
Renault has not given any final dates as to when the car will hit the markets. However, it clearly indicates that major automakers’ are shifting towards tapping the huge potential that emerging markets seek to offer with increased prosperity and a larger percentage of the world’s youth population.
