Upcoming subcompact SUV of Renault- HBC to launch in mid-2020

Renault HBC, the next offering from the French carmaker will be a subcompact SUV. After failed attempts with the Pulse in the past and then Captur, Renault India now wants to try and take on the volumes space with a large volumes offering to sit between the Triber and Duster portfolios.

The HBC will be unveiled in a near production-ready concept form at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo, with a market launch subsequently in mid-2020.

The Triber has already started to command a good volume base, as it straddles the compact and premium hatchback segments on price and attributes. The HBC is being built using the same CMF-A+ platform that the new Renault Triber is built on.

In terms of styling, it will be more upright, with higher ground clearance, exaggerated muscle in the bumpers and fenders and an imposing metal embellished black grille – much like Renault’s global SUV models Koleos and the recently facelifted Kadjar sport.

Expect Range Rover Evoque-like fenders and wheel arches too. Overall though it is expected to have a closer likeness to the next generation Renault Duster that is due at the end of 2022.

Features

The HBC will also use the Triber’s 1.0 ‘Energy’ engine. Renault’s new global small displacement engine made its debut in India with the Triber. But unlike the Triber, the new subcompact SUV will get a turbocharged version of it (as seen on the Renault Clio premium hatch in Europe).

The Triber will also get this version of the engine as a premium and more powerful variant in 2020. The HBC may also carry the regular engine as an option in lower-priced manual variants, to get an aggressive entry price point for the car.

We can also confirm that the car will get both the 5-speed manual and AMT (automatic) gearboxes that the Triber has. But what is interesting is that given the recent spate of more sophisticated autos coming to this segment, Renault is also considering a CVT for this one.