Penned with input from Renault Design India, the KWID takes the form of a tall, rugged-looking compact crossover that features pronounced wheel arches, short overhangs, scissor doors that open at the push of a button, slender headlights and LED tail lamps with hexagonal inserts. Large alloy wheels mounted on high-profile tires give the concept a buggy-like look.
Interestingly, the KWID’s cockpit is inspired by a bird’s nest and a straw-like motif is found all around. The driver sits front and center on a bench seat suspended over a white base and the bulk of the car’s controls including the gear selector are located on the futuristic dashboard.
The KWID comes with a small helicopter called Flying Companion that automatically scopes out the road ahead using directions sent by the navigation system. Alternatively, the driver can control the Flying Companion with a tablet and detect obstacles in the road or take pictures of the view from above.
Power comes from a 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that spins the front wheels via a dual-clutch EDC transmission, a drivetrain lifted straight from the Captur parts bin. Renault says the crossover can be equipped with an all-electric drivetrain with almost no modifications.
Renault has not commented on what the future holds for the KWID. Although pure speculation, a heavily toned-down version of the concept with four doors could join the Renault lineup in select global markets before the end of the decade.
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