Added safety equipment makes Renault Kwid heavier in Brazil than India

In yet another example that India-spec cars are not at par with their international counterparts when it comes to crashworthiness, the Brazil’s Renault Kwid is reported to be 20% heavier than the Indian version.

The additional weight comes from added safety equipment and stronger monocoque. Primarily engineered in India, the local version of the Kwid weighs only 650 kg in the interest of fuel efficiency and cost.

Carplace reports that the most significant change between the Indian and Brazilian Kwid will be the structural enhancements. The Brazil-spec model would be 20% heavier than its Indian counterpart which means the kerb weight will be a little less than 800 kg.

Production in Brazil will commence in the coming months with the Kwid scheduled to make its Brazilian debut at the Sao Paulo Auto Show in November. The Kwid was adapted to the Brazilian market by the local engineering centre. The CKD kits for the entry level SUV-ish hatchback will be shipped from India.

To be powered by 0.8- and 1.0-litre three cylinder flex-fuel engines, the Renault Kwid will be pitted against the newly launched Fiat Mobi. The car will receive better safety rating than the India-spec model (0-stars in Global NCAP) in the crash tests.

This article first appeared in Rushlane.com