Premier Ltd., earlier known as Premier Automobiles Ltd., directed its plans towards the Indian passenger vehicle market, after a lull, with the compact diesel SUV, RiO. The company has once again dived into the rapidly growing Indian market, this time however, with a petrol engine version of RiO. The SUV has been introduced across major metros and selected Tier II cities in a phase-wise manner. The RiO has positioned itself between mid-sized passenger cars and larger utility vehicles.
The RiO petrol version has been assembled with an extraordinary strength of a 1173cc engine that is capable of producing a maximum power 77 bhp at 5800 rpm and a peak torque of 103.9 Nm at 3500 to 4250 rpm. It is important to note that while the diesel version is powered by a 1489cc turbo diesel engine based on Peugeot technology, delivered 65 bhp of power.
The petrol version satiates the basic needs of Indian customers by offering a decent mileage of 15 kmpl. Being worked upon on the lines of the Daihatsu model, the vehicle has been imported from the Zotye Group ,China, which disseminates close to 1,00,000 units of the model per year across the globe, from its state-of-the-art plant near Shanghai.
The dimensions of RiO speak volumes regarding the overall spacious look of the SUV. With an overall length, width and height of 3900 mm, 1555 mm and 1730 mm respectively, the compact SUV can undeniably score high when placed against celebrated names of the segment. The compact vehicle has a wheelbase of 2420 mm that ensures commensurate legroom for the occupants. In addition, RiO carries a front and a rear track of 1305 mm and 1310 mm respectively, with a turning circle of 4.7 m ensuring a hassle-free parking.
The compact SUV has a seating capacity of 5 passengers and hence it efficiently caters to the family needs. RiO has a sufficient fuel tank capacity of 46 litres, with a kerb weight and gross vehicle weight of 1080 kgs and 1530 kgs. The SUV from Premier Ltd. has a 5-speed manual transmission for top performance and a front disc and rear drum for increased safety.
Premier assembles the RiO at its Pune plant, based in Chinchwad, and has been selling it through its dealer network in a phased roll-out. Currently, the company has 50 dealers and eyes a network of 100 dealers in the next 12 months, thereby creating a pan-India network. The car maker is revving up its sales and service support, in addition to the three-year warranty being offered for the RiO. According to a company spokesperson, “Our spare parts’ pricing will not be a profit centre, but rather provide customer service and delight.”
The RiO is available in four versions, accommodates 5 people, with the base model price starting from Rs. 4.7 lacs and the top-end model at Rs. 6.3 lacs, making it nearly Rs.1.5 lacs cheaper than any other SUV on the Indian roads. The RiO is available in four colours i.e. red, white, silver and black. All models are equipped with power steering, front power windows, electrically operated door mirrors, roof-rails central locking and CD/MP3 players. The higher models have additional features such as anti-lock breaking system (ABS), keyless entry and alloy wheels.
RiO is also affixed with foldable split rear seats, thereby providing multiple seating configurations. It stands apart due to high ground clearance of 200 mm enabling it to adapt to all road conditions. With a front Mcpherson strut & coil spring suspension RiO offers exemplary handling.
Established in 1944, Premier Automobiles Ltd pioneered automobile manufacturing in India. It is now called Premier Ltd. Today, the company’s focus is on three core businesses, namely Automotive, Heavy Engineering and CNC Machines. The Heavy Engineering business provides components for the wind energy, power generation and infrastructure sectors.
