26.08.2008 Renault Sandero Stepway

French automaker Renault has introduced the Sandero Stepway, a compact crossover vehicle designed primarily for South America. The Stepway is the latest derivative off the low-cost and ultra-flexible Logan platform, which was created originally with Renault's Romanian partner Dacia. Built at Renault's Curitiba plant in Brazil, the five-passenger Stepway will go on sale in the Brazil market in October, with Argentinean sales to follow shortly after that. The company also is studying whether to offer the Stepway in other markets where the Logan is built and sold, including India and Russia.

The "urban sport" derivative of the Logan/Sandero features a higher ground clearance, roof bars, an integrated spoiler, exclusive grille and bumpers, plus a chrome tailpipe. At the start of production, the only engine will be a 112-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder unit that is programmed to run on bioethanol. In Argentina, the Stepway will be offered with a 1.5-liter common-rail turbodiesel engine.

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