2010 Dacia Duster for emerging markets

By Tim Beissmann | December 09th, 2009

Dacia, a division of Renault Group, has released the details of the Duster – a new mid-size car that it says is unashamedly rugged and capable off-road in a time when most SUVs are just showy city cruisers.

The Duster will initially be launched in emerging markets from the second quarter 2010 where Dacia believes it has found a niche.

“The middle classes aspire to owning a modern car that reflects their social status.

“At the same time, they want a strong car that is reliable, versatile and capable of standing up to climatic demands and conditions that can be both tough and varied,” it said in a statement.

Sales will start in Turkey, Algeria and Morocco before spreading throughout Ukraine, the Middle East and parts of Africa from June.

In 2011 the Duster will expand to the Gulf States, Russia and Brazil, with the car to be badged as a Renault in some markets and production to be carried out in Romania and Moscow.

At just 4.31m long and 1.82m wide, the Duster has similar dimensions to the Renault Koleos but weighs close to 500kg less.

It is far more off-road focused with a high ground clearance (more than 200mm) and good clearance angles (30 degrees approach, 35+ degrees departure).

An 82kW 1.6-litre petrol engine joins two diesel powerplants (one with 63kW, the other 78kW), with all three currently under the bonnets of other Renault Group cars.

The 4×2 emits less than 140g/km CO2 while the 4×4 version is similarly impressive at just below 150g/km.

Front and side airbags are standard depending on the market and specification level, as are ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist.

Tim

This will be a flop throughout the world.

So Very Sad

Just like you are in your own lunchbox.

Tim

You don’t even make sense. Did I hit a nerve?

FrugalOne

@tim^^^

You joking right?

EVERY Dacia made, Sandero, Logan etc have been selling like hotcakes, they cannot keep up with demand in Romania so they are now doing assymble in India and South Africa, other plants to follow.

This is a whole new world of car manufactured budget models, cheapest possible car price, but with still premium quality and engineering, win x win situation.

Not cheap and nasty old obsolete model like say China or India, but cheap and good quality.

So much sucess that now FIAT, vw, Toyota and others are working at full speed to get in on the act with its own lowest possible priced budget car range.

THIS is the ONLY saviour for Renault in Australia, they should bite the bullet and start importing these under Renualt badges [as they already do in many markets] because what they are currently doing [or more like not doing] is a total disaster.

Cheers

F-0

VERY IMPRESSSIVE MODEL AGAIN DACIA/RENAULT!

This new SUV looks great, at a price no other can match….for now!

ABMPSV

Maybe it won’t be a flop. In Germany DACIA SANDERO is 21st best selling car this year. Total sale from Jan to Oct is 44,152 unit.
o

actaully this car would do very well in australia and renault should consider either introdcuing Dacia here as a brand or rebadging them as renaults

crouchy

Probably as well as skoda….

FrugalOne

@crouchy^^^

lol

I pointed out to my wife a skoda, and she near wanted to vomit!!

I think with the small amount sold [mainly to Czech nationals here and wood ducks too] the market agrees with her!

The should dump skoda and bring in the VASTLY superior and s/exy VW SEAT range, MUCH better thing, with more or less same powertrain anyway.

Be interested in the model that uses LESS than 3L/100km of DIEsel.

Least they dont look like a communist cloned generations old vw hand me down clone.

Cheers

F-0

The Real Car Fanatic

You sure she wasn’t seeing your reflection in the paint work Frugal?

But I have to agree with you on SEAT, great styling, very nice to drive and they have the most powerful 2.0TSI engine in the entire VAG fleet.

The Netherlands had a Leon Cupra with 228kw Cupra 310 limited edition, bring it out here and it would sell like hot cakes.

pg

this has a lot of potential guys, it looks interesting unlike most suvs these days, and if its under 30k, itll be a hit amongst small families. It reminds of the jimny and and also that new chinese x240 thing, but this will probably have decent quality and if the ride is not too ‘rural’ then i’d even consider one… although a used s2000 fits directly in the under30k price bracket hehe
Danny

Should be a very good car, as romanian products are pretty good quality.
jens k.

this car will be under 15k euros so it will be a hit
t39

This car is for markets that do not care about safety. Hence, 500kg weight saving due to weaker structure. Will probably get 3 star crash rating.
Harley Stone

The info given in this article is not quite correct.
The Duster will also be sold in Europe as from early 2010.

with regard to some of the comments here let me please add:
qualitywise the DACIA’s belong to the top scorers in the official
quality ranking. better than the Opel Astra which ranks at place 9, and far
better than any Volkswagen, the VW Golf at place 38, the VW Passat at place
58 only in god’s own country Germany.
The Dacia is better cause it simply never breaks down and has a better
long-term quality. So i trust that the Duster will be a top seller, leaving
the VW Tiguan and the Ford Kuga behind.
With more than 20 cm clearance and a good 4×4 system, together with it’s
lightweigt, the Duster will be far better off-road anyway.
The VW Tiguan, by the way, is just a poser anyhow, unable to cross any puddle
deeper than 20 centimeters, and equipped with phantastic state of the art
eöectronic systems which dont allow the Tiguan to climb slippery mountain roads when pulling a trailer. reason: when one wheel looses traction, it will be slowed down by the breaks. the Tiguan driver, as tested by “Off-Road” Magazine in Germany, ends up standing still, even if the driver commands full-throttle.

The Real Car Fanatic

That’s funny cause if you are talking about the J.D Power survey Germany 2009, Dacia and VW ranked equally on 810 points, Opel was futher down the list on 790 points, unless you are talking about another survey, which would indicate just how unreliable surveys really are.

Oh poor Harley, are you believing everything you read in the media? CLOWNBOY

Baddass

Has nobody nticed the extremely ridiculous pumped rear-wheel arches? Am I the only one who thinks this looks absurd?

Venusake

In first place, please escuse my language skills. I am from Romania and I not an expert in english language.
Ok, my friend, is possibile to have right reffering to the arches, but, are you agree with the fact that is so manny cars, (from top brands and with verry more cars sold and at hight price ) more ridiculous ? Please find your self the examples!
No offense, please!

CrustyTheClown

THIS brand is what can save Renault in Oz…..

Forget the *prestooge* of the Renault brand, they have LESS than none.

Bring in the complete range, sell them cheap, euro-design and breeding/build they can compete with Proton/Kia/Hyundai on price etc yet VASTLY EURO better.

Total sellout where ever they are being sold.

What you weaiting for Rudi?
Venusake

This is for the moderator:
I am verry curios for the resson you deleted my previous post!
Please explain ! May be interresting for all !
By by!
Pajero

I’ve had the chance to see a Duster, looks nice and clean, I was told it has an incredible “feelgood” for this price range. It’s a hit, I even consider saving to get one, after all U don’t need all those faulty systems and electronics for the simple pleasure of driving.

Dacia (Renault/Nissan group) has increasingly good reputation here due to the reliable Logan/Sandero. They could have been more creative in finding another name for it.

Take care!