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Good news just came our way from Eastern Europe where the folks from Dacia (part of the Renault group, as you already know) have finally taken the wraps off of their latest model, the new Dacia Duster SUV. Sold as both a 4×2 and 4×4, and billed as one of the most affordable and frugal SUVs in the market, Dacia Duster is more of a conventional SUV that measures 4.31 meters long and 1.82 meters wide. Powered by either the 85- and 105-hp dCi diesel units, or the 1.6-liter 16V 110-horsepower petrol engine, Dacia’s first ever SUV is expected to go on sale in Europe in spring 2010, with other markets like Algeria, Morocco, and Turkey shortly after. The Middle East, Ukraine, parts of Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, the Persian Gulf States and Russia might as well get their hands on a Duster but it’s going to be badged as a Renault for sure.
The Romanian tabloid CanCan, got their hands on some leaked images of the new Dacia Coupe. Though I’m reluctant it looks THAT good, rumors have it that it’s a very aggressive design that draws inspiration from Nissan’s 350z and Renault’s Laguna. All muscle – first for Dacia, the Coupe is expected to be shown off at the next month’s Auto Show in Geneva and should see daylight by the end of 2010. With base prices starting from 10,000 Euro and with these looks, we’re definitely looking at a hot seller. Do you like it?
For whatever reasons, Renault decided to put their Renaultsport F1 badge on the new Dacia Sandero and Logan everybody seems to be a bit upset with the fact that it doesn’t delivers as expected. Dacia is in fact, Renault’s division for budget oriented cars, so I wouldn’t have expected to see a budget oriented RS from them, but looks like it’s going to happen and the new (tiny) beast will be presented in Brazil, at the Sao Paulo auto show. We’ll get more specs then … via AutoBlog.com
In a couple of spyshots taken today in Romania, a new Dacia mid-sized sedan was caught under a black clad camoflage. We already knew they’re planning a SUV but never expected something above the Logan in the sedan class. Apparently it’s built on the new Dacia Sanderro platform, is 4.6 meters long and not very much different from the facelifted Logan hatchback, and should be announced next year. The new model will be built in Renault’s renovated factory in Oyak-Bursa in Turkey.
via WCF
Dacia officials just announced today that they are preparing for the first SUV in their history to compete with Korean rivals Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage, with price its main argument. Jaques Daniel with Dacia said that the company will release the SUV by the end of 2009 and it will be built on the Logan version we know.
Rumors also say that it may also be built on the Dacia Logan MCV version that could use Renault Kandoo technology and 4 x 4, but this may not be that cheap as opposed to using the Nissan Qashqai platform.
ProMotor Romania
Last week I told you that Dacia could be working on the new Logan version and probably a hatchback, too. Today I’ve just heard that they are releasing the Logan Pick-up, which is supposed to be on sale from March. Some of the analysts are also speculating on the fact that it may be present in Geneva, at the International Auto Show.
The biggest trumps of the new Logan Pick-up are the prices and the huge space it offers. 1.74, wide, 1.55m tall and 4.5m long it has a luggage compartment of 300 liters (yes that’s big) and can carry 1.80m long objects.
It’s going to be available with a 1.6-l petrol engine (4 cyl) that develops 90hp at 5,500 rpm and two diesel 1.5-l versions with 70 hp and 85 hp, each running on a 5-speed manual transmission. The new Logan Pick-up is supposed to be sold in all countries where the Logan sedan is available. Starting price is
Since it wasn’t featured on Car Blog until now, you may not know what a Logan is but rest assured I’m here to tell you. It’s Dacia’s best selling model. Oh you don’t know what Dacia is, either? It’s a Romanian car manufacturer, currently a subsidiary of Renault Group. Though the current Dacia Logan was criticised for its ugliness and gawkiness, it was a massive hit if we were to look at sales figures.
But we live in a world where the great car price is not enough and customers need beauty curves, too. It looks like Dacia understood and decided to work on the next Dacia Logan. They are even focused on a hatchback (Dacia Sandero) version that was spotted in Romania a few days ago.
My opinion is the sales will increase for Renault/Dacia when the new model comes to the market this year. What do you think about the new Logan?
