Dacia Duster, The Affordable Off-Roader - VIDEO ENHANCED
MAPLE CROSS, England - April 28, 2010: Today's all-terrain vehicles are often synonymous with bulk, but Dacia Duster is the antidote. With a length of 4.31 metres and a width of 1.82 metres, Dacia Duster is very compact. Its Mégane-sized proportions ensure that it is as at home in built-up areas as it is off the beaten track. While it clearly belongs to the world of all-terrain vehicles, Dacia Duster’s lines are not ostentatious.
Dacia Duster is unmistakably a 4x4. From the front, it exudes an impression of toughness: the wide wheel arches, the imposing lines of the chrome grille and lower bumper protection clearly emphasise the 4x4 DNA of Dacia Duster. Seen from the side, the high ground clearance, clearly defined wheel arches and protective mouldings encourage the driver to tackle even the toughest roads and tracks.
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With the Look Pack, Dacia Duster owners can further enhance the vehicle’s style. This pack includes 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels, roof bars, extra-tinted rear windows, and satin-finish chrome exterior mirrors, front and rear skid plates, and sills. A comprehensive range of accessories (including extended wheel arches, broad side protectors for doors, sill protection bars…) will complete this unique look.
Inside, the elevated driving position provides a better view of potential hazards. The interior echoes the core values of the Dacia brand: the dashboard is modern, uncluttered and functional. Its design varies according to version, and several areas can be modified with different colours or surface finishes. Dacia Duster introduces a new brown trim, while a Leather Pack (seats, steering wheel, gear lever knob) is also available. Particular attention has been paid to ergonomics to ensure that the controls are conveniently positioned and that driving data is easy to read: the well-placed, intuitive 4x4 control button is a perfect example of this.
… with genuine go-anywhere ability
Dacia Duster was
designed to cope with all types of road and track, worldwide. To order to
meet these wide-ranging needs, Dacia Duster will be available in both 4x4
and 4x2 form. The 4x2 version has been designed for customers who want good
ground clearance and a reassuring elevated driving position, as well as
loose-surface ability, but who don't have a real need for all-wheel
drive.
The strengthened underside of Dacia Duster is suitable for
loose-surfaces and all-terrain use thanks to
Dacia Duster is a vehicle that is easy to use. It is lightweight for its size: 1,160kg for the 4x2 version and 1,250kg for the 4x4 version1. Combined with compact dimensions, this ensures Dacia Duster is particularly agile.
Dacia Duster is built on the B0/Logan platform which is widely acclaimed for its strength, reliability and durability.
At the front, the pseudo MacPherson-type suspension with wishbones is identical to the layout employed by Logan and Sandero, although strengthened for off-road use.
At the rear, the 4x4 version's rear multi-arm arrangement was specifically developed for Dacia Duster, while the programmed-deflection flexible H-beam favoured for the 4x2 versions is strong and permits a large boot, which is a key consideration for Dacia customers.
Both solutions deliver a comfortable ride and allow high ground clearance. To confirm Dacia Duster's strength and reliability, Dacia Duster covered the equivalent of four million kilometres in a wide range of climates and in particularly punishing conditions.
Dacia Duster 4x4 is equipped with a new six-speed gearbox with a short first ratio (3.6mph per 1,000 rpm) which allows the vehicle to travel at very slow speed on uneven terrain and improves performance as you pull away from standstill with heavy loads or on steep slopes. This simple, efficient and economical solution was favoured in order to meet customer needs.
The TL8 gearbox offers
The 4x4 control located on the lower part of the centre console
allows drivers of Dacia Duster 4x4 to easily adapt the vehicle’s
configuration to their needs.
This control permits three
modes
A 100% dacia 4x4 with all the brand’s acclaimed
advantages
Duster, the sixth vehicle in the Dacia range,
stay’s true to the philosophy and values of the brand. Dacia Duster
offers unbeatable interior space for its price, as well as low running
costs thanks to thrifty fuel consumption, low maintenance costs, high
levels of safety and reliability in all conditions. Duster perfectly
embodies the brand values of generosity and affordability which have forged
Dacia’s reputation.
Unbeatable space for its price
Although Dacia Duster’s
price is that of a city car, its exterior and interior dimensions are those
of compact cars in the next segment up.
Dacia Duster can comfortably seat up to five adults and offers both front and rear occupants the same amount of space as the Dacia Logan saloon.
Dacia Duster's boot capacity – up to 475 cubic metres VDA (depending on version) – is also very competitive given the vehicle’s compact dimensions. With the rear bench seat folded, Dacia Duster offers an impressive carrying capacity of up to 1,636 cubic metres VDA (depending on version).
Reliable, economical, low-emission engines
Dacia Duster is
available with a choice of three powerplants for both the 4x2 and 4x4
versions: one petrol engine (1.6 16V 105) and two diesel engines (dCi 85
and dCi 110). The strengths of these engines have already been demonstrated
in many Renault group vehicles.
These engines are a perfect fit for the criteria of cost, reliability
and easy maintenance that are hallmarks of the Dacia brand.
Under the bonnet of 4x4 versions of Dacia Duster, the dCi 110 engine stands out as a particularly environmentally-respectful and economical package for an off-road vehicle, with CO2 emissions of 145g/km and fuel consumption of 50.4mpg (combined cycle). The dCi 110 engine is Euro V-compliant and comes with a particulate filter.
The dCi 110 diesel engine delivers peak power of 80kW (109hp) at 4,000rpm and features second-generation common-rail direct fuel injection which only pressurises the exact amount of fuel actually required, the benefit to the owner being enhanced efficiency and consequently lower fuel consumption. The 4x2 version of Dacia Duster dCi 110 accelerates from standstill to 62mph in 11.8 seconds and boasts 240Nm of torque at 1,750rpm, 90 per cent of which is available from 1,500rpm.
Dacia Duster is also available with the 1.6 16V 110 petrol
engine
Economical to buy and run
Servicing and maintenance costs are
particularly competitive on Dacia Duster thanks to extended service
intervals for oil changes, brake pad and tyre replacements. The useful life
of the air filters has increased to 90,000km/four years for petrol
versions, while that for diesel it has increased to 60,000km.
The servicing intervals of the dCi 110 diesel engine are every 30,000km/two years OCS in the majority of its commercialisation countries. The OCS (Oil Control System), newly introduced in the Dacia range, warns the driver by means of an oil-change warning light, should the next service need to be brought forward, depending on the way the vehicle is used.
Oil change on the 1.6 16V 105 petrol engine is every 30,000km/two years in the majority of markets.
Safety, an essential priority
Dacia Duster benefits from
Renault’s acclaimed expertise in the area of safety.
Dacia fundamentals: reliability and strength
Like all the
vehicles based on the B0/Logan platform, Duster has been engineered to
deliver the Dacia brand's hallmark strength and reliability.
Particular attention has been paid to anti-corrosion protection thanks
to several measures
The 4x4 running gear uses tried and tested components sourced from the Alliance (Nissan rear axle and coupling, new six-speed TL8 gearbox derived from the TL4 gearbox that has been well-proven in the Renault and Nissan ranges).
In order to underline its high build quality, Dacia Duster is backed up by a three-year or 100,000km warranty in the majority of European markets.
A vehicle with international ambitions
Duster is a vehicle
with international ambitions, both in terms of its markets and production.
Dacia Duster is being rolled out progressively in different global regions
in the same way as Logan and Sandero.
Since April 2010, Duster has been launched with Dacia badging in Europe, Turkey and the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco.) It completes the Dacia range, which is enjoying growth in the majority of these markets. Apart from the three vehicles aimed at the private sector – namely Logan, Logan MCV and Sandero – Dacia has also staked its claim in the light-commercial sector with Logan van and Logan pick-up.
From June 2010, Duster – badged as a Renault – will also be available in Ukraine, the Middle East (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt) and other African countries.
The Pitesti factory (Romania) supplies all these markets, whether Dacia- or Renault-badged. The Romanian plant has an annual production capacity of 350,000 vehicles and will continue to produce the brand’s other models.
In 2011, Renault Duster will be launched in Brazil, Russia and the Gulf states. It will be built alongside Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway in Curitiba, Brazil, for distribution in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Later, Duster will be manufactured at the Avtoframos plant in Moscow, Russia and at the Sofasa plant in Envigado (Colombia). It will be distributed in the Gulf States, supplied from the Pitesti factory.
At the end of 2012, Duster will mark the brand’s launch into the UK market,
The genesis of duster
A global project to meet an
unsatisfied demand
The Duster project began with a simple premise:
there is a genuine need around the world for a comfortable, robust and
affordable 4x4. However, this demand is not currently being met. Aware of
this, Dacia developed an all-terrain vehicle aimed primarily at emerging
markets. The needs of European customers were also taken into account from
the start of the project.
Collaborative design between France and Romania
The Duster
project marks another milestone in collaborative engineering between
Renault Technologie Romania (RTR) and Le Losange (new name of
Renault’s Technocentre site near Versailles) in France. The design
process began at Le Losange, but Renault Technologie Romania engineering
resources were devoted to the Duster project from the beginning. Le Losange
and Renault Technologie Romania collaborated closely to make the vehicle
production-ready. From the stage of the second fleet of prototypes (roughly
one year before the launch of Duster), the nerve centre of the project
moved to Romania to be closer to the factory.
Vehicle design was conducted at Le Losange, in cooperation with Renault Design Central Europe (RDCE, the satellite design facility in Bucharest).
Manufactured at the primary factory in Romania
Duster arrived
at the Pitesti factory in April 2009. This process was facilitated by a new
production line for prototypes which is managed directly by Renault
Technologie Romania. This production line is located within the factory,
making it easier to train assembly staff. Duster necessitated several
modifications to the production lines in Pitesti: a new body shop was built
specifically for this model; the assembly line was modified for the new
powertrains and 4x4 transmission, while revisions were made to the supply
logistics and storage of raw materials in the metal stamping process, in
line with the overall factory management scheme. In all, six different body
styles are now produced on the same assembly line.
Investment on a reasonable scale
In total, €290 million
was invested in the development of Duster, and its production at Pitesti.
This includes the cost of the new TL8 gearbox (manual, six-speed) and the
new engines. Of this total, just under €70 million was invested in
the production facility.
A good level of carry-over reduced the overall level of investment: in total, just over 50 per cent of components come from other vehicles in the Dacia and Renault ranges (engine andgearbox, for example).
The maximum production capacity at Pitesti is 25 Duster vehicles per hour. In time, Duster could account for over one third of total production at Pitesti.
Dacia duster in morocco's rallye aïcha des gazelles
Dacia
Duster, in the hands of a Renault group employee, finished first (crossover
category) at the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, the only all-lady motor sport
event, which took place in Morocco (15-28 March).
The sand dunes of the Sahara Desert and the mountainous terrain of the Atlas foothills provided Dacia Duster with a first class opportunity to showcase its off-road ability, as well as its strength and reliability.
Dacia duster contested the “trophée andros” ice-racing
series in the hands of alain prost
The competition version of Dacia
Duster made its debut in the hands of Alain Prost on the ice race circuits
of the Trophée Andros series during the winter 2009/2010. Alain
Prostfinished second with his Dacia Duster in the overall standings of this
winter's seven-round Trophée Andros.
Further details regarding Dacia’s arrival in the UK, including pricing and dealer network will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, potential customers wishing to be kept abreast of all the latest developments in the lead-up to launch, should go to www.daciacars.co.uk or call 08000 723372.