Dacia Reportedly Preparing New Seven Seater MPV for 2012

It appears that Renault's low cost brand Dacia is getting ready to expand its reach into yet another segment. After the top of the line Duster soft roader, the Romanian manufacturer is planning a seven seater MPV for next year, at least according to a report from French car journal, L'Automobile.

The magazine said the MPV will carry the Popster nameplate and will ride on a modified version of the Logan's platform. The engine lineup is said to include a 1.5 dci engine with various power outputs and 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.6 liter petrol engines. Measuring around 4.5 meters in length, the Popster is said to slot in between Dacia's own Logan MCV and Renault's larger Grand Scenic and come in at under €15,000.

And the MPV won't be the last new model for Dacia as it is reported the Romanian company is also planning its own version of the Kangoo, currently codenamed Project K97. It will feature sliding doors and a spilt tailgate, just like the Logan MCV and though we don't have a name for this light van-like vehicle yet, L`Automobile Magazine reports an estimated price of around 13.000 euros.

Source: L'Automobile

VIDEO: Dacia Duster Commercial Redefines “Insulting” [NSFW]

This here commercial for Dacia's low-cost Duster SUV is the work of Dutch advertising company Artcore. We should warn you that the ad is a 1 minute and 46 second parade of almost continuous swearing. While we can appreciate some over-the-top creations, we just can’t see this ever airing, at least not during daytime hours. But even if the commercial somehow made it on your TV set, we doubt that this is what Dacia wants to promote.

The commercial has been labeled as “banned” by various internet sources, but it seems to have been produced to showcase a radical idea, rather than to be purpose driven advertisement. The foul-mouthed clip is available right after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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Video: Dacia Logan with Volkswagen 2.8-liter VR6 Engine!

I don’t know if the word Dacia gives James May that fizzing sensation he often talks about, but the Top Gear host seems pretty fond of the Romanian brand. Same goes for low-budget European buyers who see the Renault-era Dacias as well priced models with affordable maintenance costs. One of the Romanian firm's latest cars, the Duster was even nominated for the 2011 COTY award.

However, the brand's models aren't exactly exciting, even more so when it comes to sheer performance with their mundane, small displacement petrol and diesel engines. But as always, for every problem there's a fix. This man's answer was to ditch the Logan sedan's four-cylinder and throw in a 2.8-liter VR6 Volkswagen engine.

Details surrounding the build are pretty scarce right now, as it’s an ongoing project. The owner says that the powerplant churns out 174 hp (most likely stock) and it’s coupled to a VW transmission. Other upgrades include the suspension and brake system.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: 4Tuning , Thanks for the tip Valentin M.!

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Renault Unveils Updated Dacia Duster Ice for next Andros Trophy

As Renault is continuing to work on Dacia's image, the Duster Ice will once again compete in the Andros Trophy, after finishing in second place last year. Set to be piloted by the legendary Alain Prost, the updated model features a number of evolutions for the new season. The opening round of the ice-racing championship will be held at Val Thorens (France), on the 4th and 5th of December.

Developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Dacia Duster racecar features a tubular chassis with a lightweight fiberglass body with power coming from a Renault-Nissan-sourced 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 350-horsepower.

The six-cylinder powertrain underwent a few key modifications and churns out an extra 20Nm of torque (15 lb-ft) at 3,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels, through a six-speed sequential gearbox, while the suspension features new shock absorbers better suited for the rough, icy terrain on which the Andros Trophy events are held. For added precision, engineers also modified the electro-hydraulic steering system, which turns all wheels.

Alain Prost commented:

"We are determined to build on what we started last winter. The thinking behind our second year together marks a logical step forward in sporting, technical and brand terms. Last season, we were aware it would be tough to win the Trophée Andros with a new car, not to mention the fact that the programme began at a relatively late stage. Our overriding aim was to take part, try to be competitive and win races, and also win over the public. This time round, my intention is to challenge for the title. We completed two very positive days of testing at Val Thorens last weekend. Our work on Duster has clearly paid dividends and we are convinced we have the means to make a strong start."

Overall, the Romanian brand's image is at an all-time high, as the budget SUV is also a finalist in the 2011 Car of the Year competition.

By Csaba Daradics

Dacia Duster Technical Data

CHASSIS

Tubular steel chassis Double wishbones

ENGINE

Renault-Nissan Alliance-developed Type VQ 30 engine Mid-rear position V6

Valves: 24

Cubic capacity: 2,987cc

Bore x stroke: 93mm x 73.3mm Maximum power: 257kW EEC (350hp) at 7,500rpm

Maximum torque: 360Nm EEC at 5,500rpm

TRANSMISSION

Six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox

BRAKES

Front: 260mm-diameter ventilated steel discs

Rear: 265mm-diameter steel discs

WHEELS AND TIRES

Magnesium, 5.5'' x 16'' Continental Ice Racing Contact 3 tyres

DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT

Length: 4,001mm Width: 1,900mm

Front/rear track: 1,690mm

Wheelbase: 2,500mm

Weight: 950kg

Fuel tank: 25 litres

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Renault Inaugurates New Vehicle Test Center in Romania

The Renault Group has opened a brand new test facility in Titu, Romania. Built on a 330-hectare site located between the Dacia plant in Pitesti and the Renault Technologie Roumanie (RTR) engineering center in Bucharest, the Titu Technical Center will complement the company's Aubevoye and Lardy test centers in France.

According to Renault, the new facility will focus on testing for vehicles and powertrain components from the B0 platform that underpins the low-cost Dacia Logan.

The center is said to have 100 benches for testing vehicles and components such as shock absorbers, running gear and powertrains. The benches can simulate extreme conditions, testing the ability to withstand cold, and simulating sunlight, rain, and other situations.

In addition, the center has ten types of tracks including a speed circuit, uneven road surfaces, an underbody impact zone and wading troughs, which make up a total length of 32 km or about 20 miles.

Renault said the first teams arrived at the Romanian facility in June 2010, and the workforce will increase to 300 people before the end of the year. The first track tests are planned for October 2010.

Renault Inaugurates New Vehicle Test Center in Romania

The Renault Group has opened a brand new test facility in Titu, Romania. Built on a 330-hectare site located between the Dacia plant in Pitesti and the Renault Technologie Roumanie (RTR) engineering center in Bucharest, the Titu Technical Center will complement the company's Aubevoye and Lardy test centers in France.

According to Renault, the new facility will focus on testing for vehicles and powertrain components from the B0 platform that underpins the low-cost Dacia Logan.

The center is said to have 100 benches for testing vehicles and components such as shock absorbers, running gear and powertrains. The benches can simulate extreme conditions, testing the ability to withstand cold, and simulating sunlight, rain, and other situations.

In addition, the center has ten types of tracks including a speed circuit, uneven road surfaces, an underbody impact zone and wading troughs, which make up a total length of 32 km or about 20 miles.

Renault said the first teams arrived at the Romanian facility in June 2010, and the workforce will increase to 300 people before the end of the year. The first track tests are planned for October 2010.

Elia Dresses Up and Tunes New Dacia Duster SUV

Elia, the German tuning house of all things related to the Renault-Nissan Alliance, has just launched two styling packages and an performance kit for Dacia's low-cost Duster small SUV.

Named "Adventure Kit", the first package adds a bull-bar to the front end and new protective side bars. The second package is more comprehensive and includes either 16-inch alloy wheels (18-inch rims are available as an option), LED daytime running lights up front, side skirts and a chrome piece for the tail pipe.

On the performance front, there's a tuning kit that recalibrates the 1.5-liter turbo diesel's engine's ECU lifting output to 122HP.

Source: Elia , Via: Autoblog.nl

Elia Dresses Up and Tunes New Dacia Duster SUV

Elia, the German tuning house of all things related to the Renault-Nissan Alliance, has just launched two styling packages and an performance kit for Dacia's low-cost Duster small SUV.

Named "Adventure Kit", the first package adds a bull-bar to the front end and new protective side bars. The second package is more comprehensive and includes either 16-inch alloy wheels (18-inch rims are available as an option), LED daytime running lights up front, side skirts and a chrome piece for the tail pipe.

On the performance front, there's a tuning kit that recalibrates the 1.5-liter turbo diesel's engine's ECU lifting output to 122HP.

Source: Elia , Via: Autoblog.nl

VIDEO: Dacia / Renault Worker Tries to Fix Door Problem at Production Line

[Update: Some of our readers pointed out that one or more workers seen in the video appear to talk in Russian, so it's obviously Renault's factory in Moscow]

Here's a short clip from Dacia's Romanian factory (unless we're mistaken and it's from one of Renault's other plants that also produce Dacia models), showing a worker on the production line trying to fix a problem with the passenger-side doors on what looks to be a Sandero hatchback.

The poor guy tries everything; from repeatedly tapping the locks with a hammer and slamming the doors in numerous ways to even trying to pull the door down, but nothing seems to be working as the doors simply refuse to close properly. Watch the video after the break.

Geneva Show: Dacia Duster Coupe Crossover Concept

Dacia, Renault's Romanian budget brand, launched its first-ever concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed collaboratively by the Renault Design Central Europe studio in Bucharest, Romania and the firm's Paris studio, the Duster is coupe crossover with three doors, a single door on the driver's side and two doors, including a rear-hinged 'suicide' door, on the passenger side.

The compact crossover that measures 4,250mm in length is powered by Renault-Nissan's 1.5 dCi diesel engine with 105-horsepower emitting 139g of CO2/km. The concept features an adaptable interior with the passenger seat sliding below the driver's seat allowing a large, 2-metre long load bay. Also, the Duster comes with a tailgated box structure that can slide out of the rear of the car, creating an extra pick-up load bed.