Dacia Duster

Dacia Duster

Manufacturer	Dacia
Also called	Renault Duster
Production	2010–present
Assembly	Mioveni, Romania São José dos Pinhais, Brazil Envigado, Colombia
Class	Compact Crossover
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	FF layout / Four-wheel drive
Platform	Dacia B0 platform
Engine	1.5 L I4 dCi 1.6 L I4 16V
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,673 mm (105.2 in)
Length	4,315 mm (169.9 in)
Width	1,822 mm (71.7 in)
Height	1,630–1,690 mm (64.2–66.5 in)
Curb weight	1,160–1,294 kg (2,557–2,853 lb)
Related	Dacia Logan Dacia Sandero Nissan Juke
Designer	Renault Design Central Europe

The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.^[1]

Design

Based on the Nissan B0 platform, the Duster measures 4.31 metres (169.7 in) in length, 1.82 metres (71.7 in) in width and has 210 mm (8.3 in) of ground clearance. Its luggage space has a volume of up to 475 litres (16.8 cu ft), while with the rear benchseat folded and tipped forward, its carrying ability can exceed 1,600 litres (57 cu ft).

The Duster is offered with two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The 4x4 variants make use of Nissan's all-wheel drive system^[2] which allows the driver to choose from three different driving modes: Auto, in which the front/rear torque split is calculated automatically as a function of available grip, Lock, whereby 50 per cent of torque is consistently fed through the rear axle, and 4x2 where the transmission is locked into two-wheel drive for maximum fuel efficiency.

Safety

Dacia Duster features Bosch 8.1 ABS, as well as EBD electronic brakeforce distribution and EBA emergency brake assist. It also features ESC electronic stability control as an option on certain versions, as well as CSV understeer control and ASR traction control. This option also allows torque to be transferred away from a spinning wheel in 4x4 mode to improve traction when diagonal wheel spin occurs.^[3]

On the passive safety front, Dacia Duster comes as standard with two front airbags (depending on market) and three-point seat belts with load limiters for the front seats. Depending on version, two lateral head/thorax airbags are fitted in addition to the driver and passenger front airbags to provide additional protection in the case of side impact. Pyrotechnic pretensioners for the front seats (depending on version) complete Dacia Duster's retention system.^[4]

Engines

Name	Code	Capacity	Configuration	Power	Torque	Top speed	Acceleration 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph)	Fuel economy (combined)	CO2 emissions	Notes
1.6 16V 105	K4M 690	1598 cc	I4 DOHC	77 kW (105 PS) at 5750 rpm	148 N·m (109 lb·ft) at 3750 rpm	164 km/h (102 mph)	11.5 s	7.5 l/100 km (38 mpg-imp; 31 mpg-US)	177 g/km	Only available on 4X2 version
1.6 16V Ethanol	K4M	1598 cc	I4 DOHC	77 kW (105 PS) at 5750 rpm	148 N·m (109 lb·ft) at 3750 rpm	164 km/h (102 mph)	11.5 s	7.1 l/100 km (40 mpg-imp; 33 mpg-US)	165 g/km	Only available on 4X2 version
1.6 16V 105	K4M 606	1598 cc	I4 DOHC	77 kW (105 PS) at 5750 rpm	148 N·m (109 lb·ft) at 3750 rpm	160 km/h (99 mph)	12.8 s	8 l/100 km (35 mpg-imp; 29 mpg-US)	185 g/km	Only available on 4X4 version
1.5 dCi 85	K9K 796	1461 cc	Turbocharged Diesel I4 SOHC	63 kW (86 PS) at 4000 rpm	200 N·m (148 lb·ft) at 1900 rpm	156 km/h (97 mph)	13.9 s	5.1 l/100 km (55 mpg-imp; 46 mpg-US)	135 g/km	Only available on 4X2 version
1.5 dCi 110	K9K 896	1461 cc	Turbocharged Diesel I4 SOHC	79 kW (107 PS) at 4000 rpm	240 N·m (177 lb·ft) at 1750 rpm	171 km/h (106 mph)	11.8 s	5.3 l/100 km (53 mpg-imp; 44 mpg-US)	139 g/km	Only available on 4X2 version Has DPF
1.5 dCi 110	K9K 898	1461 cc	Turbocharged Diesel I4 SOHC	81 kW (110 PS) at 4000 rpm	240 N·m (177 lb·ft) at 1750 rpm	168 km/h (104 mph)	12.5 s	5.6 l/100 km (50 mpg-imp; 42 mpg-US)	145 g/km	Only available on 4X4 version Has DPF

Marketing and production

The rear of Duster

Dacia Duster is offered in Europe, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco from March 2010, with prices starting from €11,900 (or €10,500 in Romanian domestic market) for the two-wheel drive version, and from €13,900 (or €11,500 in Romanian domestic market) for the 4x4 version.^[3][5] From June 2010, the Duster is also available in Ukraine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon and in some African countries badged as a Renault, while in 2011, it will be sold in the Persian Gulf States.^[6]

In June 2011, Renault revealed the Duster in South America at the Buenos Aires Motor Show.^[7] It will be produced at its Curitiba plant in Brazil for distribution in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile, and at the Sofasa plant in Colombia, with marketing planned to start in the last quarter of 2011.^[8] At a later date, the Duster will go on to be manufactured at the Avtoframos plant in Moscow, Russia.^{[citation needed]}

It has also been confirmed that the Duster will be released in the UK in 2012, relaunching the Dacia brand there.^[9] There is talk about the Duster being launched in other emerging markets, like India, where it will be produced at the Chennai plant and will roll out in the second half of 2012 under the Renault brand.^[10]

Racing

The Duster racecar at Grandvalira racetrack

A competition version of the Duster fitted with a 350 hp (261 kW) V6 engine and driven by Alain Prost^[11] took part in the 2009/2010 French ice racing championship Trophée Andros, finishing in second place.^[12]

In 2010, the Duster participated in the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles, being first in the crossover class. The two Dacia teams successfully finished the Rallye on board the Duster: Dounia and Isabelle (Team 315 - Dacia) were first in the general ranking, while Nathalie and Dorothée (Team 316 - Dacia) finished in 5th place (out of 8 teams competing in the class).^[13]

In 2011, Dacia announced that they would be racing the Duster in the "Unlimited Class" of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The Dacia Duster 'No Limit' will be powered by an 850 bhp version of the VR38DETT engine used in the Nissan GT-R mated to a six-speed sequential transmission. The car is tuned by Tork Engineering, Sodemo and Renaultsport and will be driven by three-time Trophee Andros winner Jean-Phillipe Dayraut.^[14]

Concept car

The Duster concept at Geneva Motor Show

Renault Design Central Europe presented, at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, a concept car named Dacia Duster^[15]

This concept vehicle (a SUV/sports coupe crossover ) addressed the needs of families, with a roomy cabin in a compact package and a large 470 L (124 US gal; 103 imp gal) trunk.^[16] The car had a very efficient motor capable of emitting 139 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer and a fuel consumption of 5.3 L (1 US gal; 1 imp gal) per 100 km (62 mi).^[16] The Dacia Duster was the first concept car entirely made by Dacia.^[17] The Duster normally has four seats but can be converted into a two seat car, the passenger seat slides under the driver's seat and the right back seat slides under the left back seat freeing an extra room of 2,000 L (71 cu ft) ideal for a bicycle.^[18]

The Duster concept car had a Dacia Logan 1.5 litre inline-4 engine equipped with Bosch Mono-Jetronic fuel injection producing 106 PS (78 kW; 105 hp) at 5400 rpm and 240 newton metres (180 ft·lbf) at 2000 rpm of torque.^[15] It was a front engined, two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle based on the Nissan B platform.^[15] It accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.6 seconds.^[16] If the model had been produced, its initial price would have been around 15,000 euro (US$ 18,750).^[19]

Former use of the name

Dacia Duster was also the name used to sell the ARO 10 on some markets, such as the United Kingdom, during the 1980s and early 1990s.^[20]

References

1. ^ "Dacia Launches its Off-Roader Dacia Duster at 2010 Geneva Motor Show". thenewsmarket.com. 2 March 2010. http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Releases/StoryDetailPage.aspx?GUID=aec50d61-b28c-4875-b834-7008afc9fa9a&bhjs=0. Retrieved 2010-03-02. 
2. ^ "New Dacia Duster". Carscoop.blogspot.com. 2009-12-08. http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-dacia-duster-4x4-modern-day-lada.html. Retrieved 2011-08-10. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "2010 Geneva Motor Show - Dacia Duster, the low-emission off-roader from 11,900 euros". renault.com. 2 March 2010. http://www.renault.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse/en-EN/Pieces%20jointes/21971_DACIA_-_GB_DB1D7020.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-02. 
4. ^ Dacia Duster at netcarshow.com
5. ^ 2010 Geneva Auto Show: Dacia Duster at autoevolution.com
6. ^ Dacia Duster first official photos at carmagazine.co.uk
7. ^ "Nuevo Renault Duster". 16valvulas.com.ar. June 16, 2011. http://www.16valvulas.com.ar/nuevo-renault-duster/. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
8. ^ "Renault Duster". renault.com. http://www.renault.com/en/vehicules/renault/pages/duster.aspx. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
9. ^ "Dacia confirmed for UK launch in 2012". renault.com. 3 March 2010. http://www.renault.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse/en-EN/Pieces%20jointes/22043_20100303_CP_UK_Dacia_GB_81EAF6AF.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-03. 
10. ^ "Renault announces launch of Duster in India in 2012". renault.com. June 21, 2011. http://www.media.renault.com/global/en-gb/alliance/Media/PressRelease.aspx?mediaid=28867. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
11. ^ "A competition version of Dacia Duster to contest the 2009/2010 Trophée Andros in the hands of Alain". daciagroup.com. 17 November 2009. http://www.daciagroup.com/en/press-releases/a-competition-version-of-dacia-duster-to-contest-the-2009/2010-trophee-andros-in-the-hands-of-alain.html. Retrieved 2009-12-09. 
12. ^ "Alain Prost Drives Dacia Duster to Silver in the Trophee Andros". autoevolution.com. 2 February 2010. http://www.autoevolution.com/news/alain-prost-drives-dacia-duster-to-silver-in-the-trophee-andros-16229.html. Retrieved 2010-03-28. 
13. ^ "Road test a success for Dacia". http://www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com/. 28 March 2010. http://www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com/en/top+story/road-test-a-success-for-dacia.html. Retrieved 2010-03-28. 
14. ^ "Dacia Duster Pikes Peak racer revealed". Top Gear. 27 May, 2011. http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/dacia-duster-pikes-peak-no-limit-2011-05-27. Retrieved 27 May, 2011. 
15. ^ ^{a b c} "Dacia Duster Concep". promotor.ro. http://www.promotor.ro/hobby-concepte-auto/articol-dacia-duster-concept-premiera-dacia-la-geneva-2009-4011555. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
16. ^ ^{a b c} "Coupe sau maşină de familie? Dacia Duster, prezentată oficial la Geneva" (in Romanian). antena3.ro. Antena 3. 2009-03-02. http://www.antena3.ro/stiri/rutier/oficial-dacia-prezinta-noul-model-duster-la-salonul-auto-de-la-geneva_66059.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. ^{[dead link]}
17. ^ "Primele poze cu Dacia Duster" (in Romanian). banknews.ro. 2009-03-02. http://www.banknews.ro/stire/26042_primele_poze_cu_dacia_duster.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
18. ^ "Dacia Duster - crossover coupe concept în premieră la Salonul Auto de la Geneva" (in Romanian). informatiiauto.ro. Informatii Auto. 2009-03-02. http://www.informatiiauto.ro/dacia-duster-crossover-coupe-concept-in-premiera-la-salonul-auto-de-la-geneva-sid3931.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
19. ^ "Dacia Duster la Salonul auto de la Geneva" (in Romanian). Promotor.ro. Promotor. 2009-03-03. http://kosmin.net/stiri/dacia-duster-la-salonul-auto-de-la-geneva.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. ^{[dead link]}
20. ^ "DACIA Duster 1.6 4x4 16v road test, review, test drive - Intro / History / Brand". autoevolution.com. 2010-06-24. http://www.autoevolution.com/testdrive/dacia-duster-16-4x4-16v-2010.html#intro-history-brand. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 

External links

• Official Dacia website
• Forum Duster Romania