A contemporary, yet affordable SUV like the Duster could do well in India...
Dacia, whose budget-spec sedan is sold as the Mahindra-Renault Logan in India, has unveiled its new compact 4x4 – the Duster. The vehicle is being pitched as a tough, reliable, easy-to-use 4x4 that’s suitable for everyday use in the city but which also has real off-road ability. Dacia claims the all-terrain-capable Duster offers ‘an unbeatable performance/equipment/space package for its price.’
To be manufactured at Dacia’s Pitesti plant in Romania, the Duster will be available in 4x4 and 4x2 versions, which will go on sale in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and South America in 2010. As befits an affordable SUV, the Dacia Duster will come with ‘smart’ four-wheel-drive that offers multiple driving modes. Depending on the mode selected, the vehicle can function either as a proper 4WD vehicle, with 50:50 front/rear torque split, or as a 2WD vehicle, with an electromagnetic torque converter (supplied by Nissan) deciding when and if to send power to all four wheels.
The Duster will be available with a range of 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines and will be fitted with safety equipment like ABS, EBD and multiple airbags. Priced between Rs 8-10 lakh, an affordable SUV like the Duster could also do well in India. Once Renault has figured out how to deal with its current situation in India, we’re sure the company will consider the possibility of launching the Duster (badged as a Renault, rather than Dacia...) here, perhaps in 2011.
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