Autoblog

Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV

Noah Joseph — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Minivan/Van, Europe, Renault, Racing

A minivan is not what you'd expect to see winning a racing series. Nor would a budget brand like Dacia. That's where Alain Prost comes into the picture.

The four-time Formula One World Champion isn't quite retired: he's still competing in the Andros Trophy, a French ice-racing series. After hoisting the trophy twice in a row with a snow-spec Toyota Auris rally machine, Prost switched over to Dacia, for which he has now claimed his third personal title and the first for Renault's Romanian budget brand.

The title fight came down to the last race in Auvergne, France, where the natural snow and best efforts of race organizers could not separate Prost (or his son Nicolas) from the bare tarmac. The vehicle with which he did it was a new racer (loosely) based on the new Lodgy, an MPV that doesn't make its production debut until theupcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Check out the high-res photos in the gallery for a closer look and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV

Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia shows new Lodgy minivan ahead of Geneva debut

Zach Bowman — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe

The auto show mill is officially kicking into high gear for 2012, and Dacia has already shown off what we can expect from the company at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March. Fans of obscure European MPVs may now lick their chops at the first clear view of the Dacia Lodgy. The Romanian brand says its new vehicle will be available both in five- and seven-seat configurations when it debuts across Europe, though a final decision on whether or not a right-hand drive version will be offered has yet to be made.

Dacia isn't offering up any details on what's under the hood of the Lodgy, though with an overall length of under 15 feet, we'd be surprised to see anything other than a small-displacement four-cylinder humming along behind the headlights. Look for further details when the Lodgy debuts in March, but for now, check out our high-res gallery and hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Dacia shows new Lodgy minivan ahead of Geneva debut

Dacia shows new Lodgy minivan ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Minivan/Van, Europe, Renault, Racing

Typically when an automaker makes a new rally car - whether for gravel, sand, snow or ice - it's based on... well, a car. Usually a hatchback, like the Subaru Impreza, Citroën DS3 or Volkswagen Polo. Lately, some have been going a different route with crossover-based rally cars, but Renault's latest is neither hatchback nor sedan nor crossover. It's a minivan.

After contesting the Andros Trophy for two years with a specially-prepared Dacia Duster - which also formed the basis for its Pikes Peak challenger - the French automaker's Romanian budget brand is returning for a third winter season to the French ice racing series with a new beast based on the Lodgy MPV. The production version of the minivan isn't set to be unveiled itself until the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The resulting Lodgy Glace (the latter from the French for "ice") was prepared by independent contractors like Tork Engineering and Sodemo under the watchful eye of Renault Sport Technologies. Its tubular steel frame packs a Nissan-sourced 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 engine mounted amidship and sending 355 horsepower to all four wheels via a SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox.

The season kicks off on December 3 at Val Thorens, where four-time F1 champion Alain Prost and his son Nicolas, together with ice-racing veteran Evens Stievenart, will be taking on all comers. Follow the jump for the full press release and scope out the quarter of high-res images for a closer look at their new ride.

Continue reading Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer

Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan moves on plans to revive Datsun nameplate as budget sub-brand

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Nissan, Russia

Plans are reportedly progressing to bring back Datsun. Wait, what? Wasn't Datsun just the name of Nissan before it became Nissan? Why yes, yes it was. But the Japanese automaker is - as we initially reported back in July - planning on dipping back into its own history to launch a budget brand for developing markets.

The sub-brand would further increase the number of marques in CEO Carlos Ghosn's portfolio that already includes Renault, Dacia, Nissan, Infiniti, Renault-Samsung Motors and a significant stake in Russia's AvtoVAZ.

As Auto Express points out, the Renault-Nissan Alliance already has a budget brand called Dacia (pictured above) that's managed by the French side of the equation and based in Romania. (You may recognize the name from the brand's off-road racing exploits in the Andros Trophy or Pikes Peak, or from James May's obsession with the brand's sensible vehicles on Top Gear.) Nissan's revived Datsun nameplate may, then, amount to little more than rebadged versions of Dacias for markets like Russia and China.

Whatever they sell and wherever they sell them, one thing's all but certain: Datsun won't be coming back to the United States any time soon. Oh well, we'll just have to stick with Nissan and vehicles like the 370Z and GT-R.

Nissan moves on plans to revive Datsun nameplate as budget sub-brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia unleashes 850-hp GT-R-powered Duster "No Limit" Pikes Peak challenger

Noah Joseph — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road, Racing

Dacia Duster "No Limit" - Click above for high-res image gallery

Dacia sends its racing team out in winters to drift across ice and snow for the Andros Trophy. But when the summer rolls around, even the snow on the French Alps begins to thaw. What's an ice racing team to do? Why, head to Pikes Peak, of course.

The international hill climb event is coming around again next month, and when it does, the likes of Monster Tajima and Rhys Millen will have an interesting new challenger on its hands. And after months of reports and teasers, you're looking at the finish product.

A joint effort between Dacia, Renaultsport, a number of independent firms and driver Jean-Phillipe Dayraut who brought them all together, the Dacia Duster "No Limit" was built for the Unlimited class at Pikes Peak, where (contrary to just about any other form of motorsport) there are essentially no restrictions placed on a car's specifications. As a result, the purpose-built racer packs the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 from a Nissan GT-R (tuned to 850 horsepower), which is mounted amidships behind the cabin and mated to a six-speed sequential racing gearbox. All of that mechanical chutzpah is kept down by the most aggressive aerodynamics package this side of an F-35 Lightning.

It's a beast of a car, and we can't wait to see Dayraut - the reigning three-time Andros Trophy champion - take its wheel at the Peak on June 26. In the meantime, check out the extensive high-res image gallery for a closer look and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Dacia unleashes 850-hp GT-R-powered Duster "No Limit" Pikes Peak challenger

Dacia unleashes 850-hp GT-R-powered Duster "No Limit" Pikes Peak challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia Duster teased preparing for Pikes Peak assault

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road, Racing

Dacia Duster Pikes Peak racer - Click above for image gallery

North American audiences may not be familiar with the name Dacia. It's Renault's Romanian budget brand, and a particular favorite of Top Gear's James May. But beyond its no-frills road cars, Dacia has also followed its parent company's lead in establishing a name for itself in motorsport competition. And that fighting spirit is about to come to American shores - or hilltops, anyway.

As we reported back in January, Dacia is preparing a version of its Duster crossover for full assault on Pikes Peak. The Duster is the racer which four-time F1 champion Alain Prost drives in the Andros Trophy, a French ice-racing series, but in a bit of a twist, the project is reportedly being piloted by Prost's main rival, Jean-Phillipe Dayraut, who drives a BMW 1 Series in the Andros Trophy. (Imagine Lewis Hamilton going to Le Mans in a Ferrari and you'll see what we mean.)

With the car set to debut in testing on June 5 ahead of the June 26 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Dayraut has released a handful of images showing his new machine being built and wind tunnel tested. And it looks like quite the beast, with giant spoilers front and rear. As for what is powering the Monster-challenging monster, rumor is it's based on the Nissan GT-R's twin-turbo V6 - the companies are allied, after all - tuned by Renaultsport. Whatever it is, it's said to pack 850 horsepower, making this one very serious contender to break the elusive ten-minute mark come one month from now.

Dacia Duster teased preparing for Pikes Peak assault originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault rolls out special Dacia Duster just for French ski instructors

Noah Joseph — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road

Dacia Duster ESF - Click above for high-res image

Skiing the French Alps is something you'd likely associate with a luxury lifestyle. Dacia, on the other hand, is a budget brand. In other words, diametric opposites, you might think - until you recall that it's the Dacia Duster that's been challenging for France's Andros Trophy ice racing series at the hands of none other than Alain Prost. Now Renault's low-cost Romanian subsidiary has announced a new special edition model.

Drawing on its years of partnership with the École de Ski Français (that's French ski school, for the linguistically unfamiliar), the new limited edition Duster gets a white paint job, special badging, a reinforced aluminum sump guard, a roof rack to accommodate four pairs of skis, and a set of spare wheels pre-fitted with snow tires. Otherwise, the equipment is the same as the Lauréate 4x4 trim level, and it's powered by a 110-horsepower turbodiesel four.

So who would be interested in buying a limited-edition Dacia? Ski instructors, apparently. The ESF edition Duster is available exclusively to ESF instructors, with a €18,990 sticker price. If that description just happens to fit you, well... do yourself a favor and read the complete press release after the break.

[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Renault rolls out special Dacia Duster just for French ski instructors

Renault rolls out special Dacia Duster just for French ski instructors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: How not to judge your speed in a car jump attempt

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos

The incorrect way to gauge your speed for a ramp jump - Click above to watch video after the, ahem, jump

Planning on attempting a ramp jump in an automobile? We have a tip for you: Don't use a Dacia 1310. Why? Apparently it can build up too much speed, causing you and your co-driver to overshoot your landing area. Either that, or you need to reconsider your high school math skills...

Check out this clip from a stunt performed in 1995. We believe it takes place in Romania, and we've also found reports that say both driver and co-driver were okay, which seems to be the case if you watch all the way through the end. That last bit is miraculous because the duo manage to soar quite a bit further than they anticipated. Strap in and come fly with us past the jump to view the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: How not to judge your speed in a car jump attempt

Video: How not to judge your speed in a car jump attempt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia Duster to tackle Pikes Peak with 850-hp Nissan GT-R engine?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Crossover, Nissan, Renault, Off-Road, Racing

Dacia Duster Andros Trophy - Click above for high-res image gallery

We know that looks like snow in the picture above, but imagine all that white stuff as the winding circuit that ascends Pikes Peak instead. The legendary (and brutal) Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been dominated by the likes of Suzuki's Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima in years past, and while Rhys Millen has been eager to win back his daddy's title, reports indicate that both Tajima and Millen could have a new challenger to deal with this year.

The challenge could come from the Andros Trophy - the French ice racing series that attracts big names from F1 like Alain Prost and Jacques Villeneuve. As much about the drivers as it is about the cars, the Andros Trophy series has been dominated by two names over the past several years: the aforementioned quadruple F1 champion Prost, and Jean-Philippe Dayraut. The former won the trophy in 2007 and 2008, the latter in 2009 and 2010, and the both of them are currently tangling for the 2011 title.

Prost switched from the Toyota Auris in which he won the trophy twice to the specially-prepared Dacia Duster pictured above. Dayraut left his Skoda Fabia to Villeneuve in favor of the BMW 1 Series. If reports prove accurate, however, it could be Dayraut taking the Dacia to Pikes Peak. French reports say Dayraut's people approached Tork Engineering (the firm that set up Prost's Duster) to make a Pike's Peak challenger using the engine from the Nissan GT-R (Dacia is part of the Renault-Nissan alliance) with a projected 850 horsepower and a curb weight under 2,000 lbs.

With those kinds of stats - and that kind of driver - the Dacia hillclimber is shaping up to be a a monster. And Monster Tajima had better take notice.

Gallery: Dacia Duster Andros Trophy

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

Dacia Duster to tackle Pikes Peak with 850-hp Nissan GT-R engine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange

Zach Bowman — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

Banned Dacia Duster ad - Click above to watch video after the jump

Let's just start by saying that the ad in the video after the jump contains some not-so-safe-for-work language and a couple of crude body gestures. Dacia evidently worked up an ad for its Duster that was intended to underscore the great bargain that its pint-sized SUV represents. In the process, the company managed to alienate an entire nationality and portray its dealers as a pack of bloodthirsty, vulgar thieves willing to yank the shirt off your back and insult your wife. Would you be surprised if we told you that this particular spot was apparently banned? We didn't think so.

Still, if you're an admirer of the art of stringing together obscure profanity, you'll likely get a chuckle out of this unconventional ad. Hey, no one ever accused us of being the classiest kids on the block. Hit the jump to take a look for yourself, just remember to plug in those earphones if you're on the clock. Thanks for the tip, cornel001!

Gallery: Dacia Duster 4x4

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange

Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault unveils Sandero Stepway concept in Brazil

Noah Joseph — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Crossover, Misc. Auto Shows, Renault, South America

Renault Sandero Stepway Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've ever heard of the Dacia Sandero, it's probably from Clarkson teasing James May about it on Top Gear. The no-nonsense, bare-bones hatchback - sold alternatively as a Renault in markets where its budget subsidiary Dacia doesn't exist - is a favorite of Captain Slow.

In South America, the Sandero also comes as a crossover version called the Stepway, and taller though it is, it's just as decidedly spartan. That didn't stop Renault from drumming up some excitement over the budget range, however, with the show car you see here.

Envisioned as a successor to the current model and closer to a junior Duster, the Sandero Stepway Concept dials up the glitz factor just a touch with a sporty body kit, three-tone paint scheme and enough blue LEDs to light up the trendiest of night clubs. Also, some flower decals... for some reason. The result is something akin to a futuristic cup of cappuccino, and you can check it out in further detail in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Renault Sandero Stepway Concept

[Source: Renault]

Renault unveils Sandero Stepway concept in Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darkness Follows: Renault's Dacia brand launches Black Line

Noah Joseph — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Renault

Dacia Logan, Logan MCV and Sandero Black Line - Click above for high-res image gallery

These days it seems like every color is being claimed for one cause or another. Medical research has laid claim to a few (pink and yellow come to mind), but so has the automotive industry: red for performance, green for hybrids, blue for clean diesels... Mercedes adopted black as the label for its most extreme AMG models, but now the shade is being used for something decidedly more low-rent: Renault's budget brand and Romanian subsidiary, Dacia.

Available on the Logan, Logan MCV and Sandero - though not, apparently, on the Logan pick-up or the upcoming new Duster crossover - the Black Line adds a touch of class to the budget cars. The package, based on the Laureate trim level, adds such "special" touches as metallic paint, visible top-stitching on the black fabric upholstery, MP3-capable CD player and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Nothing ground-breaking here, and it's not going to outshine an SL63 by any means, but finally a car Top Gear's James May can drive to the symphony. Details in the press release after the jump and photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Dacia Black Line

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Darkness Follows: Renault's Dacia brand launches Black Line

Darkness Follows: Renault's Dacia brand launches Black Line originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Renault pondering return to North America

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Renault

Dacia Duster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault hasn't been in the US market since 1987, the year the Alliance and the Encore stopped trickling out of AMC factories. Few have missed the French automaker's presence since it left our shores, though many thought the doors would once again open to the land of opportunity once Nissan was in the fold. That hasn't happened so far, but a story in The Wall Street Journal shows that Renault is at least thinking about once again coming Stateside to sell cars and SUVs. Gerard Detourbet, head of Renault's entry-level vehicle division, told WSJ that the company is studying a move to North America, and the vehicle that could influence the decision is the low-cost Duster SUV.

The Duster, which for now is being build by Dacia in Romania, will eventually be sold as a Renault once production ramps up. If the apparently capable Duster is a success in emerging markets like South America and Eastern Europe, there could be a chance Renault would give the mini ute a chance in the U.S. But Detourbet reportedly doesn't see Renault entering the U.S. market with just one vehicle like it did with the Alliance in late 1982, instead favoring a family of affordable vehicles as the best approach. And with Renault's Logan line already established in many parts of the world, the budget-minded nameplate could be reworked for U.S. duty at some point in the future.

While it's nice to hear that Renault is at least considering a return to America, we're not all that hopeful that anything will happen within the next three to five years. Besides, once the Duster is retrofitted for U.S. duty it'll probably be heavier, more expensive and overwhelmingly diesel-less.

Gallery: Dacia Duster 4x4

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub's Req'd]

WSJ: Renault pondering return to North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia shows off new production Duster 4x4

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Renault, Diesel, Off-Road

Dacia Duster - click above for high-res image gallery

You know what the problem with Autoblog is? Not enough Romanian cars! To rectify this hateful situation, we present to you the all-new Dacia Duster, a compact SUV that "rewrites the 4x4 rulebook." What that means is that in Europe, most SUVs are in fact soft roaders. Totally useless in the rough stuff despite their fancy all-wheel drive systems and too expensive for the majority of the people to purchase. The Duster, on the other hand, is going to cost little (hey, it's a Dacia!) yet be quite capable when the going gets rocky, muddy and/or roadless.

We've seen a tricked out, snow-racing version of the Dacia Duster before, but that's not the borscht and potatoes of the new Duster, so to speak. Designed primarily with emerging markets in mind (Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Maghreb), the Duster will also be badged as a Renault and sold in continental Europe. Never forget that it was Renault who helped Dacia to get off the ground in the mid-Sixties by handing over the tooling to the Renault 8, which reemerged as the Dacia 1100 (and the totally awesome 1100S).

Despite its cute-ute looks, Dacia is claiming that the Duster is the real, all-terrain deal. The stats seem to back that up: eight inches of ground clearance combined with 30 degree approach and 35 degree departure angles reminds us of ye olde Jeep Cherokee (hey, the old AMC-developed Cherokee had a lot of French in it). While missing the Cherokee's low gears, the Duster gets a three-stage transmission featuring an auto torque-split mode, lock and two wheel-drive. The tranny tech is actually sourced from Nissan (also owed by Renault) and it figures to work really well. in fact, there is some speculation that the Duster is based off Nissan's Qashqai. Also helpful is that the Duster weighs just 2,816 pounds in 4x4 guise (2,596 pounds as a 4x2). Then you factor in a torquey diesel power plant (105 horsepower, 266 pound-feet of torque) and you've got yourself quite an impressive bad road beasty.

Chances of us getting it here? Slimmer than none. First of all, whomever it is that still owns to rights to the Plymouth brand (Chrysler, Fiat, Daimler, the UAW, Obama?) would have nothing but dollar signs in their eyes if a Duster showed up. Then, of course, there's the undeniable fact that car makers have a sick aversion to giving us cheap, simple, rugged utilitarian diesel trucks. However, you're more than free to purchase an X5 xDrive35d from BMW, and soon you'll be able to buy a reworked Infiniti QX56 that halfway resembles a FX. Good stuff, right? We'll be getting a glimpse of the Duster up close and in the flesh come Geneva, but that'll be fleeting. Press release can be found after the jump.

Gallery: Dacia Duster 4x4

[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Dacia shows off new production Duster 4x4

Dacia shows off new production Duster 4x4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost

Noah Joseph — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SUV, Europe, Renault, Specialty

Dacia Duster Trophée Andros - Click above for high-res image gallery

Let's set one thing straight here. The retirement of a leading Formula One driver is often portrayed as some sort of tragedy - for the driver himself especially. But the truth of the matter is that for a former World Champion, the world is his oyster. Retired F1 drivers can go on to compete in virtually any racing discipline they wish, with nothing to prove in the process. Of contemporary retired World Champions, Hakkinen and Rosberg went to DTM, Mansell took the Indy title, Lauda's training to become an astronaut and Villeneuve's gone...well, everywhere. But Alain Prost has gone another route entirely.

Having retired from F1 in 1994 after his fourth World Championship, Alain started his own team. Prost Grand Prix eventually folded in 2002, and the following year, the French driver began competing in the Trophée Andros. The most prominent ice racing series in the world, the Andros Trophy is held primarily in France where it draws some big names. World Touring Car Champion Yvan Muller won the Andros Trophy ten times, but in 2006 and 2007, Prost took the title twice in a row, driving a specially prepared Toyota Auris. This year, however, the quadruple F1 champion will be driving this: the new Dacia Duster.

Although a production version of the budget SUV won't be unveiled until Geneva in March - a year after the concept version debuted there - the Romanian subsidiary of French automaker Renault has given the world a sneak preview with this ice-racing version. Specially built by Renaultsport - the same outfit that fields single-seater formulae and makes all those wonderful hot hatches - the Duster ice racer packs Nissan's highly decorated VQ engine: a 3.0-liter 24-valve V6, mounted in the middle (that is, behind the driver) of a tubular chassis, driving 350 horsepower through a six-speed sequential gearbox to all four wheels via limited slip differential and a mechanical four-wheel-steering system. A fiberglass body helps keep weight down to just 2,100 lbs - the minimum allowed in the series - which should help Prost keep his competition on ice and keep Dacia fans (like Top Gear's James May) cool until the production version hits proper tarmac. Check out the full details in the press release after the jump and photos in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Dacia Duster Andros Trophy

[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost

Snow Drift: Dacia Duster debuts for Trophée Andros with Alain Prost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Production-ready Dacia crossover spotted?

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Nissan, Renault

Spy shots of the 2010 Dacia crossover -- Click above for high-res image gallery

These are said to be pictures of Dacia's coming crossover, caught in a Dacia facility in Romania. Said to be based on the Nissan Qashqai platform and using four wheel drive tech from the Nissan X-Trail, this is another in a line of vehicles with which Dacia wants to take its brand to the world. Names mentioned include Duster and Steppe, and production plans call for one million units per year at a price of €12,000. It is expected to be officially unveiled at next year's Geneva Auto Show. You can have a closer look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below. Hat tip to Ironick

Gallery: Dacia CUV Spy Shots

[Source: Dacia Club via Automarket]

Spy Shots: Production-ready Dacia crossover spotted? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Dacia could sell in UK after all... if Cash For Clunkers legislation passes

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Renault, UK

If Britain follows Germany's lead and adopts a scrap-your-old-car incentive, it looks like the first company to pounce will could be Romania's Dacia. Renault, which owns Dacia, had planned to launch its brand in the U.K. last summer, but then backtracked.

Thankfully, the bargain brand's fortunes improved when Germany's car scrapping incentive took effect yielding an industry-wide 21 percent jump in February sales. But Dacia didn't just manage to achieve that increase, their sales mushroomed by something like 900 percent, going from less than 100 Logans per week to more than 1000.

According to Autocar, the company thinks it may be able to realize similar results if Britain, making outsized returns on its plucky, cheap-as-chips Sandero - but only if Britain's politicians green-light the initiative.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Dacia could sell in UK after all... if Cash For Clunkers legislation passes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia Duster concept to spawn production model?

Chris Paukert — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Technology, Crossover, Rumormill

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dacia Duster Concept

Say "Duster" to most auto enthusiasts and you're likely to conjure up images of 1970's Plymouth Valiant-based muscle cars, or perhaps the P-bodied Chrysler buzzbins of the Eighties. What doesn't usually come to mind is the very first concept car from the Romanian low-cost transportation experts at Dacia.

Initially shown at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, word from Autocar now suggests that a production version of the showcar is on the way. According to the UK publication, the Duster will hit the ground running at next year's Geneva show, and it will launch with a choice of four-cylinder gas and diesel engines, as well as available all-wheel drive.

Interestingly, Autocar suggests that the production crossover will likely retain the concept's trick reconfigurable seats, including a passenger seat that can slide under the driver's seat for extra room. Check out the jump a video that shows the Dacia's trick disappearing seat, as well as the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Dacia Duster Concept

[Sources: Autocar; Dacia]

Continue reading Dacia Duster concept to spawn production model?

Dacia Duster concept to spawn production model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Dacia Duster concept first from low-cost brand

John Neff — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Renault

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dacia Duster Concept

Renault's low cost Romanian brand, Dacia, will be unveiling its very first concept at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Called the Duster, the concept features a crossover-style body with some very interesting styling elements like headlights that trail off across the front fenders and rear tail-lights that stretch forward across a flying buttress of sheetmetal above the rear wheels. Kudos to Renault designers in Romania and France for penning such an interesting shape. Contained within is an equally useful interior with a neat modular trick: The front passenger seat slides underneath the driver's seat on rails, creating enough room to carry a mountain bike inside the car rather than on top of it. Of course, there are those concept car elements that have to be included like ridiculously large 21-inch wheels, an all-glass roof and rear-hinged back doors, but the Duster's powertrain is anything but fanciful. The concept is powered by Renault's 1.5L dCi four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 105 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Dacia says that's enough to push the Duster to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds while returning 44.4 mpg (U.S). Check out the official press release from Dacia after the jump, our high-res gallery of images below and keep an eye on our live coverage of the Geneva Motor Show by clicking here.

Gallery: Dacia Duster Concept

[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Dacia Duster concept first from low-cost brand

Geneva Preview: Dacia Duster concept first from low-cost brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dacia teases with new concept ahead of Geneva debut

Noah Joseph — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Renault

Click on the image above to view a gallery of Dacia concept teasers

If Dacia has managed to establish a name for itself, it has been on no-frills, low-cost vehicles. But Renault's Romanian budget brand is preparing to unveil a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show that looks poised to blow the doors off its lackluster image with some show-stopping forms.

The leaked teaser images shown here preview the new Dacia concept, but no details have emerged to go along with them. Although some sources suggest that Dacia is poised to launch a new crossover, big wheels on low-profile rubber sheltering Brembo calipers and the two-door format suggest a sportier model in the works. We'll be keeping our eyes open as we get closer to Geneva in March for more details on the shapely Dacia concept. In the meantime, we'll just have to ponder the renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Dacia concept teasers

[Source: Carscoop]

Dacia teases with new concept ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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