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Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fiat contemplating sub-brand to compete with Dacia, Datsun]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/fiat-contemplating-sub-brand-to-compete-with-dacia-datsun/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/fiat-contemplating-sub-brand-to-compete-with-dacia-datsun/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/05/fiat-contemplating-sub-brand-to-compete-with-dacia-datsun/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Fiat

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You can add Fiat to the admittedly short list of automakers considering a low-cost brand to rival Dacia. The inexpensive Eastern European brand from Renault-Nissan has performed on the balance sheet like a premium model line, and the money the alliance is taking off the table is encouraging other players to deal themselves in. Pretty soon Nissan's Datsun sub-brand will join the Dacia party, going on sale in Russia, Indonesia and India and will claim even more rubles, rupiahs and rupees for the parent company. Volkswagen recently said it will make a decision this year on a budget line for the Chinese market. With the euthanasia of Lancia and plans to move the Fiat brand upmarket, company CEO Sergio Marchionne wonders aloud to Automotive News Europe whether there could be room for a new budget brand underneath Fiat.

We're told that the initiative has been in the idea box for five years and even moved to the stage of name considerations, like Innocenti, but worries about profit kept it from realization. If such a range were to be developed, Marchionne says it couldn't be built in Italy and stay within budget, and the company is "analyzing its manufacturing capacity outside of Europe to see if a low-cost brand is viable."

Fiat contemplating sub-brand to compete with Dacia, Datsun originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daciadatsunemerging marketsfiatlancianissanrenaultsergio marchionneTue, 05 Feb 2013 08:46:00 EST

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No one, not even former Renault CEO Louis Schweitzer whose idea it was to buy Dacia in 1999, had any idea the low-cost Eastern European sub-brand would succeed this well. The Romanian automaker with three wheels in the ground at the time of its takeover was purchased the same year that Renault took its stake in Nissan, and no one had much to say about that smaller deal. Fast forward 13 years, the line that began with the Logan in 2004 is now five model lines on sale in 36 countries, it's year-on-year sales have never decreased and the vehicles built on its M0 entry-level platform sold nearly a million units in 2012. This isn't just an emerging-market story, either, with Dacia branded offerings making up 17 percent of Renault volume in Western Europe.

Its rampaging sales and the synergies between the Renault and Dacia lines have turned the brand into a "cash cow" in the words of Renault's COO. Its vehicles share a huge number of parts, many of which are still carryover nine years into the brand's life, and parts of the recently introduced second-generation Logan are evolved from the 1990 Renault Clio. In fact, due to amortization and decreased prices for parts because of the massive sales, the new Logan is less expensive to produce than the first generation, so it was given new equipment along with the refresh in order to maintain its price.

The news is even better in other regions, where the Dacia can command more money on its own or can be sold under the Renault or Nissan brands. The Duster in Western Europe that starts at 12,000 euros starts at 19,000 euros in Brazil. That's how Dacia, according to a Morgan Stanley analyst, returns a worldwide nine-percent operating margin as opposed to Renault's 0.4-percent. What lies ahead is more models and variants, as well as a modular strategy for the M0 platform to further reduce costs, and, one supposes, even more money from that Romanian cow.

Dacia brand has become "cash cow" for parent Renault originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20415650 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/dacia-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/dacia-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Renault appoints Dacia Logan creator to head its Nano-rival program in India]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/29/renault-appoints-dacia-logan-creator-to-head-its-nano-rival-prog/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/29/renault-appoints-dacia-logan-creator-to-head-its-nano-rival-prog/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/29/renault-appoints-dacia-logan-creator-to-head-its-nano-rival-prog/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Renault, India

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After watching the Tata Nano post sales numbers smaller than its engine displacement, Renault gave up on its much publicized intention to build a truly inexpensive car to rival it. Then, a month ago, reports emerged that Renault was resuming work on a couple of low-priced cars for emerging markets, but this time it would work with its in-house partner, Nissan. That plan envisions an offering for €3,000 ($3,888 US) and another for €5,000 ($6,400 US), both of which would be more spendy than the Nano but might avoid the charge of being cheap - and nasty - and instead be considered affordable.

A report in Reuters talks to the man in charge, Gerard Detourbet, who has been in Chennai, India since at least August working on the program. Detourbet led the Dacia Logan project and is considered "Renault's low-cost car specialist" and "the father of entry-car programs." This one is reportedly codenamed A-Entry and will create a "'sub-entry' architecture" that will provide roominess beyond the vehicle's price and class, and use an engine with a displacement of 800 cubic centimeters.

It isn't aimed at the Nano, though - it means to take on the products that make up 45-50 percent of India's car market, like the Maruti Suzuki Alto and Hyundai Eon. According to Reuters, out of the 2.6-million-strong Indian car market the Maruti Suzuki line-up alone nabs one million registrations annually. The Alto 800 begins at 244,000 rupees ($4,440 US), the Eon at 300,000 rupees ($5,559 US), the Chevrolet Spark at about 316,000 ($5,750 US); if Renault can nail its price targets it will just about bracket those three and be right in the game.

Renault wants to get this car right and then ship it to other markets. Detourbet's wider mission is encapsulated in his assessment that "Once you've done battle with the world's best cheap car manufacturer, you can go into another country where there isn't a Maruti Suzuki and be relatively comfortable." Reports have said that we'll see it for the first time at the 2014 New Delhi Auto Expo. Meanwhile, Tata has gone back to the idea well, and the bank, to work on restoring the good fortunes it hasn't had with passenger cars in India in a long while.

Renault appoints Dacia Logan creator to head its Nano-rival program in India originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20410402 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/renault-badge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/renault-badge.jpg <![CDATA[VW planning new ultra-low-cost model to take on Dacia, Datsun]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/vw-planning-new-ultra-low-cost-model-to-take-on-dacia-datsun/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/vw-planning-new-ultra-low-cost-model-to-take-on-dacia-datsun/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/vw-planning-new-ultra-low-cost-model-to-take-on-dacia-datsun/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Volkswagen

When it was confirmed earlier this year that Nissan wiil resurrect the Datsun brand for emerging markets, the numbers provided the reason. Nissan sold 60,000 vehicles in Indonesia alone last year, and CEO Carlos Ghosn wants to increase that figure to 250,000 units by 2014. Even then, that would mark just a fraction of that market's exploding growth. Renault-Nissan also has its successful Dacia brand in emerging markets as well as Europe.

Volkswagen is paying attention. A spokesman for the automaker told Der Spiegel that an inexpensive line of cars has intrigued VW "for quite some time." The German brand sniffed around Proton for years and tried to get into low-cost models with Suzuki, but the Suzuki affair has probably seen more money spent on legal bills and arbitration than an actual product. According to Der Spiegel VW is looking at how to do it alone, and the launch of a range - perhaps a hatch, sedan, wagon and SUV akin to the Dacia lineup - could begin as soon as 2015. Pricing would need to come in at €6,000 to €8,000 ($7,784 to $10,379 U.S.). The new Dacia Sandero starts at €6,790 in Germany, a VW Up costs €9,975.

The major considerations are what to call it and how to build it. It would be tough for VW to stick to that price point and its current brand values, so it needs to figure out whether it should call such a line something else entirely or try and expand the customer perceptions of what "Volkswagen" means. After that, the automaker would need to determine whether any current factories and tooling could be repurposed, or if the cost involves building new operations. Unlike the acquisition of a new brand, however, the plan for a cheap car has the support of the head of the labor board, who told Der Spiegel "For emerging markets we need a car cheaper than the VW Up."

VW planning new ultra-low-cost model to take on Dacia, Datsun originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20348465 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/vwbeetles1956_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/vwbeetles1956.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Dacia Sandero don't need no stinking alloys]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/2013-dacia-sandero-paris-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/2013-dacia-sandero-paris-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/28/2013-dacia-sandero-paris-2012/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Diesel

2013 Dacia Sandero

The UK-bound Dacia Sandero made an appearance at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. With new exterior styling, a revised cabin and a total of four engine options, the Sandero offers buyers a low buck runabout. The five-door carries an MSRP of €7,900 and may be had in either gasoline or diesel guise. That price will fetch you power steering, a folding rear seat, stability control and the luxury of air bags. That's right: plural.

Those who require a little more flash can opt for one of three higher trims, the loftiest of which serves up Bluetooth hands-free calling, navigation and rear park assist. Later this year, Dacia will introduce a liquid propane gas variant to the mix as well. Check out the quick press blast below.

Continue reading 2013 Dacia Sandero don't need no stinking alloys

2013 Dacia Sandero don't need no stinking alloys originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20335117 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2013-dacia-sandero-paris_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2013-dacia-sandero-paris.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia Duster limousine an ambitious student project [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/dacia-duster-limousine-an-ambitious-student-project-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/dacia-duster-limousine-an-ambitious-student-project-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/dacia-duster-limousine-an-ambitious-student-project-w-video/#commentsFiled under: SUV, Europe, Videos, Crossover, Russia, Design/Style, Luxury

The Dacia Duster catches a lot of ire from the the Top Gear boys, but the work of 23 students could (but probably won't) put an end to that. The students are part of Dacia's Engineering Projects Auto Program, and have gone about creating a stretched Dacia Duster.

The team started by cutting the Romanian crossover and adding 59 inches of sheet metal. The result is an Eastern European ute that stretches over 19 feet long!

The Duster is painted in a matte black finish, and the exterior design is capped off with some sort of aluminum side thingy. In the midst of all this customization, the stock wheels were sensibly kept intact.

The cabin has been fitted a television, four captains chairs and an Android tablet. Other interior touches include expansive sunroofs, track lighting and generous heaps of leather.

Check out the fruits of the students' labor in the gallery and check out the video of the stretch-Duster below.

Continue reading Dacia Duster limousine an ambitious student project [w/video]

Dacia Duster limousine an ambitious student project [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20299220 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/00-dacia-duster-limo-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/00-dacia-duster-limo-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia rolls out Dokker vanlet in Casablanca]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/dacia-rolls-out-dokker-vanlet-in-casablanca/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/dacia-rolls-out-dokker-vanlet-in-casablanca/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/dacia-rolls-out-dokker-vanlet-in-casablanca/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Minivan/Van, Misc. Auto Shows, Renault

Dacia Dokker

Morocco may not be a place that often pops up on the radar of the international automotive industry, unless it's about al-Qaeda threats on the route of the Dakar rally. So you'd be forgiven for discounting the Casablanca Auto Show as largely irrelevant, but that's the location Renault chose to unveil its latest utilitarian model.

Built in nearby Tangiers, the Dokker joins the Dacia brand as its fifth model line, alongside the Logan, Sandero, Duster and the most recently released Lodgy van. The Dokker is a van also, but a bit smaller, and comes in two flavors: five-seat passenger van or slab-sided panel wagon. Little in the way of details were revealed in the press release below, joined by the trio of high-resolution images, but you can bet that as a Dacia, it'll be cheap and to the point.

Continue reading Dacia rolls out Dokker vanlet in Casablanca

Dacia rolls out Dokker vanlet in Casablanca originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20242718 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/webdacia-dokker_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/webdacia-dokker.jpg <![CDATA[2012 Dacia Lodgy is a budget-friendly MPV for Europe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2012-dacia-lodgy-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2012-dacia-lodgy-geneva-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2012-dacia-lodgy-geneva-2012/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe

Dacia Lodgy

It may not be the most exciting vehicle that debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but the new Dacia Lodgy is an important one nonetheless. The Romanian-bred, French-owned automaker says the Lodgy will be offered in multiple configurations that will include options for five or seven occupants.

We can't say for certain what will power the machine, but we can comment on its interesting name. Dacia says, as you can read in the press release after the break, that the moniker is "derived from the English word 'lodge' and refers directly to the model's ability to comfortably accommodate a family and its luggage." Odd name aside, we expect the Lodgy will be popular with European families looking for an inexpensive way to transport their brood.

Alongside the new Lodgy MPV, Dacia also displayed the Lodgy Glace Alain Prost drove to win the Andros Trophy. Check both out in our included photo galleries and read the few details released by Dacia below.

Continue reading 2012 Dacia Lodgy is a budget-friendly MPV for Europe

2012 Dacia Lodgy is a budget-friendly MPV for Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20188349 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/dacia-lodgy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/dacia-lodgy.jpg <![CDATA[Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/05/alain-prost-wins-ice-racing-series-in-dacia-lodgy-glace-mpv/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/05/alain-prost-wins-ice-racing-series-in-dacia-lodgy-glace-mpv/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/05/alain-prost-wins-ice-racing-series-in-dacia-lodgy-glace-mpv/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Minivan/Van, Europe, Renault, Racing

Dacia Lodgy Glace

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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20160373 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/weblodgy-andros_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/weblodgy-andros.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia shows new Lodgy minivan ahead of Geneva debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/dacia-shows-new-lodgy-minivan-ahead-of-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/dacia-shows-new-lodgy-minivan-ahead-of-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/dacia-shows-new-lodgy-minivan-ahead-of-geneva-debut/#commentsFiled under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe

2012 Dacia Lodgy

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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20141069 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-dacia-lodgy-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-dacia-lodgy-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia challenging Andros Trophy with new Lodgy MPV ice racer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/dacia-challenging-andros-trophy-with-new-lodgy-mpv-ice-racer/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Minivan/Van, Europe, Renault, Racing

Dacia Lodgy Glace

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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20105967 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/webdacia-lodgy-glace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/webdacia-lodgy-glace.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan moves on plans to revive Datsun nameplate as budget sub-brand]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/nissan-moves-on-plans-to-revive-datsun-nameplate-as-budget-sub-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/nissan-moves-on-plans-to-revive-datsun-nameplate-as-budget-sub-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/nissan-moves-on-plans-to-revive-datsun-nameplate-as-budget-sub-b/#commentsFiled under: Budget, China, Nissan, Russia

Dacia Black Line

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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20072024 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/dacia-black-line_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/dacia-black-line.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia unleashes 850-hp GT-R-powered Duster "No Limit" Pikes Peak challenger]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/dacia-unleashes-850-hp-gt-r-powered-duster-no-limit-pikes-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/dacia-unleashes-850-hp-gt-r-powered-duster-no-limit-pikes-peak/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/27/dacia-unleashes-850-hp-gt-r-powered-duster-no-limit-pikes-peak/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road, Racing

Dacia Duster

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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19950654 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web31dacia-duster-no-limit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web31dacia-duster-no-limit.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia Duster teased preparing for Pikes Peak assault]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/dacia-duster-teased-preparing-for-pikes-peak-assault/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/dacia-duster-teased-preparing-for-pikes-peak-assault/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/dacia-duster-teased-preparing-for-pikes-peak-assault/#commentsFiled under: Motorsports, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road, Racing

Dacia Duster Pikes Peak racer

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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19945009 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-dacia-duster-pikes-peak-special-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-dacia-duster-pikes-peak-special-1.jpg <![CDATA[Renault rolls out special Dacia Duster just for French ski instructors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/renault-rolls-out-special-dacia-duster-just-for-french-ski-instr/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/renault-rolls-out-special-dacia-duster-just-for-french-ski-instr/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/06/renault-rolls-out-special-dacia-duster-just-for-french-ski-instr/#commentsFiled under: SUV, Europe, Crossover, Renault, Off-Road

Dacia Duster ESF

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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19903736 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-dacia2819116_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/web630-dacia2819116.jpg <![CDATA[Video: How <i>not</i> to judge your speed in a car jump attempt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/video-how-not-to-judge-your-speed-in-a-car-jump-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/video-how-not-to-judge-your-speed-in-a-car-jump-attempt/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/11/video-how-not-to-judge-your-speed-in-a-car-jump-attempt/#commentsFiled under: Etc., Videos

dacia 1310 overshoots landing on jump attempt

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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19877177 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/overshoot_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/overshoot.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia Duster to tackle Pikes Peak with 850-hp Nissan GT-R engine?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/dacia-duster-to-tackle-pikes-peak-with-850hp-nissan-gt-r-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/dacia-duster-to-tackle-pikes-peak-with-850hp-nissan-gt-r-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/31/dacia-duster-to-tackle-pikes-peak-with-850hp-nissan-gt-r-engine/#commentsFiled 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andros trophydaciadacia dusterdayrautdusterJean-Philippe Dayrautpikes peakrenaultrenault dusterTrophée AndrosMon, 31 Jan 2011 10:01:00 EST

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19820975 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/01-dacia-andros_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/01-dacia-andros.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Banned Dacia Duster advert is funny, strange]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/14/video-banned-dacia-duster-advert-is-funny-strange/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/14/video-banned-dacia-duster-advert-is-funny-strange/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/14/video-banned-dacia-duster-advert-is-funny-strange/#commentsFiled under: Budget, SUV, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

Banned Lancia Ad

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 dacia dusterbannedbanned commercialbanned dacia addaciadacia dusterdusterFri, 14 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

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19801386 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lancia-ad-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/lancia-ad-630.jpg <![CDATA[Renault unveils Sandero Stepway concept in Brazil]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/renault-unveils-sandero-stepway-concept-in-brazil/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/renault-unveils-sandero-stepway-concept-in-brazil/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/02/renault-unveils-sandero-stepway-concept-in-brazil/#commentsFiled 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brazildaciadacia sanderodacia sandero stepwaydacia sandero stepway conceptrenaultrenault sanderorenault sandero stepwayrenault sandero stepway conceptsanderosao paulosao paulo auto showstepwayTue, 02 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST

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19699415 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/renault-sandero-stepway-concept1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/renault-sandero-stepway-concept1.jpg <![CDATA[Darkness Follows: Renault's Dacia brand launches Black Line]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/10/darkness-follows-renaults-dacia-brand-launches-black-line/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/10/darkness-follows-renaults-dacia-brand-launches-black-line/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/10/darkness-follows-renaults-dacia-brand-launches-black-line/#commentsFiled under: Budget, Europe, Renault

Dacia Black Line Models

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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