We were hoping to see some driving footage of the new Dacia Duster 4x4 in the first official video of the vehicle, but instead the Renault-Nissan Alliance treated us with two-never-ending-minutes of static shots of the SUV's exterior... As a reminder, the Romanian brand's budget 4x4 will go on sale in Europe from spring 2010, followed shortly after by other international markets including, but not limited to, the Middle East, Russia, Brazil and the Gulf States. You can read more about the Duster 4x4 in our previous post here.

We don't know if the Renault - Nissan Alliance's new Dacia Duster 4x4 will be as capable as the Lada Niva when it comes to off-roading, but it appears that the Romanian firm is aiming to create a modern day successor to the Russian 4x4 with its latest model that was officially revealed today. In Renault's own words, the Duster is "an economical to buy and run, tough, reliable and easy-to-use 4x4, aimed at motorists looking for an everyday car with real off-road ability."

The company says that while the Duster's price will be comparable to that of a city car (e.g. Ford Fiesta), its exterior and interior dimensions are more akin to those of a C-segment compact car (e.g. VW Golf VI) offering enough space for five passengers and their luggage.

Based on the B0/Logan platform, the Duster measures 4.31 meters in length and 1.82 meters in width meaning it's about the same size as the recently facelifted Nissan Qashqai crossover.

According to Dacia, the Duster's boot has a volume of up to 475 dm3, while with the rear benchseat folded and tipped forward, its carrying ability can exceed 1,600dm3.

The Duster will be offered with either a 1.6-liter petrol engine in 110hp and 85hp guises, or a 105hp dCi diesel powerplant, all available with two-wheel or four-wheel drive.

The 4x4 variants make use of Nissan's all-wheel drive system 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.

Renault / Dacia (take your pick) says that the Duster is a genuine off-roader offering a strengthened undercarriage, a high ground clearance (more than 200mm) and big clearance angles (approach angle: 30 degrees; departure angle: 35+ degrees).

Furthermore, the Duster also boasts a low unladen weight at 1,180kg or 2,601 lbs in 4x2 form, and 1,280kg or 2,822 lbs in 4x4 form.

The company said that depending on the market, the compact sized model will come equipped with ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist, and front and side airbags.

Sales of the Dacia Duster will begin in Europe, Turkey and the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco) from Spring 2010.

From June 2010, the Duster will also be available in Ukraine, the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon) and in some African countries badged as a Renault, while in 2011, it will be sold in the Gulf States.

For these markets, the Duster will be produced at Renault's Pitesti factory in Romania.

In 2011, Renault will begin production of the Duster at its Curitiba plant in Brazil for distribution in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile, while at a later date, the Duster will go on to be manufactured at the Avtoframos plant in Moscow, Russia.

For those that just can't wait until early December to see ex-F1 champion, Alain Prost, getting behind the wheel of the competition version of Dacia's forthcoming Duster crossover for the Trophée Andros racing series, here's a video with some action-packed footage from the test runs. We remind you that the competition Duster 4x4 gets a mid-mounted, 3.0-liter V6 engine that pumps out 350 horsepower. Click through to watch the videos.

Via Carscoop

Dacia, or to be precise, its parent company Renault, has released the first photos and technical information on a competition version of the Romanian brand's forthcoming Duster, an affordable 4x4 that will be officially revealed at next year's Geneva Show. Earlier this year, a set of photos depicting the 2010 Duster SUV without a single trace of camouflage, made their way onto the interwebs revealing the 4x4 in all its glory.

It goes without saying that the competition version of Dacia Duster, which was developed by Renault Sport Technologies, and the actual production model have nothing in common other than the exterior silhouette, and the front and rear fascias.

Under its glass-fibre body, the Duster ice-racer features a tubular chassis that houses a mid-rear mounted, 3.0-liter, 24-valve V6 engine from the Renault-Nissan Alliance range, tweaked to develop 350hp at 7,500rpm, and maximum torque of 360Nm at 5,500rpm. Power is sent to the wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox.

Other highlights of the Duster that weighs in at just 950kg or 2,100 lbs, include the double wishbone suspension arrangement with long-travel dampers and a mechanical four-wheel steering system that links the front and rear wheels, and can be rapidly adjusted to match the characteristics of different circuits.

The Romanian budget brand's competition model will make its debut at France's famous Trophée Andros ice-racing series. Four-time Formula 1 Drivers' Champion Alain Prost will get behind the wheel of the Dacia.

"I am delighted to be driving the Dacia Duster," said Prost. "It is a brand new vehicle, and I am proud to be able to play a part in its promotion to the unusual backdrop of the Trophée Andros. Thanks to the work put in by Renault Sport Technologies, I have every confidence in Dacia Duster's potential and reliability which together point to an extremely exciting season," he concluded.

DACIA DUSTER COMPETITION CAR - TECHNICAL DATA

CHASSIS

• Tubular steel chassis
  
• Double wishbone suspension
  

ENGINE

• Renault-Nissan Alliance VQ 30
  
• Position: mid-rear
  
• Six cylinders (V6)
  
• Number of 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 vented steel discs
  
• Rear: 265mm-diameter steel discs
  

WHEELS

• 5.5" x 16" (magnesium)
  
• Tyres: Continental Racing Contact 3
  

DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT

• Length: 4,001mm
  
• Width: 1,900mm
  
• Front/rear track: 1,690mm
  
• Wheelbase: 2,500mm
  
• Weight: 950kg
  
• Fuel tank capacity: 25 liters

A member of a Dacia enthusiast forum has just posted these photographs of what appears to be the Romanian automaker's forthcoming all-wheel drive SUV model that is said to be named after the Duster concept study which was previewed at this year's Geneva Show. However, given that the vehicle pictured here and the concept study share nothing in common in terms of styling, we're not going to draw any definite conclusions as there is the possibility that this crossover may be an entirely different SUV model altogether. Until we find out more, hit the jump for more pics.

Source: Daciaclub , Via: Promotor - Thanks for the tip Silviu!

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.

Via Carscoop