PRESS PACK

2015 NEW DACIA DUSTER 

CONTENTS 

1     Dacia: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? – and the myths

2     Duster snapshot

3     What’s new for 2015 – and what stays the same

Equipment, options and accessories

4     What’s all the fuss about?

5   Under the bonnet

6    More technical stuff

7    Safety and security kit

8    Living with it: Insurance, servicing and warranties

9   Where it’s made

10  History: Dacia and Duster timeline

1 Dacia in minutes: who, what, where, when, why, how – and the myths 

Who?

• Dacia is Romania’s national vehicle manufacturer. Originally Dacia built Renaults under licence, but it was bought by Renault in 1999 after former Chairman Louis Schweitzer spotted a chance to make affordable new cars for the lower and middle classes in emerging markets, particularly in central Europe – plus the potential for them to be cross-badged as Renaults in the right places at the right price.
• Dacia’s first model under Renault Group ownership was the Logan saloon, launched in Paris in 2004. Fittingly, it was Europe’s first jaw-droppingly priced car, €5,000 including taxes in Romania. On the same day the clamour from other Western European countries to have it was so overwhelming that Renault senior management extended the scope of the project to include France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
• Dacia has been Europe’s fastest-growing automotive brand for eight successive years, with huge demand in Western Europe and North Africa. That’s why right-hand-drive markets had to wait several years for spare production capacity to emerge. Since mid-2012, with the launch of the second-generation version, India has been able to satisfy demand for the Duster, while Pitesti, Romania, produces the Sandero range.
• The Duster has claimed some top car and reliability awards in Europe. It won the Que Choisir? poll (30,000 Western European car owners across six countries) and was runner-up in the 2010 J.D. Power survey. In the UK, Duster won Scottish Car of the Year 2012 and two other awards before it appeared in showrooms – plus Top Gear magazine’s ‘Bargain of the Year’ and FHM’s ‘Best for when you’re short of cash’ awards. It’s won loads more in Europe countries, and 18 in India in six months.
• Dacia’s “break the rules” philosophy has bred impressive brand loyalty – owners even join forces for picnics across Europe. In France, more than 20,000 people gather.
• Everything about the brand centres on “eliminating the unnecessary” and giving customers the option to “pay for what they value”. 

What?

• Products can UK buyers get their hands on?

Duster and Sandero since January 2013, with the Sandero Stepway supermini crossover being added in May. The Logan MCV (Max Capacity Vehicle) – essentially, a five-seater estate – joined in July 2013. Dacia also markets the Dokker car and van, Lodgy MPV and Logan saloon and van, but not in the UK.

• Does the brand stand for?

High quality, “shockingly affordable” vehicles. Typically, Dacia offers a car for the price of one from the class below. In the case of Sandero, it means a spacious, practical, five-door supermini for the price of a mid-range, or lower, city car.. For Duster, it means a family-sized SUV for less than a decent-spec’ city car. With Access and several Ambiance trim versions, there is virtually no competition, other than from used cars

• Impact is it having on UK buyers?

Sales have been so spectacular that they have blown a hole in Dacia’s modest expectations. Initially the company was selling around 1,000 cars a month, but increased this two-and-a-half fold in the following eight months. In June 2014, 18 months after entering the UK, Dacia sold its 25,000^th car.

• Kind of reliability does Dacia offer?

Excellent, which is no surprise given that the cars have been developed to cope with extreme weather and terrain in such far-flung places as Colombia, India and Russia. The company’s cars have scored highly in prominent ownership surveys. As a result, customer loyalty is extremely high. 

Where?

• Does the Dacia name come from?

In ancient Romanian “Dacia” meant “home”

• Does Dacia come from?

Dacia started out in 1966, producing older Renaults under licence. It was bought by Renault in 1999. The brand is currently marketed in 38 countries, with around 14,000 employees. Unsurprisingly, as Romania’s national vehicle manufacturer, it has an impressive home market share – 28%.

• Are Dacias built?

At three sites. The European production base is at Pitesti, Romania (near Transylvania). Since the brand was privatised in 1999, Renault has invested €489 million to bring it up to Group standards. There’s also a new Renault-Nissan Alliance factory in Tangier, Morocco, to build around 200,000 Lodgy MPVs and Dokker cars and vans per year, and the SOMACA site in Casablanca, Morocco, which produces the Logan and Sandero ranges. However, it’s easy to overlook that Dacias are produced as Renaults in India, Latin America, Russia…the list goes on. These outsell the Dacia originals because Dacia is marketed under its own name only in Europe and Euromed regions.

• Can you buy Dacias in the UK?

At the Dacia Store on www.dacia.co.uk, or at Dacia Retailers, which have been set up at every UK Renault dealership (all 130).

• Do you go for service?

At a Dacia Retailer on a Renault site. They use a lot of common parts and the same engines. 

When?

• Did the brand launch in the UK?

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2012. In true “break the rules” style, the company deliberately chose one of the most prestigious events on the motoring calendar to launch a “smart buy” brand, surrounded by everything from Ferraris to pristine classics. Fifty lucky Dacia competition winners won the chance to test drive a left-hand-drive Duster in the Moving Motor Show. Within half an hour of opening, the stand had to call in extra staff to cope with enquiries and test drive requests.

The official showroom launch in Dacia Retailers was on January 1, 2013 - with the Duster and the Sandero. The first Dacia UK TV ad – “We don’t do frivolity” – aired on January 17, with a UK premiere on YouTube the night before. 

Why?

• Has Dacia come to the UK?

Dacia decided to bring its best-in-the-business value to this country at a time when the economy in “austerity Britain” meant that every penny counted. It still does. Dacia calls itself the “smart buy” brand because its customers are confident in their choice and proud of not shelling out thousands of pounds on superfluous equipment or premium badges for a comfortable, practical and reliable new car. Just don’t confuse “value” with “cheap”. Everything the company stands for is based on high quality. 

How?

• Do you pronounce Dacia?

Datch-ya.

• Does Dacia make its products so affordable?

It keeps its costs in check by keeping it simple, right from the assembly line (with low complexity in terms of paint colours and options) to the showroom. 

Many parts, including engines and transmissions, are shared with other Dacia and Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicles. Every Dacia model (and the Renault badged versions) is built off the same platform – B0 – which gives impressive economies of scale. Dacia “makes an enemy of the unnecessary” so there’s no baffling options list and a simple choice of colours and accessory packs to keep production line complexity low, allowing the savings to be passed onto customers. 

Transparent pricing means easy, hassle-free buying. And although the brand also appeals to business customers, no costly sales discounts are given to fleet buyers.

• Can buyers finance them?

Easy finance is available, the same as with Renault, through the Group’s financial arm, RCI. A sizeable proportion of sales are on PCP and HP business. For less than plenty of gym memberships and TV/phone/internet packages, buyers can drive away in a new Dacia.

• Are the showrooms?

There are four types of showroom: categories A to D. In keeping with the brand’s low-cost business model, set-up investment for showroom display and signage starts from only £3,000 per site. The options are a Dacia corner, two types of Renault/Dacia shared space (one with a dedicated salesperson and wall separating the two brands) and a stand-alone Dacia building on existing Renault dealership land. 

Myths:

•    Dacias are unsafe

Not by any stretch of the imagination. 

Sandero received four stars in Euro NCAP independent testing in its May 2013 results – 80% adult protection, 79% child protection, including maximum points for its sageguards with the 18-month old dummy in a rearward facing restraint, 57% pedestrian protection – maximum points for looking after pedestrians’ legs – and  55% safety assist. ESC is standard, as is a seatbelt reminder for the front of the cabin. 

The Duster achieved a three-star Euro NCAP overall crash test rating. That’s because regardless of success in each of the five areas considered by the crash test (adult, child and pedestrian safety, plus safety assist and weighted average), a vehicle’s overall score can’t exceed its lowest result. 

The Duster achieved four stars for adult protection, five for child safety, four for pedestrian protection and three for safety assist. The last was largely because the model tested didn’t have ESC fitted as standard (it does in the UK), and instead of an audible seatbelt warning, it has a sticker. 

•    Dacias just use outdated technology and equipment from old Renaults?

It’s true that part of the reason the brand manages to make its products so affordable is because it makes good use of parts and equipment from current and previous Alliance models. But since 2012 the Dacia line-up, including the second-generation Sandero and Sandero Stepway, started to benefit from the latest Renault technology and equipment. This includes the new three-cylinder 0.9-litre TCe 90 engine as fitted in Clio 4; the integrated MediaNav touchscreen with satellite navigation and Bluetooth which debuted in the Dacia Lodgy MPV and Clio 4; cruise control and speed limiter; and even leather upholstery. 

•    Dacia will soon overtake Renault in the UK, surely?

Unlikely. Dacia has four models on offer to UK buyers. With the All-New Twingo, New Clio (and Clio Renaultsport 200), Captur, Megane, Twizy, ZOE and facelifted Scénic range, Renault has a much larger range. Some Renault customers, particularly more cost conscious who simply want a practical and reliable car, might be tempted. But, the vast majority of Dacia customers come from the used-car market. 

The Renault Design team has deliberately separated the two brands so that customers entering a joint showroom will have a greater sense of which products suit them better. Dacias are robust and Germanic, while Renaults are more in keeping with the brand’s Latin feel. 

But, as a Group, Renault would rather a customer bought a product from either brand rather than a rival. And there is a healthy profit margin on the Dacia range. Some industry pundits have speculated it could be as high as 9%, higher than for some German premium products. 

2 Duster snapshot

Dacia is a well-established global brand that’s now building vehicles on three continents and the Duster is the sixth vehicle in its range, developed as the answer to a simple question: how can we meet the world’s demand for an SUV, including 4x4 versions, that are comfortable, practical and tough, yet affordable? 

The Duster is perfect type for the new car-buying classes in places like Brazil, India and Russia. But Dacia is more than aware that there’s a demand for a wallet-friendly SUV, and 4x4 version, in Europe, too.

The Duster project was a close collaboration between Renault Technology Romania and the central design and engineering teams at Le Losange (“the diamond”, named after the famous Renault badge) – the enormous research and development facility once known as the Technocentre, just outside Versailles. Le Losange looked after the initial design, with engineering development carried out in Romania. In the run-up to the production-ready model, the company’s satellite design centre in the heart of Bucharest was also involved. 

A new body shop was built at Pitesti specifically for Duster and the main assembly line was modified so that it could handle the new powertrains and 4x4 transmissions. In all, €290 million – about £232 million – was invested in the Duster project, with just less than €70 million (£56 million) spent on the production centre. Costs were minimised thanks to a high level of carry-over parts: more than 50 per cent of Duster components are shared with other Dacia and Renault vehicles. 

3 What’s new for 2015 – and what stays the same

All versions – Access, Ambiance and Lauréate – benefit from a package of styling and trim upgrades for the 2015 Model Year. There’s a more stylish chrome front grille made up of two layers of four small intakes surrounding the Dacia logo, ‘Duster’ branded roof bars – chromed on Lauréate models – and a high-quality black tailgate trim with ‘Duster’ branding above the number plate. 

Lauréate versions have smart new Tyrol 16-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles and dark metal door mirror casings. Five new metallic colours – Mercury, Khaki, Pearl Black, Slate Grey and Cinnamon – replace the previous choices as alternatives to solid Glacier White on the Ambiance and Lauréate. 

There is new upholstery and seats for every model. Access versions are finished in Hassium cloth, Ambiance in Osmium cloth and Lauréate in Rhodium cloth with ‘Duster’ lettering. An emergency spare wheel now becomes an option on all 4x2 versions and remains standard on 4x4 models. 

The range structure is the same as before. Core features on all versions include:

• ABS and Emergency Brake Assist
• Driver, front side and passenger airbags
• Passenger airbag deactivation
• ESR and ASR traction control
• ECO mode and gearshift indicator
• Body-coloured front and rear bumpers (upper section)
• Height-adjustable front headrests
• Height- adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners
• ISOFIX points on outer rear seats
• Thatcham-approved engine immobiliser
• Tyre inflation kit (2x4 models)
• Emergency spare wheel (4x4 models)
• Automatic door locking system
• Power-assisted steering
• Gear shift indicator
• ECO mode
• Rev counter
• Centre diff lock with selectable 2WD, Auto and Lock modes (4x4 models)
• Rear wash-wipe
• Heated rear window
• Boot light
• Heating/ventilation system with four-speed fan, air recirculation and rear air vents
• Duster-branded black tailgate garnish 

Access trim adds:

• 16” Eiger steel wheels
• Tinted glass
• Double optic headlights with chrome surrounds
• Duster-branded black roof rails
• Satin chrome centre console trim
• One-piece folding rear bench seat
• Hassium cloth upholstery
• Three height-adjustable rear headrests
• Remote central locking
• Manually adjustable door mirrors
• Electric front windows
• Height-adjustable steering wheel
• Pre-wiring for audio system 

Additional features on Ambiance models include:

• 16” Matterhorn steel wheels
• Satin chrome interior door handles
• Chrome trim details
• Osmium cloth upholstery
• Front fog lights
• Height-adjustable driver’s seat
• 60:40 split-folding rear seatback
• 4 x 20W radio/CD/MP3 CD reader
• Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
• Bluetooth
• AUX and USB ports 

At the top of the line, Lauréate versions also provide:

• 16” Tyrol alloy wheels
• Manual Air conditioning
• Cruise control and speed limiter
• 7-function on-board computer with odometer, trip and fuel consumption data, driving range and average speed
• Heated, electrically adjustable door mirrors
• Electric rear windows
• Dark metal door mirror casings
• Satin chrome door handles and scuff plates
• Satin chrome roof rails with Duster inscription
• Chrome number plate surround
• Piano black interior door handles, centre console surround, door panel and steering wheel inserts
• Door sill protection strip
• Leather-covered steering wheel
• Rhodium cloth upholstery with Duster lettering
• Map pockets on front seat backs
• Glovebox light
• Front reading spotlights

Accessory packs

While factory-fit options are limited, Duster owners can choose from five accessory packs, including a Leather Pack (for front and rear seats), to personalise their vehicle and add some extra impact to its rugged looks. 

The Adventurer pack is a no-nonsense combination of protective door sill mouldings and front and rear wheel arch protectors. 

The Styling Pack ups the image with daytime running lights, a chrome finish for the side and front bars and tailpipe. 

Kit designed to help cope with life in town and country is offered in the Protection pack – alarm, rear parking sensors, tailgate protection, bootliner and front and rear mudguards. 

The Touring pack is ideal for outdoor types, adding a towbar and transverse roof bars, together with a front centre armrest. 

4 What’s all the fuss about

There’s no shortage of compact off-roaders or 4x4s on the market, but none of them are quite like Dacia’s Duster – a genuine SUV for supermini prices. 

The Duster was the first Dacia to be launched in the UK after the company was acquired by Renault. It set the tone for a radical re-think of what customers want and what they should have to pay for a new car. 

There’s no more affordable SUV on the market, but that doesn’t make it a make-do motor by any stretch of the imagination. It’s offered with a choice of two engines and as a 4x4 or an even more economical 4x2 for those keen on the rugged look, practicality and higher driving position, but who can do without the extra weight of 4x4 for driving around town or in suburbia. 

The Duster is compact and agile, but inside there’s enough space for everything a family would ever need to transport. Even the kitchen sink. On a more everyday note, it’ll easily take five adults and a generous amount of luggage. Fold the rear seats and it’ll swallow up to 1,636 litres of luggage (on 4X2 versions). And there’s an impressive load length in the boot of 992mm, rising to 1,760mm with the rear seats down. 

Simplicity runs through Dacia’s DNA, so equipment specifications are uncomplicated. Metallic paint, MediaNav consisting of a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system including integrated sat nav, USB and AUX connections, Bluetooth and steering column mounted fingertip controls (Lauréate only), a European Mapping Upgrade and the 4x2 Emergency Spare Wheel are the only options, but there are five accessory packs which owners can use to personalise their Duster’s appearance and add extra protection elements. 

The powertrains use proven Renault-Nissan Alliance engines and transmissions. There’s a 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol unit in the Access, while the popular 1.5 dCi 110 unit is fitted to Ambiance and Lauréate versions. 

A compact six-speed manual transmission is standard, except for the 4x2 Access, which has a five-speed gearbox. In the 4x4s the transmission’s first gear has an especially short ratio that helps with hill starts, steep descents and towing, avoiding the need for a costly and bulky transfer box. 

The right-hand-drive New Duster is built at the home of Dacia – at the Pitesti plant in Romania. 

Think of an SUV and you’ll probably think of something big and bulky. Not so the Dacia Duster, a car that’s compact, but a true off-road performer nonetheless. Measuring 4.31m long and 1.82m wide, it’s about the same size as a Renault Mégane, which means it’s as happy negotiating urban streets as it is driving off the beaten track. 

Its exterior lines are modern, especially with the stylish new 2015 additions, but it’s unmistakeably a tough performer with a chunky look, courtesy of wide wheel arches, a prominent chrome-trimmed grille and a sump guard. Viewed side-on, Duster’s high ground clearance and protective mouldings flag up its ability to tackle the rough stuff. 

With a 2,573mm wheelbase, it can comfortably seat five adults and has plenty of boot space – up to 475 litres for the 4x2 with the rear seats in place. Fold the rear bench (Ambiance and Lauréate) and that soars to 1,636 litres. Maximum figures for the 4x4 versions (which have different rear suspension and come with an emergency spare wheel instead of a tyre repair kit) are 408 litres (seats up) and 1,570 (seats down).  With the rear seats folded the load length extends from 992 to 1,760mm, with a maximum width of 1,002mm between the rear wheel arches.

5 Under the bonnet

Keeping things simple, there are just two tried and tested Renault Group powerplants for the Duster – a 1.6 105 hp 16-valve petrol engine (Access models only) and a 1.5 dCi 110 diesel (107 hp in 4x2 versions and 109 hp in the 4x4s) for the Ambiance and Lauréate. Already featured in hundreds of thousands of Renault and Nissan models, they’re a perfect fit with Dacia’s focus on value, reliability and easy maintenance. 

In the Access 4x2 the 1.6-litre petrol engine drives through a five-speed manual transmission, and in the all-wheel drive model a six-speed. Fuel economy and emissions in the official combined cycle are 39.8 mpg and 165g/km for the 4x2 and 35.3 mpg and 185g/km for the 4x4. 

The 1.5 dCi 110 is the Renault Group’s best-selling diesel engine and it’s well-suited to the Duster with its sub-1,300kg kerb weight. Low emissions mean low annual road tax bills and the diesel posts impressive figures of 130g/km for the two-wheel drive model and just 135g/km for the 4x4. 

Fuel consumption is also budget friendly, with a combined 56.5mpg for the 4x2 and 53.3mpg for the 4x4. 

The dCi 110 models and the 1.6 4x4 use a new TL8 six-speed manual transmission that’s been developed from the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s high volume TL4 unit.  In the off-roading version it has a shorter first gear ratio  that’s better suited to off-road demands such as hill starts, steep descents or accelerating when towing. 

The unit is also very compact and, compared with a heavier transfer box system, it doesn’t compromise cabin space and keeps costs down. 

6 More technical stuff 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Ride and Handling

The Duster is built on Dacia’s Logan platform, which has proven strength, reliability and built-to-last quality. The front MacPherson strut-type suspension, like that in the Logan and Sandero, has been strengthened to cope with off-road driving. 

The 4x4s have a multi-arm arrangement at the rear that was specially developed for the Duster, while the 4x2 models have a programmed-deflection H-beam that is also strong, but allows for a larger boot. 

Both formats deliver a comfortable ride and allow the kind of ground clearance that’s a hallmark of Duster’s genuine SUV character. Its built-in toughness has been tested to the limit over the equivalent of more than 2.5 million miles in the most demanding climates and driving conditions. 

4x4 performance

Most UK Duster sales are 4x2 – front-wheel drive – models, but the car is also the best 4x4 for all-round value in terms of size, price and equipment. 

Duster is no soft-roader. It makes use of proven Renault-Nissan Alliance all-wheel-drive technology. When heading off-road, there’s a selectable three-mode system that lets owners switch from 2WD drive to Auto or Lock to suit the conditions, using a control on the centre console. 

2WD mode locks the drivetrain in front-wheel drive, which is ideal for good driving surfaces and getting the maximum fuel economy with the lowest CO₂ emissions. 

In Auto the front/rear torque split is automatically calculated according to the grip available. It delivers the best compromise between roadholding and traction, even in low-grip conditions. In normal driving, all drive goes through the front axle, but as soon as any traction is lost, or when extra grip is needed, some of the torque is sent to the rear wheels using an electromagnetic torque converter supplied by Nissan. 

In Lock mode the driver can electronically lock the transmission for 4x4 operation, with throttle control and braking also adapted to suit all-wheel drive. This is best used in snow, mud, dirt and sand at low speeds. 

As well as having the right drivetrain, the Duster has a generous 210 mm of ground clearance and short front (822 mm) and rear (820 mm) overhangs that enable  30° approach and 36° departure angles and a 23° ramp angle. Wading depth is 350 mm. 

All models provide an elevated driving position, which means there’s a good view of the route ahead, whether you’re on the road or in the rough. 

Wheels and tyres

All Duster models ride on 16” wheels – steel or alloy according to grade – fitted with 215/65R16 tyres. 

Brakes

The Duster is equipped with ventilated front disc brakes – 269 x 22 on the 1.6 models and 280 x 24mm on the dCi 110 versions. All models feature 9” rear drums. Bosch 8.1 Anti-lock Brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist are standard across the range.

Steering

Power-assisted hydraulic steering is standard, with 3.3 turns lock-to-lock. The Duster’s turning circle is a neat 10.44 metres between kerbs or 10.76 metres between walls.

7 Safety and security kit

The Duster benefits from Renault’s acclaimed safety expertise. All versions come equipped with Bosch 8.1 Anti-lock Brakes, with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist plus Electronic Stability Control and ASR Traction Control. 

Front and side airbags are fitted, with a deactivation switch for the passenger’s side, should a child seat be used. All seats have three-point seatbelts, with load limiters and pretensioners for those in the front. 

8 Living with it: insurance, servicing and warranties

There’s a straightforward servicing programme for all Duster models, with intervals of one year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Genuine Dacia servicing is available through a national network of 130 retailers. 

The peace-of-mind new vehicle warranty is for three years/60,000 miles, with a two-year paint warranty and six years’ anti-corrosion cover. If owners want a longer warranty they can opt for with 5-year/60,000-mile and seven-year/100,000-mile extended packages. 

Dacia Assistance is provided as part of Dacia’s new vehicle package for the first three years/60,000 miles.  The service operates all day every day and is provided in partnership with the AA. 

OWNERSHIP INFORMATION

9 Where it’s made

The Duster was initially manufactured solely at Dacia’s Pitesti factory in Romania, but its role as a truly international model has seen further production sites come on stream around the globe. 

These sites now include Curitiba in Brazil, to supply the South American market, and the Avtoframos plant in Moscow. Such has been worldwide demand for the model that the UK had to wait for a right-hand drive version to appear. Thankfully, India came to the rescue. Having launched the Duster in summer 2012, India was able to build right-hand-drive models in their thousands at the new Renault-Nissan Alliance factory in Chennai. 

With the rise in popularity of the Dacia brand in Asia – served by the Chennai plant, and also in Europe, where customers expect short lead times, production of the RHD Duster was transferred to Pitesti, Romania in the summer of 2014.

10 Dacia and Duster timeline

 ENDS

For further information please visit www.press.renault.co.uk or contact: 

Jeremy Townsend

Communications Director
jeremy.townsend@renault.co.uk – 01923 697592 – 07977 289327

Matthew Bendall

Press Relations Manager
matthew.bendall@renault.co.uk – 01923 697653 – 07814 990247

Lisa Haworth-Langford

Press Fleet & Events Manager

lisa.haworth-langford@renault.co.uk – 01923 697537 – 07968 128886

Alex Vieira

Press Relations Coordinator

alex.vieira@renault.co.uk – 01923 697778

Mitch Kerrison

Communications Assistant

mitch.kerrison@renault.co.uk – 01923 697363