SCOOP: Renault Preparing Low-Cost Dacia 7-Seat Minivan

It turns out that the rumors surrounding Renault’s plans to expand the range of its budget brand Dacia with a 7-seat MPV that we told you about earlier this year were true. Our man with the long lens caught a prototype of the Dacia MPV codenamed J92 in heavy camouflage while on test on European roads.

The compact minivan, which some say may carry the Popster nameplate, is believed to ride on an extended version of the Logan’s platform architecture measuring around 4.5-meters in length with power coming from Dacia’s existing range of Renault-sourced gasoline and turbo diesel engines.

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Locally Made Right-Hand-Drive Renault Duster to Launch in India

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is gradually expanding the availability of its Duster small SUV, originally branded as a Dacia, to more international markets. Following the recent presentation of the Renault Duster for the South American region at the Buenos Aires Motor Show, today, the French firm confirmed its launch in India.

To be sold under the Renault marque, the right-hand drive [RHD] version of the Duster will be fully produced at the Renault-Nissan Chennai plant in India and rolled out across the local market in the second half of 2012. The RHD Duster will also be available in the UK starting from next year.

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New Renault Duster for South America Debuts at Buenos Aires Motor Show

The Renault-Nissan Alliance’s low-cost Dacia Duster SUV has lost its Romanian badges to cater to the needs of the South American market where it will be sold under the Renault brand.

Redesigned for the local market, the Renault Duster SUV makes its regional debut at this week’s Buenos Aires Motor Show. It will first launch in Argentina and Brazil during the last quarter of the year, with more countries to follow after. Production will take place at Renault’s Curitiba plant in Brazil.

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Dacia Duster No Limit

Dacia has unveiled the Duster No Limit, a one-off version of the Romanian firm’s off-roader that has been created for one purpose: to win the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday, June 26.



Because it will be competing in the PPIHC ‘Unlimited’ class - where there’s no minimum weight rule, no limit on engine capacity or output and anything goes regarding aerodynamics and transmissions -  the competition Dacia shares nothing with its showroom equivalent except a silhouette.

Developed with the help of Renault Sport Technologies, the Duster No Limit features a mid-mounted 3.8 litre V6 engine from the Nissan GT-R beneath its glass-fibre bodywork. Built by specialists Sodemo, it pumps out around 838 bhp (625 kW / 850 PS) which is then fed to the wheels via a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox.



And it’ll need all that power too, as the 12.42 mile (19.98 km) course finishes at the 14,110 foot (4,300 metre) summit of Pikes Peak. That kind of altitude is reckoned to reduce engine outputs by 30%.



Driving the Dacia Duster No Limit at Pikes Peak will be Frenchman Jean-Philippe Dayraut.



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Multistrada Pikes Peak