Dacia Sandero

Renault unveiled the first images of the new Sandero and Sandero Stepway that will be launched in Russia under the French car manufacturer logo.

After the new Dacia Sandero and Dacia Sandero Stepway impressed the automotive world with a coherent and pleasant design concept, after their launch at the Paris Auto Show last year, the two models are ready to debut on the Russian market. Because Dacia is not present in Russia as an independent brand, the new Sandero models will be sold under the Renault logo.

The Renault versions of the new Sandero take the design lines and the profile of the Romanian models and the only differences are at the front side, where the simple front grille is replaced by a more complex one, that has the Renault logo in the center. The aesthetic changes do not necessarily represent a step forward in terms of design, and may seem unnecessarily complicated.

The interesting changes appear on the interior, where are used higher quality materials than those found on the Dacia models, the Renault Sandero and Sandero Stepway models becoming a sort of hybrid between Dacia models and the Renault Clio.

The Russian versions of Sandero and Logan are assembled at a Renault factory near Moscow, but the subassemblies are being sent from the CKD Export Center in Romania.

After the success registered on the European market, the Sandero is ready to conquer the Russian market, under the Lada logo. According to zr.ru who published these photos, the AvtoVaz factory will produce from 2014 two new Lada models based on Dacia Sandero and on Dacia Sandero Stepway.

Compared to the Romanian Dacia Sandero model, the Russian Lada Sandero will  have a pronounced facelift, the front side will be more aggressive than robust, using elements of design from the Lada Chest X-Ray concept, presented last year.

The back side has more extensive changes: the vertical taillights are connected by a horizontal bar to the rear window, there is a third side window for better visibility, and the body is slightly modified in the superior side.

There are no official information about the names of the tow new Lada models, but it seems it will be Lada BM and Lada B-Cross. The Lada sandero model will be exported also in Europe, and will be a direct competitor to the Dacia Sandero.

The Dacia Sandero has received the first prize in the United Kingdom: the car of the year in the Supermini less than 12,000 ponds category, awarded by What a car?

Here is the motivation of Euan Doig, the What a car? group production editor.

The Sandero makes history for Dacia in January in one of the most important automotive markets in Europe. The new generation of Sandero managed to reach the first position in sales in Spain becoming the first Dacia model that was the best selling car in a country outside Romania. The previous success was registered also by Sandero, when it was ranked second in March 2010 in France.

Dacia managed to sell nearly 1,700 Sandero units in January 2013, that represented a market share of 3.4% of the total cars sold in Spain. The Romanian’s model performance is even more valuable as the Sandero was ranked 18th in the top selling models in Spain during 2012. This spectacular increase is due to the launching of the new generation of Sandero in December last year. Behind Sandero, in the best selling models ranking were Nissan Qashqai (1577 units sold) and Seat Leon (1352 units sold).

The other Dacia models were ranked on 48 – Duster (with 338 units sold), 76- Lodgy (182 units sold) and 121- Logan (60 units sold).

In the brand sales ranking, Dacia occupied the 13th position with 2,272 units sold in Spain, while the first positions were occupied by Seat (4123 units sold), Volkswagen (3730 units sold) and Opel (3629 units sold).

The new generation of Dacia Sandero launched in Europe late last year, has had a great January month in France, where the model produced in Romania ranked sixth in terms of sales. Sandero is the first non-French model in the ranking. The 3682 Dacia Sandero units sold in France represent an increase of 20.2% compared to the same period last year. Sandero took advantage of the decline of the market in France in January (-15%) to gather an excellent market share of 3%.

The first position in sales in France in January was Peugeot 208 (6890 units sold). followed by Renault Clio (6595 units) and Citroen C3 (4377 units). Just below the podium and in front of Sandero were Renault Magane and Renault Scenic.

Dacia Lodgy had a first complete month of sales in France and was ranked on 29th position with 1168 units sold. Overall, the Romanian car manufacturer owned by Renault sold 7263 cars, that represent an increase of 9.9% compared to January 2012.

Dacia has published a photo gallery and a video that captures the new Sandero Stepway in the Fontainebleau forest in France. The Sandero Stepway plays a key role in a holiday scene of a young family, leaving on a trip into the woods with their new car. These images attempt to capture the lifestyle side of the new Dacia Sandero Stepway, a major advantage of this model.

Besides the major design features taken from Sandero, the new Stepway version comes with an attractive design and a new color: Blue Azurite. The new Dacia Sandero Stepway will be offered with only two engine versions: the dCi 90 and the TCe 90. The Sandero Stepway dCi version has an average consumption of 4.0 liters per cent and emits 105 grams of CO2 in mixed cycle.

The Sandero Stepway comes with the new Dacia Plug & Radio, available in Logan and Sandero ranges, a multimedia solution that integrates a 2DIN screen and a MP3 CD. In  addition, the unit offers Bluetooth for mobile phone connection, steering wheel controls, USB connector and AUX jack. Optionally, the customers can order the Dacia MEDIA NAV, a navigation system with a 18 inches touch screen, which was launched with the Dacia  Lodgy. The new Dacia Sandero Stepway 2 will have a starting price of 10,800 euros.

The English journalists from AutoExpress organized an experiment with Dacia Sandero in a mall in United Kingdom. The journalists covered all Dacia Sandero logos and asked the people what car do they think it is and how much do they think it costs. Some of the answers were surprising and confirm the good reviews that the Romanian small car got in the UK.

Dacia Sandero officially became the cheapest car available in the UK market. For only £ 5995, you can buy a new Sandero with basic equipment. The Sandero model comes with 15-inch steel wheels, folding rear seats 60/40, ABS, ESP, four airbags, power steering and daytime running lights.

For another 600 pounds, the British can buy the Ambiance version of Dacia Sandero that has radio CD with USB and Bluetooth, electric front windows, central locking, 15-inch alloy wheels and spoilers in the color of the body. The top version for the UK market is the Laureate version, whose price starts at £ 7,995 and includes air conditioning, electrically adjustable heated mirrors, electric windows and cruise control. The multimedia and navigation system with touchscreen will cost £ 250 in the UK.

The Sandero for the UK will have three engine versions: two petrol engine –the 1.2 liter and 75 HP engine or the new 0.9 liter TCe turbocharged engine with 90 HP. The third version is the 1.5dCi diesel engine with 90 HP.

Dacia Sandero 2 will have a starting price of 6,990 euros (price available for the model powered by an 1.2 and 75 HP engine and the Access equipment version) with 310 euros cheaper than the previous model.

The Sandero Stepway 2 has a starting price of 10,800 euros, which is which is higher than the previous generation price, because the basic version is powered by the new 0.9-liter TCe turbo engine with 90 Hp.

Dacia presented today at the Paris Motor Show the new versions of Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway. The new Sandero 2 and Sandero Stepway 2 will be available for orders from October 1.

The new models of Sandero will come with four engine options: two petrol units – a 1.2 with 16v and 75 HP and the TCe 90 and two diesel engines: the dCi 75 and the dCi 90. In the latter part of the year, Dacia will offer a GPL engine for Sandero. The basic equipment level of Sandero 2 will include power steering, split rear seat 60/40, front and side airbags. The next equipment level, Ambiance, brings remote central locking, front electric windows, audio system Dacia Plug & Radio (radio CD with MP3, AUX jack and USB), Bluetooth and steering wheel controls. The top equipment level, Laureate, brings an air-conditioning system, board computer and a modular package consisting in height adjustable driver seat, adjustable steering wheel and height-adjustable front seat belts.

The new Sandero 2 will have a starting price of 6,990 euros all taxes including.

The new Sandero Stepway is the third model that Dacia presented today in its stand in Paris. Besides the design taken from Sandero , the Stepway version comes with an attractive design and a new color: Blue Azurite.

Compared with Sandero 2, the Stepway 2 version has a higher ground clearance, a set of side skirts ornaments with satin silver finish, a set of lower plastic trim bumpers painted in the same shade, and fog projectors. The Sandero Stepway 2 will be offered with the  dCi 90 and TCe 90 engines. The dCI version of Sandero Stepway has an average consumption of 4.0 liters per cent and emits 105 grams of CO2 in mixed cycle.

The Sandero Stepway has 16-inch alloy wheels, a dedicated upholstery and the metallic paint is standard. The Prestige equipment level of Sandero Stepway brings the Media NAV system, manually climate system, cruise control with speed limiter, rear parking sensors and electric rear windows.

The new Sandero Stepway 2 will have a starting price of 10,800 euros all taxes included.