Dacia published today videos and pictures from a crash test in Mioveni factory. The car tested was an Sandero powered by an Euro 5 diesel engine. The speed of the Sandero was 65 km/h with frontal impact and an offset of 40%.
Today was launched in Romania the new model from Dacia Sandero -the crossover Stepway. The Stepway version of Sandero will be powered by engine variants: petrol, 1.6MPI and 90 HP at the price of 9200 euros, and diesel 1.5 dCi wit 75 HP at the price of 10.400 euros.
The people that will buy the new Sandero Stepway in the first month since the launch will benefit by the Clima Plus promotion (free air conditioning).
Dacia Sandero Stepway has a warranty of 3 years or 100.000 kilometers. The model is available in three metallic colors: platinum gray, gray comet, and red fire. Dacia Sandero Stepway offers five seats and a trunk with 320 liters volume.
Dacia Sandero will be produced in Morocco at the Somaca factory in Casablanca with an investment of 16 million euros. The production of the Sandero model will begin this month with machine parts sent from Romania. The Somaca factory in Morocco is producing for now the Logan and the Logan MCV models.
According to a Renault statment, Dacia Sandero will be sold in Morocco starting from June 18, with 3 years warranty or 100.000 kilometers.
The Somaca factory in Morocco is the fifth factory where Renault produces Sandero after Curitiba (Brazil), Sofasa (Colombia), Pitesti (Romania) and Rosslyn (South Africa).
On the Moroccan market, Renault sold in the last three years 48.000 cars, of which 14.500 cars in 2008. Dacia was the second mark in the Moroccan preferences with a market share of 16%.
Dacia sold over 76.500 Sandero models worldwide.
Dacia presented today at the Auto Show in Barcelona the first Romanian crossover, based on the Sandero hatchback. The new Dacia Sandero Stepway is just the European model with the same name sold under the logo of Renault in Brazil.
The Sandero Stepway by Dacia offers generous dimensions, measuring 4024 mm in length, 1997 mm in width and 1582 mm in height. This dimensions recommend the new Sandero Stepway as a large vehicle capable of providing enough space for five passengers and their luggage (the trunk has 320 liters). Also in the dimensions chapter we should mention that the Dacia Stepway was raised approximately 20 mm, making the Romanian model to have a ground clearance of 175 mm.
At the aesthetic level Dacia Stepway didn’t improve much, the crossover borrowed all the details from his smaller brother, Sandero.
The new Romanian crossover will appear in three metallic colors: Platin Gray, Gray Comet and Red Fire. The design will be improved with 15 inch aluminum rims, black headlights mask, chrome exhaust tailpipe and chrome grille trim.
Under the hood of the Dacia Stepway you will find a gas engine or a diesel engine. The gas engine has 1.6 liter an 90 HP with a mixed consumption of 7.6 liters/100 km.
The diesel option has an 1.5 dCi engine with 70 HP with a mixed consumption of 5.3 liters/100 km. In addition, the total CO2 emissions in the case of diesel, are not exceeding 140 g/km, which means that the model is an Dacia eco2 version.
Dacia Sandero Stepway will have an accessible price to comply to the philosophy of the Romanian car manufacturer. The official launch date is set for September 2009.
Dacia launched Tuesday the diesel variant of Sandero. The new model will be equipped with an 1.5 dCi diesel engine and it’s available in two tipes of engines, of 70 HP and 85 HP. The 1.5 dCi engine of the new Dacia Sandero diesel is a technological reference in the field, being endowed with a system of common rail direct injection of the second generation, which offers high level of service associated with a very low consumption.
Available in the 70 HP version and a more dynamic version of 85 HP, the 1.5 dCi engine displays a level of CO2 emissions of just 130 g / km and 120 g / km for the two types of engine.
The “Ambiance” version, with a starting price of 8.950 euros is available with an 70 HP engine. This version has ABS with AFU, driver airbag, safety bars painted in full color and pre-radio equipment.
The “Preference” version can be purchased at a price of 9.650 euros (1.5 dCi engine with 70 HP) and 10.100 euro (1.5 dCi engine with 85 CP). The additional equipment for Sandero Ambiance diesel has among other things: front passenger airbags, assisted direction, central locking, electric front windows and a radio CD with 2×15 W with detachable panel. Optional metallic paint available, projector headlights and side airbags front.
The “Laureate” version, the middle range in terms of equipment is sold at prices between 10.550 and 11.000 euros for the two types of engine. For this version, in addition to the “Preference” are available the air conditioning, the on-board computer with 5 functions, and the radio CD with 4×15 W with detachable panel.
The “Prestige” version, top of the range, can be purchased at the price of 11.050 euros for the 1.5 dCi engine with 70 HP and 11.500 euros for the 1.5 dCi engine with 85 HP. The main additional equipment for the “Laureate” version are aluminum rims, leather wheel, electric rear windows and radio CD with MP3.
Dacia Duster concept at the Auto Motor Show in Geneve
Dacia has published the first official information and pictures of the new concept, Duster, that will be revealed tomorrow in Geneva.
Dacia has got once again the attention of the auto media with the SUV that will be revealed tomorrow live at the Auto Motor Show in Geneva. The Romanian car manufacturer tries to approach the crossover segment, with a design that tries to put Dacia beyond the low-cost segment.
The new Duster measures 4.25 meters long, 1.49 meters high while the wheelbase has 2.8 meters. With these sizes, the Duster will provide a generous space in the trunk, approximately 470 liters.
Dacia Duster will adopt a new door opening, opposite, and introduces a number of innovations in terms of compartmentalization of the passenger space.
The exterior design preserves a number of elements already in use by Dacia but introduces several new lines that will be found in future models. The front grill keeps the Romanian brand identity and is complemented by a set of optical blocks, which extend to the front line of the doors.
The exterior look is complemented by the 21 inch aluminum rims, the side mirrors positioned in the upper part of the car and the taillights and the rear optical blocks of trapezoidal shape.
Under the hood, Dacia Duster will have an 105 horsepower dCi engine with a consumption of 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers and a value of emission of 139 g/km.
Dacia is preparing a big surprise at the Geneva Motor Show. The romanian car manufacturer will present at the Swiss motor show a sports coupe concept that will represent the future line of design and will be reflected in the future models of Dacia. The media speculated that the name of the concept is Duster, and it will be the name of the future SUV of Dacia. According to preliminary information, the concept is based on Dacia Sandero, and is the work of the engineers of Renault Sport.
Remains to be seen if the new coupe, expected in Geneva, will borrow the image associated with Romanian low-cost brand or will be placed above the current Logan and Sandero.
Jacques Daniel the marketing director of Dacia said that the Romanian car manufacturer is working on new engines with lower emissions and that in a few months will launch two new versions of Sandero with 1.2 liters and 1.5 liters engine.
Dacia sales on the Romanian market were reduced by almost 55% in December 2008 compared to the same month ast year, to 3.600 units. Dacia sold last year, 84.707 vehicles, down by 16.7% from 2007.
Dacia has done much better on the export. According to the company data, two thirds of vehicles sold in 2008 under the Dacia brand were registered outside Romania.
Dacia exports increased by 34.6%, at 172.886 units. Western Europe was the main destination of exports, with over 60% of all deliveries to the foreign markets. The first position is held by France, with 43.682 Dacia cars sold in 2008, of which 9.419 Sandero. Germany is the second country, with 25.506 cars, of which 6.340 Sandero. The following countrys are Ukraine, with 13.755 cars, Algeria, with 12.200 cars, Turkey with 9.578 cars, Italy with 8.623 cars and Spain, with 6.974 cars sold in 2008.
In Morocco, where Logan is produced in Somaca factory in Casablanca were sold 14.996 cars last year.
The best-selling model on the Romanian market was Logan Sedan with the 51.149 units.
According to the company ranked second in sales the Logan MCV model, with 15.175 cars, followed by Sandero, with 8.816 units.
Dacia Sandero won the title of the Car of the Year in Romania, outrunning in the final Opel Insignia (place 2) and Citroen C5 (place 3).
Dacia Sandero is now the officially Car of the Year in Romania. The Romanian model has won detached from famous models among which were Opel Insignia, freshly elected Car of the Year in Europe.
The difference between first place, Dacia Sandero, and the second place, Opel Insignia, was enormous, 41 points. Last position on the podium was occupied by the Citroen C5, while the following positions were Mazda 6 and Honda Accord. The jury was composed of 20 of the most important journalists in Romania.
Here are the final standings:
1. Dacia Sandero – 203 points
2. Opel Insignia – 162 points
3. Citroen C5 – 136 points
4. Mazda 6 – 128 points
5. Honda Accord – 124 points
6. VW Golf 6 – 114 points
7. Ford Kuga – 77 points
8. Skoda Superb – 70 points
9. Renault Kolei – 64 points
10. Hyuandai I10 – 56 points
