Sneak Peek: New Renault Duster

The 2017 Renault Duster will feature a more modern design and new engines, so as to replicate the success achieved by the current model – which has sold more than 1.5 million units around the globe.

It’s clearly evident from the sales figures of the Duster that it’s no ordinary car. In 2015, on a global scale, the Renault Duster (sold as the Dacia Duster in developed markets) contributed 29.8% of the total ‘entry-level’ sales for the company. And these figures become even more significant when you consider the fact that the Duster is the most expensive model in the low cost range of Renault models. In India, it truly put Renault on the map. And elsewhere in the world as well, the Duster emerged as an economically priced, rugged SUV that simply didn’t have much competition.

Renault may have showcased a face-lifted Duster at the recently concluded Auto Expo in Greater Noida, but there’s a whole new second-generation Duster on the cards as well – and it’s only inevitable that we should have higher expectations from the car. And this fact seems totally justified given that the 2017 Duster will mark a significant generational leap from the car it replaces.

The new Duster is expected to be more refined aesthetically – it’s also expected to be slightly bigger, and it may even come with a seven-seat version (or, to be more precise, 5+2). Moreover, it’ll be based on a completely new platform, which will be more modern and lighter than the current one.

Thus far, the Duster has been recognized as a brand for the masses – a no-frills machine that is easily accessible. That said, the Duster is also considered to be the most desirable from the entry-level range of the Renault line-up. The forthcoming model, then, is expected to capture the essence of the original car – although with a more contemporary and upmarket design. The new Duster will have a prominent bumper design, since it’s a signature element of the current model. It’s also expected to be wider and longer than the current model. The version with two extra seats is expected to measure almost four-and-a-half meters in length. The 2017 Duster will be inspired by the Duster Oroch concept that was showcased in Sao Paulo in 2014. Obviously, we can expect even more aesthetic updates in the forthcoming model.

A MODEL FOR EVERYONE

Underneath the skin, more substantial changes will be introduced. The new Duster will benefit from the latest modular platform jointly developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The first model built on shared architecture – the CMF-A platform – was actually the Kwid, which was introduced in India before any other market. The Duster, on the other hand, will be underpinned on a new platform meant for bigger models – the CMF-B, or more precisely a stretched version of the CMF-A. New powertrain options will be offered, including a modern four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine that generates 125bhp. Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive will be available, while there will be an all-new automatic gearbox on offer in addition to the manual.

FROM EMERGING MARKETS TO EUROPE

Dacia, which was acquired by Renault in different phases between 1999 and 2003, remains a unique case within the automotive industry. Ever since Renault took control of the Romanian brand it has become a commercial phenomenon – reaching 10 million unit sales across the world! Meant to target the emerging markets at the beginning, it gradually refined its model range, launching low cost models in European markets, where the Duster started leading the pack among other Dacia models. It was only in 2013 when the Sandero overtook the Duster on the sales charts.

THE DUSTER STORY

Launched in 2010, and restyled recently, Renault has sold more than a million-and-a-half Dusters around the world. In 2015, with 334,175 units delivered, it constituted almost a third of the total sales of the entry-level range of the French manufacturer.

The second-generation Duster, shown here in Dacia spec, will be more modern and stylish than the car it replaces


The Duster truly put Renault on the map in the Indian market, and the French automaker will hope that the second-generation picks up where the existing model leaves off…

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