The third generation Dacia Duster will mark a turning point in the history of Dacia’s successful SUV. The Romanian SUV will finally succumb to electrification. However, the chief executive behind this model warns that it will continue to be affordable.
Just a few months ago, the new Dacia Duster has started its commercialization in Europe. The second generation has undergone a major mid-cycle upgrade. A facelift that will allow you to face the rest of your business life that lies ahead. However, despite all the novelties that the aforementioned “facelift” has introduced, all eyes are on the third generation.
The next generational change that the Duster will undergo It will be, in the end, a true turning point for one of the icons of the Dacia brand. The future Duster 3 It will hit the market at a time of transition for the European automotive industry. Sustainable mobility and, more specifically electrification, are gaining ground and popularity at an accelerating rate.
The third-generation Dacia Duster will be an affordable SUV
One of the existing fears about the next generation of the Duster is that it will lose, in large part, the essence and philosophy of this model. However, the statements made by a senior official of the company, has cleared up several doubts. Specifically, Julien Ferry, Dacia Duster Product Manager, pointed out that the successor of the current model must be “The same” car.
“His role in the company is to provide a very good price-performance ratio. You have to target these customers who are looking for a simple car that can get off the road, ”Ferry said. Let us also remember that at the beginning of this year, Denis Le Vot himself, Dacia’s CEO, said that the brand will take advantage of the full potential of the CMF-B platform of the Renault Group. It is the base that the third generation of the Duster will use.
Dacia continues to work on renewing its product offering so that, when the time comes, all its models are supported by the aforementioned platform. An architecture that is already used by the Dacia Sandero and the Logan. The new Dacia Jogger, recently presented, also uses it.
Off-road capability will be a priority for the Dacia Duster 3
Another key has to do with the excellent performance that the Duster has away from the asphalt. Will it still be a 4×4 SUV with great off-road performance? Again Ferry stressed that the Duster’s off-road capability will be a priority for the current model’s successor: “The Duster 4×4 is the best non-specialist off-roader. Dacia will keep the prescription and update it according to customer demand.
On the other hand, and again making mention of the CMF-B platform, this architecture opens the door to the electrification of the Duster. The generation change will allow Dacia to withdraw diesel engines from the range to make way for hybrid versions. Only gasoline engines will be available and, predictably, ECO-G mechanics with bifuel technology to be able to run on LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).
At this point and taking into account that the Duster 3 will be electrified, will use a modern platform and will have more advanced technological equipment, it is also possible to think that it will lose, to some extent, its status as a cheap car. Nothing is further from the truth, Ferry stressed that it will continue to be an affordable vehicle.