Among the most successful SUVs, the Dacia “Dunster” has been produced in over two million and 200 thousand units in just 14 years, with 300 thousand sold in Italy alone. Therefore, it’s a global success, achieved through a design strategy aimed at achieving the best possible quality/price ratio without sacrificing content and technology, a goal reaffirmed by the third generation of the vehicle presented at the end of 2023. True to its image but modernized in design and developed on the basis of the “Cmf-B” platform also adopted by other Dacia models, the car features unchanged external dimensions but improved interior space and cargo capacity. The trunk now boasts a volume of 472 liters, expandable by folding down the rear seats, while the interior benefits from new furnishings, complemented by a wide range of accessories that allow for personalizing the vehicle according to the needs of each individual owner. In this regard, the “Pack Sleep” system is also noteworthy, inspired by the accessories offered by the Dacia “Jogger” and aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. It allows transforming the cabin into a double bed, providing a foldable table and a closed compartment for personal items, and accommodating up to 80 kilograms of luggage on the roof. Additionally, a custom roof rack with a dynamic load capacity of 80 kg can be mounted on the roof.
The driver’s seat features a flattened steering wheel to minimize space requirements, a new analog instrumentation with a seven-inch display complemented by a more than ten-inch diagonal infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity. In essence, it’s a modern and up-to-date vehicle, evident also in terms of engine options and 4×4 traction system, with the former seeing the debut of two hybrid functionalities derived from the Dacia “Jogger” model. One, “Hybrid 140,” is represented by a four-cylinder eight-cycle engine with a displacement of 1600 cubic centimeters delivering 94 horsepower supported by two electric motors, one for propulsion with 49 horsepower and one serving as a starter and generator. The first motor operates at a voltage of 230 volts, powered by a rechargeable 1200-watt-hour battery from both the grid and a regenerative braking system. This solution, combined with the presence of an automatic gearbox, allows for electric mode travel for approximately 80 percent of urban trips. Fuel consumption is also reduced by about twenty percent in mixed cycle and up to forty percent in urban cycle. This is also due to the fact that starts always occur in electric mode, and the system optimizes the use of motors according to driving conditions, prioritizing one or the other or both, synergistically.
The second available engine is “Tce 130,” a mild hybrid solution that combines a three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a displacement of 1200 cubic centimeters operating on the Miller cycle with a 48-volt electric motor that supports the thermal engine during start-up and acceleration, contributing to reducing average consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by about ten percent compared to equivalent power thermal engines. In this case, too, there is a regenerative braking system that recharges a slightly smaller, 800-watt-hour battery. This unit is the only one that can be combined with the Dacia “Terrain Control” all-wheel drive system, which provides five driving modes to adapt traction to the type of surface being driven on by working on torque distribution, traction control, and stability control. The all-wheel-drive variants also feature a minimum ground clearance of 217 millimeters, approach and departure angles of 31 and 36 degrees, and downhill speed control up to 30 kilometers per hour, with the onboard infotainment system offering real-time pitch and roll angles in addition to dynamic torque distribution.
Four trim levels
The Dacia “Dunster 2024” will be available in four different trim levels named “Essential,” “Expression,” “Extreme,” and “Journey.” The first one targets maximum savings, rental fleets, and those intending to make significant customizations to the car, while the “Expression” trim level allows for most of the functional contents commonly expected today as standard equipment from most manufacturers. These include 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a rearview camera, and rear electric windows. The “Extreme” package completes the vehicle by integrating modular roof bars, fog lights, velvet and washable interior trim, automatic high beams, automatic climate control, keyless system, and electric mirrors. At the top is the “Journey” version, which upgrades to 18-inch diameter wheels and introduces a navigation system and an electric parking brake.
Title: Dacia “Duster” m.y. 2024: third generation
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