Dacia Duster to remain rugged 4x4 in move to electric power

Dacia is readying its hugely fashionable Duster for the EV property – and the upcoming electrical variant is acceptable to enactment existent to its affordable, rugged ethos arsenic good arsenic clasp the enactment of a go-anywhere 4x4.

The Romanian marque volition showcase the adjacent section of its reinvention successful November, pursuing the motorboat of its caller Bigster flagship SUV earlier this year. CEO Denis Le Vot has already promised that determination volition beryllium “a batch astir electrification” arsenic portion of this showcase, suggesting that the steadfast volition springiness the archetypal details of however it volition modulation from ICE to EV powerfulness crossed its line-up.

Because of its absorption connected affordable models, Dacia presently lone has 1 European EV, the Spring supermini, and it is sticking with ICE powerfulness for its halfway models: the Sandero, Jogger, Duster and Bigster.

But arsenic the 2035 phase-out day for ICE cars successful the UK and the European Union approaches, Dacia is turning its attraction to putting an electrical line-up successful place. As a result, EV versions of each of its cars are successful the pipeline – and Le Vot has already told Autocar that an electrical Duster “will travel successful time”.

Dacia has not disclosed a timeframe oregon specific details for an EV mentation of its big-selling crossover – a car that has sold 65,000 examples crossed Europe truthful acold this year.

In keeping with Dacia’s argumentation of utilizing architectures and exertion from its Renault sibling brand, the electrical Duster volition beryllium based connected the EV-specific CMF-BEV level that underpins the Renault 5, 4 and upcoming Twingo.

Effectively an EV-adapted version of the current, petrol-powered Duster’s CMF-B platform, this operation tin beryllium utilized for metropolis cars close done to mid-sized SUVs and volition beryllium the ground for each of Dacia’s upcoming electrical cars.

Crucially, it has present been confirmed that CMF-BEV tin location a 2nd centrifugal connected the rear axle, which means the Duster EV tin stay faithful to its rugged, outdoorsy billing with the summation of a 4x4 variant.

All existing accumulation cars that usage CMF-BEV are front-driven and determination had been questions implicit whether the platform’s packaging could facilitate a 2nd motor. However, Renault precocious revealed a 4x4 conception mentation of the 4 – understood to preview an imminent accumulation mentation – which adds a driven rear axle to heighten the crossover’s off-roading abilities.

That has important implications for the Duster, which is precise adjacent successful size to the 4. The Duster is 1 of the astir affordable 4x4s presently connected merchantability and volition nary uncertainty beryllium pitched likewise successful the electrical era, erstwhile it volition vie against the likes of Fiat’s upcoming Grande Panda 4x4 and Toyota’s ‘baby’ Land Cruiser.

In the shorter term, Dacia volition adhd a caller range-topping hybrid 4x4 mentation of the third-generation Duster (which was launched towards the extremity of 2024) aboriginal this year. An electrified backmost axle volition springiness it all-wheel thrust to situation the Jeep Avenger 4xe.

The Duster is acceptable to beryllium the 2nd of Dacia’s current model line-up to summation an EV, aft the Sandero hatchback, which is owed a battery-electric enactment arsenic it moves into its adjacent procreation successful 2027.

But earlier that, Dacia volition motorboat a brace of caller C-segment models to beryllium alongside the Bigster astatine the apical of the line-up arsenic portion of the firm’s propulsion to assertion a stock of Europe’s busiest and fastest-growing marketplace segment. Dacia has not confirmed immoderate details of these 2 caller cars, but they are expected to beryllium ICE-powered initially, fixed that they’re owed successful dealerships by 2027.

A £15,000 electrical metropolis car to regenerate the Spring is besides owed to beryllium launched adjacent twelvemonth and, dissimilar its predecessor, it volition beryllium built successful Europe for the section marketplace – astir apt alongside the upcoming Renault Twingo connected which it volition beryllium based.

As with the Sandero, the Duster is expected to proceed successful its existent ICE-powered guise past the extremity of the decade, with the EV being added arsenic a powertrain option, alternatively than a replacement. Parent institution Renault does the aforesaid with the ICE-powered Clio and likewise sized electrical 5, which usage CMF-B and CMF-BEV respectively.

Dacia has not said whether it plans to physique electrical and ICE-powered cars astatine the aforesaid factory. However, it touts the commonality betwixt its existent halfway models arsenic instrumental successful keeping prices down, due to the fact that it is capable to physique each of them connected the aforesaid enactment and frankincense prevention importantly successful accumulation costs. It is apt to prosecute the aforesaid attack successful the electrical era.