A fresh Dacia Duster is in the works and has been caught on camera for the first time. It’ll be an all-new model to replace the recently facelifted Duster, and though UK buyers have only been offered Dacia’s 4x4 since 2012, the current model has actually been around a little longer. An initial launch in 2010 means the car is niow seven years old, and hence, nearing the end of its shelf life.
There will still be quite a wait for the next Duster though, as we don’t expect the new budget 4x4 – the current version of which is one of the cheapest new cars on sale in Britain – to hit showrooms until late summer 2018.
These first spy shots show that Renault’s budget sub-brand is still keen to keep things under wraps in terms of design, but the overall form of the upcoming second-generation Duster closely follows that of the current model, so it should usher in an evolutionary look rather than a completely new design language. Under the heavy masking it's possible to spot a grille very similar to the one on the current model, but new, sharper headlight clusters appear to hide beneath the disguise.
Don’t expect much in the way of a luxury makeover though - the Duster will still be a utilitarian device with a miniscule price tag, offering buyers low-frills motoring on a budget.
Entry-level versions will continue to be fitted with plastic bumpers, wheel arches and steel wheels as standard, but plusher models will benefit from added style and tech.
It’s too early to speculate on changes under the skin, but Dacia will be keen to keep costs to a minimum. As such, it could make use of a developed version of the B0 platform underpinning the current model. In various guises this platform has underpinned cars built by the Renault-Nissan alliance for over a decade, from small cars such as the Renault Clio to stretched, larger vehicles like Dacia’s Duster and Logan estate.
The Renault derived engines could be carried over too. At present, the Duster is available with two four cylinder petrol options – a 108bhp 1.6-litre plus a 124bhp 1.2-litre turbo – plus a solitary diesel in the form of the 109bhp 1.5-litre dCi. Alternatively, Dacia could offer a fresher diesel engine in the form of a larger and more powerful 1.6-litre unit, being a development of the engine used by parent company Renault in the Kadjar. Again, four-wheel-drive will be reserved for only the most expensive models.
Will the Duster stay true to its roots, or will Dacia go for big change? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.