The French Automobile Magazine revealed today some details about the new models that will be launched by Dacia in 2012. As we know from some time the main novelties of the range of the Romanian car manufacturer will be represented by a MPV and a utility van. The French journalists have found, however, more and interesting details about these models.

The Dacia MPV model – known today as the J92 – could be called Popster in the series version. The Dacia Popster will enter in the MPV segment and will try to take from the European customers of the Opel Zafira, Ford C-Max, Citroen C4 Picasso or the Renault Scenic. The new model will offer seven-seat for passengers, it will have a third side square window and hinged rear doors. The length of the future Dacia MPV will be about 4.5 meters, and will have a price of 14.800 euros, with 6000 euros less than the Renault Scenic.

The Dacia utility van has the code name K67 and is based on the Renault Kangoo. Dacia will thus have three distinct models mainly for passenger transport (the current MCV, the J92 MPV and the K67 van), and two derived utility models (Logan Van and an the future utility van based on the future K67). The new K67 will have sliding side doors, and the tailgate will be transformed into two doors like those on the current MCV. According to French journalists, the basic price of this model in the Hexagon, will start from 13.000 euros with a petrol engine and from 14.500 euros with a diesel engine. The price of the Dacia K67 will be with 4,000 euros less than the Kangoo, even if the space inside will be higher, which means that the new K67 will have a base price similar to the Dacia Duster.

Source: Automobile Magazine

The vehicle will have a length of about 4.5 meters, a format comparable to the Renault Grand Scenic. According to the same source, the new Dacia model will have the rear seat folding, which will increase the luggage capacity up to 2,300 liters. The new Dacia minivan will have also a version with three rows of seats, and will transport easily seven adults.

The new model will be produced and assembled in Morocco, because the Pitesti factory is working at full capacity for the production of Duster.

The Dacia MPV will be the fith member of the Dacia family after Logan, Sandero, Logan MCV and the SUV Duster.

According to the French from L’argus, the Dacia MPV will have a starting price of 13,000 euros on the petrol version to 15,000 euros for the diesel version.

Source: L’Argus

"These new models will inaugurate a new stage in terms of design, and their prices will be lowered than ever" said Alain Launay, the director of the Renault design center opened in Bucharest two years ago. The three models will be launched from 2012 in the European Union.

Regarding the situation between the image of the Dacia brand to the Renault brand, the technical center officials in Romania give us new details about development in the future. Thus, according to Gerard Detourbet statements, Dacia will remain a manufacturer that will provide basic models, while the models developed by Renault will be increasingly sophisticated.

Another issue touched by the French journalists is the reliability of Dacia models that are situated in the first positions in the charts in Europe. "Most cars today have defects in the home electronic systems complexity. The Dacia models use electronic systems that were developed based on five to ten years ago, so they are obviously much more reliable than the last generation of cars" said Benoit Abadie, the deputy director of the Technology Center that opened this year Renault in Romania.
"The costs of production for Dacia model assembled in Pitesti is below 2,000 euros the same model manufactured in France" – Le Figaro.

The Dacia MPV will be a compact model that will have the same size as Kia Soul, and the Dacia Sedan will be bigger than Dacia Logan and will enter in the market segment represented by Passat, Insignia, Accord or Mondeo.

The new models will retain the classic features of Dacia and will have a good quality-price ratio. Speaking of price, the future generations of Logan and Sandero will benefit of a discount pricing of several hundred euros due to the reduction of the production costs.