Former F1 pilot Alain Prost launches Dacia"s "Duster" in Romania

Romanian car manufacturer "Dacia", yesterday officially launched he new model of the company- the SUV dubbed "Duster" - in the presence of the multiple French Formula 1 champion, Alain Prost, who said that "the new Duster gained a lot of credibility and will be extremely successful in Romania, as well as in France". This statement is mirrored by company officials, which say that the Duster SUV could account for around 20% of the plant"s output in 2010.

The launch of the new model will consolidate the international presence of "Dacia", allowing it to attract new customers, from a totally different segment, says Jérôme Olive, general manager of "Dacia".

• The new model to be launched gradually in various regions of the world

"Duster" has "global ambitions", company officials say, both commercially, as well as from an industrial point of view. Duster will be gradually launched in various areas of the world, just like in the case of the "Logan" and "Sandero" models. Come the beginning of spring, "Duster" will be launched under the "Dacia" brand in Europe, Turkey, Africa and the Maghreb countries (Morocco and Algeria). This will complete the company"s range of models, which was already expanding to those markets.

Starting in June, "Duster", under the "Renault" brand, will be launched on the markets of Ukraine, the Middle East, (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt) as well as in some African countries.

For the moment, the Mioveni plant will ensure the manufacturing of this model by itself, with production to begin at other locations under the "Renault" brand in 2011, such as at the plant in Curitiba (Brazil), and with the output to be sold on the markets of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. The "Duster" model will also be manufactured in Russia, at the Avtoframos plant in Moscow. For the markets of Persian Gulf area, this model will be available starting in 2011, with the vehicles to be manufactured in the Romania.

• The cheapest SUV

With a starting price of 10,500 Euros (for the 4x2 versions) and 12,300 Euros (for the 4x4 versions), with VAT included, "Duster" is currently considered the cheapest SUV. The sixth model by "Dacia" comes in three versions: "Duster", "Ambiance" and "Lauréate", and customers can choose between a 1.6 16V 105 HP gas engine and two 1.5 dCi Diesel 85 and 110 HP engines.

Duster will be available in Romania starting with April 15th, 2010.