Andros Trophy 2011: This is How France's Winter Version of NASCAR Looks Like

Four-time Formula 1 champion Alain Prost and his Dacia Duster took first place at the Andros Trophy season finale held in Paris on the Stade de France this past weekend. Although the competition did not count for the championship, it attracted more than 50,000 spectators at France's largest stadium that was transformed into an ice-covered oval track. What they witnessed was a superb ice-skating contest for cars and bikes. Follow the break for the videos.

The former F1 ace drove the race-spec Dacia Duster Ice to victory after eliminating all of his opponents, including Olivier Panis (Skoda Fabia) and Jean Philippe Dayraut (BMW 1-Series), the latter being none other than the Andros Trophy champion and the man who will drive the Duster hill climb car at Pikes Peak in June.

“I would like to dedicate my win to Dacia and to the public who gave me such a warm welcome," said Alain Prost. "We really wanted to perform well today, and we did," he added.

All cars that participate in the Andros Trophy must look like their production counterparts on the outside while complying with certain regulations including four-wheel drive system, four-wheel steering, a three-liter six-cylinder engine with 340HP, a six-speed gearbox and special studded ice tires.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEOS

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PHOTO GALLERY

Dacia presents its crossover at the Geneva show, a model acclaimed by the public since her arrival in 2010.

Dacia Duster exposes the Geneva Motor Show. Since its launch in April 2010, the crossover lives a great low cost business career with more than 100,000 orders recorded in the world. In 2010, 67,000 Duster were registered in total, including 19,689 in France.

Available in 2 or 4WD, the extent Duster 4.315 m long and loads to choose from three engines: a block 4 cylinder petrol 1.6 110bhp 4-cylinder engine or two dCi 85 or 110. Dacia enjoys the show to unveil its plans for growth. By 2013, Sandero, Logan MCV and Logan will be renewed and a new family and a small utility that will arrive in 2012.

850HP Dacia Duster to Go Hill Climbing at Pikes Peak

After successfully competing in the Andros Trophy ice-racing championship with F1 star Alain Prost behind the wheel, the guys at Renault Sport Technologies want the Dacia Duster to perform in a whole different league. In particular, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb which will be held on June 26 this year.

Even though this will be the brand's first-ever entry at the world-famous Colorado-based event, Dacia wants to deliver. In order to be competitive, Renault Sport Technologies will prepare a one-off 850 horsepower version of the car according to the technical regulations for Pikes Peak. The car will be driven by French ice-racing star and three-time winner of the Andros Trophy, Jean-Philippe Dayraut. Dacia will reveal further details, including technical specs of the car, in a few weeks time.

The event is run each year on a 12.42 mile (20 km) course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet (2,862 m) and finishes at the 14,110 foot (4,301 m) top of America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak. The race is particularly tricky since rarefied air slows reflexes, saps muscle strength and also steals 30% of engine power at the summit. In addition to that, road surface alternates asphalt with gravel, making it a tough nut to crack for even the most experienced racing drivers.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO: Dacia Duster Commercial Redefines “Insulting” [NSFW]

This here commercial for Dacia's low-cost Duster SUV is the work of Dutch advertising company Artcore. We should warn you that the ad is a 1 minute and 46 second parade of almost continuous swearing. While we can appreciate some over-the-top creations, we just can’t see this ever airing, at least not during daytime hours. But even if the commercial somehow made it on your TV set, we doubt that this is what Dacia wants to promote.

The commercial has been labeled as “banned” by various internet sources, but it seems to have been produced to showcase a radical idea, rather than to be purpose driven advertisement. The foul-mouthed clip is available right after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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Renault Unveils Updated Dacia Duster Ice for next Andros Trophy

As Renault is continuing to work on Dacia's image, the Duster Ice will once again compete in the Andros Trophy, after finishing in second place last year. Set to be piloted by the legendary Alain Prost, the updated model features a number of evolutions for the new season. The opening round of the ice-racing championship will be held at Val Thorens (France), on the 4th and 5th of December.

Developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Dacia Duster racecar features a tubular chassis with a lightweight fiberglass body with power coming from a Renault-Nissan-sourced 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 350-horsepower.

The six-cylinder powertrain underwent a few key modifications and churns out an extra 20Nm of torque (15 lb-ft) at 3,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels, through a six-speed sequential gearbox, while the suspension features new shock absorbers better suited for the rough, icy terrain on which the Andros Trophy events are held. For added precision, engineers also modified the electro-hydraulic steering system, which turns all wheels.

Alain Prost commented:

"We are determined to build on what we started last winter. The thinking behind our second year together marks a logical step forward in sporting, technical and brand terms. Last season, we were aware it would be tough to win the Trophée Andros with a new car, not to mention the fact that the programme began at a relatively late stage. Our overriding aim was to take part, try to be competitive and win races, and also win over the public. This time round, my intention is to challenge for the title. We completed two very positive days of testing at Val Thorens last weekend. Our work on Duster has clearly paid dividends and we are convinced we have the means to make a strong start."

Overall, the Romanian brand's image is at an all-time high, as the budget SUV is also a finalist in the 2011 Car of the Year competition.

By Csaba Daradics

Dacia Duster Technical Data

CHASSIS

Tubular steel chassis Double wishbones

ENGINE

Renault-Nissan Alliance-developed Type VQ 30 engine Mid-rear position V6

Valves: 24

Cubic capacity: 2,987cc

Bore x stroke: 93mm x 73.3mm Maximum power: 257kW EEC (350hp) at 7,500rpm

Maximum torque: 360Nm EEC at 5,500rpm

TRANSMISSION

Six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox

BRAKES

Front: 260mm-diameter ventilated steel discs

Rear: 265mm-diameter steel discs

WHEELS AND TIRES

Magnesium, 5.5'' x 16'' Continental Ice Racing Contact 3 tyres

DIMENSIONS / WEIGHT

Length: 4,001mm Width: 1,900mm

Front/rear track: 1,690mm

Wheelbase: 2,500mm

Weight: 950kg

Fuel tank: 25 litres

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Dacia Duster Cobra Technology tuning photos

Suspect in problems with control and inhibition, first Romanian SUV Dacia Duster continues to attract attention. After the first tuning package by German studio Elia AG, on the Duster is now called the attention of Cobra Technology & Lifestyle.

Visually Cobra Dacia Duster comes with a bodywork made of stainless steel, made from 60-mm tubes, plus a new grille, called Cityguard. According to the tuner, the whole kit in accordance with international standards on pedestrian safety.

"Owning a Cobra Dacia Duster not need to re-pass inspection and other procedures to confirm the suitability of a new tuning package" - the report said.

Also appeared the 80-mm chrome nozzle on the exhaust pipe and 18-inch alloy wheels, shod in tire 8Jx18, 225/50 R.

All sets of Cobra come with a two-year warranty.

Elia Dresses Up and Tunes New Dacia Duster SUV

Elia, the German tuning house of all things related to the Renault-Nissan Alliance, has just launched two styling packages and an performance kit for Dacia's low-cost Duster small SUV.

Named "Adventure Kit", the first package adds a bull-bar to the front end and new protective side bars. The second package is more comprehensive and includes either 16-inch alloy wheels (18-inch rims are available as an option), LED daytime running lights up front, side skirts and a chrome piece for the tail pipe.

On the performance front, there's a tuning kit that recalibrates the 1.5-liter turbo diesel's engine's ECU lifting output to 122HP.

Source: Elia , Via: Autoblog.nl

Dacia Duster 2010 4x4 1.5 dCi 110 hp Laureate Standard features

Bumpers front and rear fully painted body color
Handles opening doors exterior body color
Black door mirrors
Longitudinal bars black flag
Windows with light tint
Steel rims 16 "stylized
Center console, and contour handles aerators open doors "Brown Shiny"
Ornamental wheel "Shiny Brown"
Door panels with cloth inserts and decorative rod "Brown Shiny"
Hand brake console "Brown Shiny"
Trim "Krest"
Front door storage
Electronic disengage
Digital indicator: fuel, cooling liquid temperature, mileage
Hydraulic steering
6-function trip computer (mileage generally partially mileage, fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, autonomy predictable, average speed)
Witness open doors
Visual and audible alert driver belt grip
Visual and audible alert passenger belt grip
Fog Projectors
Stega 3 speed windscreen
Degivranta tailgate and rear window wiper
Electrically adjustable exterior mirrors and degivrante
Central locking with remote control
Electric windows
Plafoniera with spot reading
Ashtray and lighter mobile
Lighting box documents
Trunk Lights
Heating - Ventilation control with 4 speeds and air recycling
Manual air conditioning
Radio pre-equipment
CD 4x15 W with satellite steering wheel control
Modularity Pack:
- 1/3-2/3 folding rear seats
- Height adjustable driver seat
- Safety belts front height adjustable
- Height-adjustable steering wheel
ABS with EBD and emergency brake assist
Driver front airbag
Front passenger airbags (with manual disconnect)
Front side airbags
Front seatbelts with pretensioners pyrotechnics
Front headrests "new generation"
Safety belts 3 rear 3-point
Rear head restraints height adjustable (center headrest type comma)
ISOFIX child seat system for outer rear seats

Geneva Show: Dacia's Low-Cost Duster SUV Priced from €11,900 in Europe

With a lot of help from its parent company, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Romania's low-cost Dacia brand is picking up the pace with the launch of its sixth model, the Duster that was officially presented at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The compact off-roader uses the firm's low-cost Logan platform that has spawned several car and small-van models over the past few years. At 4.31 meters long and 1.82 meters wide, the generic but somewhat tough-looking Duster is similar in size to the recently facelifted Nissan Qashqai crossover.

Dacia says that the Duster can comfortably seat up to five adults offering both front and rear occupants the same amount of space as the Logan saloon while the SUV's boot has a capacity of up to 475 liters (depending on version).

The Duster will be available in both front- and four-wheel drive configurations, with the latter featuring a different rear suspension steup (MacPherson-type multi-arm system instead of an H-beam).

The 4x4 version employs a Nissan-derived all-wheel drive system with four modes: Auto, where the front/rear torque split is calculated automatically as a function of available grip; Lock, whereby 50 per cent of torque is consistently fed through the rear axle, and 4x2 ,which locks the car in front-wheel drive for maximum fuel efficiency.

In Europe, the Duster will be available with a choice of three powerplants for both the 4x2 and 4x4 versions: one petrol engine (1.6 16V 110hp) and two diesel engines (1.6-liter dCi with 85HP or 110HP).

So, what does all this 'low-cost' talk translate to money-wise? According to Dacia's parent company Renault, the Duster will go on sale in Europe at tax-paid prices starting from €11,900 for the two-wheel drive version, and from €13,900 for the 4x4 version (equal to US$16,200 and $18,900 respectively at today's exchange rates).

The company said that the Duster will be launched with Dacia badging this spring in Europe, Turkey and the Maghreb region (Algeria,Morocco.).

From June 2010, Duster will also be available as a Renault in the Ukraine, the Middle East (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt) and other African countries.

The Pitesti factory in Romania will supply all these markets, whether Dacia- or Renault-badged.

Starting from 2011, it will also be sold as a Renault in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Russia and the Gulf states. The North/South American market version will be built alongside the Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway in Curitiba, Brazil, the Russian at the Avtoframos plant in Moscow while the version distributed in the Gulf States will be supplied from the Pitesti factory.