Dacia Reportedly Preparing New Seven Seater MPV for 2012

It appears that Renault's low cost brand Dacia is getting ready to expand its reach into yet another segment. After the top of the line Duster soft roader, the Romanian manufacturer is planning a seven seater MPV for next year, at least according to a report from French car journal, L'Automobile.

The magazine said the MPV will carry the Popster nameplate and will ride on a modified version of the Logan's platform. The engine lineup is said to include a 1.5 dci engine with various power outputs and 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.6 liter petrol engines. Measuring around 4.5 meters in length, the Popster is said to slot in between Dacia's own Logan MCV and Renault's larger Grand Scenic and come in at under €15,000.

And the MPV won't be the last new model for Dacia as it is reported the Romanian company is also planning its own version of the Kangoo, currently codenamed Project K97. It will feature sliding doors and a spilt tailgate, just like the Logan MCV and though we don't have a name for this light van-like vehicle yet, L`Automobile Magazine reports an estimated price of around 13.000 euros.

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Video: Dacia Logan with Volkswagen 2.8-liter VR6 Engine!

I don’t know if the word Dacia gives James May that fizzing sensation he often talks about, but the Top Gear host seems pretty fond of the Romanian brand. Same goes for low-budget European buyers who see the Renault-era Dacias as well priced models with affordable maintenance costs. One of the Romanian firm's latest cars, the Duster was even nominated for the 2011 COTY award.

However, the brand's models aren't exactly exciting, even more so when it comes to sheer performance with their mundane, small displacement petrol and diesel engines. But as always, for every problem there's a fix. This man's answer was to ditch the Logan sedan's four-cylinder and throw in a 2.8-liter VR6 Volkswagen engine.

Details surrounding the build are pretty scarce right now, as it’s an ongoing project. The owner says that the powerplant churns out 174 hp (most likely stock) and it’s coupled to a VW transmission. Other upgrades include the suspension and brake system.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

READ MORE - Video: Dacia Logan with Volkswagen 2.8-liter VR6 Engine!

Renault Inaugurates New Vehicle Test Center in Romania

The Renault Group has opened a brand new test facility in Titu, Romania. Built on a 330-hectare site located between the Dacia plant in Pitesti and the Renault Technologie Roumanie (RTR) engineering center in Bucharest, the Titu Technical Center will complement the company's Aubevoye and Lardy test centers in France.

According to Renault, the new facility will focus on testing for vehicles and powertrain components from the B0 platform that underpins the low-cost Dacia Logan.

The center is said to have 100 benches for testing vehicles and components such as shock absorbers, running gear and powertrains. The benches can simulate extreme conditions, testing the ability to withstand cold, and simulating sunlight, rain, and other situations.

In addition, the center has ten types of tracks including a speed circuit, uneven road surfaces, an underbody impact zone and wading troughs, which make up a total length of 32 km or about 20 miles.

Renault said the first teams arrived at the Romanian facility in June 2010, and the workforce will increase to 300 people before the end of the year. The first track tests are planned for October 2010.

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