Spied - The 'Dacia Duster' caught again in Chennai

14/09/2012 - 12:07 | ,  ,   | Nithyanandh K

The Duster bearing the Dacia badge was caught testing in Chennai a few days ago (first by Indian Autos Blog) and we now know that the model being tested is indeed a petrol powered car.

Dacia Duster undergoing tests in Chennai

Our reader 'Action Kumar' had spotted the test mule in a fuel station in Chennai filling petrol.

The mule is a standard model with black bumpers, steel wheels, cheap looking door handles and a traditional Dacia grill. This is in line with the brand positioning of Dacia, which is known for its low cost cars.

The Duster was originally designed by the Romanian auto maker which is owned by Renault and the SUV is rebadged as a Renault in some countries.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance had chosen India as their strategic export base for the RHD markets and Britain being one of them will get the made-in-India RHD Dacia Duster, in time for the January 2013 launch.

Export market Dacia Duster testing in Chennai

The Dacia Duster will be made alongside the Renault Duster and will be shipped to the UK where the sales are set to commence early next year.

Given the fact that petrol powered Renault Dusters are slow movers in the domestic market, Renault could bring a balance in production of petrol and diesel engines by exporting the petrol cars to countries like Britain and South Africa which are not as obsessed with diesel cars as we are.

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