This Custom Dacia Duster from Germany Has Everything You Could Ever Want

The Dacia Duster should be an attractive vehicle, if you’re not a badge snob, but are looking for the cheapest way to get a fully-fledged capable off-roader. However, it will never attract those looking for toys or high quality finished surfaces, because it has very few of the former and none of the latter.

Still, since we do live in an age when everything is possible, one can realistically buy a Duster, and in particular, one that already has the full options list ticked off, then going to work. This is exactly what a garage from Germany achieved by fitting dozens of extra gadgets and trinkets to make it far more of an appealing vehicle – many little details add up to make a big difference.

The car originally came with leather seats, all-wheel drive, the top spec 110 PS diesel engine, 15-inch alloys, four electric windows and few other notable extras. It retains all those features, bar the wheels which have been replaced by 20-inch aftermarket units, but adds a whole lot more, as the video posted after the jump reveals. It’s all in German, and 25 minutes long, yet it’s self-explanatory, and you don’t need to understand the language to get what is being discussed.

From what I gather, it has been fitted with everything from a working dual exhaust, front engine guard and chunkier plastic cladding, to a small spoiler on top of the hatch and some cool-looking aftermarket LED rear lights that will probably go even better on an all-black car to begin with – the two tone paint would not have been my first choice, but could have been worse…

Inside, the cheap old stereo reminiscent of the first-gen Logan sedan has been ripped out and replaced by a modern touchscreen unit (the facelifted Duster gets a good one from the factory), and many plastics have been sprayed in the exterior orange color, finished off by tasteful chrome accents. There’s also a self-dipping mirror, aftermarket cruise control, automatic lights, revised dials, heated seats and probably more that we missed.

Yes, it is a bit overdone, but with a little more restraint, this kind of customization job could open up the Duster to a new clientele, though it still doesn’t escape the problem of scratchy plastics.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO

British Magazine Masks Dacia Sandero and Asks the Public to Guess What it is and How Much it Costs

If it weren't for the Autoexpress logos, we would have sworn that this video was made by…Dacia as a publicity stunt to promote the sales launch of its new Sandero supermini, which will be the Romanian brand's first model to arrive in UK showrooms in January.
With a starting price of £5,995 (equal to €7,400 / US$9,600 at today's exchange rates), the five-door Sandero will also be the cheapest new car money can buy in Britain.

Dacia Renews its Core Lineup, Reveals New Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway in Paris

Renault acquired Dacia in September 1999, and at the time, the Romanian brand, which was founded in 1966, has an outdated model lineup.
This changed in 2004 with the introduction of the Logan, which became one of the best-selling cars in Eastern Europe and Russia, and the Sandero hatchback that followed in 2008.
Dacia decided to revamp its core line-up at the same time and picked the 2012 Paris Auto Show for the debut of the new Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway.
All three models share the same newly-styled front end and new dark-carbon or two-tone (according to model and trim) dashboard that sports chrome accents on the air-vents, steering-wheel logo and gear lever and, according to Dacia, better fit and finish.

Nissan GT-R-Powered Dacia Duster Racer Filmed Testing at Magny-Cours

The Renault Group is upping the ante for Dacia with its decision to enter the Romanian brand’s Duster crossover in the famous Pikes Peak international hill climb that will take place this year on June 26 in Colorado, USA. The purpose built racecar was spotted over the weekend testing at the Magny-Cours motor racing circuit located in France.

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.

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.