Dacia is working on a pickup version of the second generation Duster. It’s expected to launch before the end of 2019 in Europe, and should become the most affordable workhorse on sale.
Details about the Duster Pickup were announced by the Renault Commercial Vehicle Romania chief, Hakim Boutehra, in an interview with 0-100. The exec confirmed that the vehicle is undergoing homologation and that, unlike the Renault Duster Oroch, which is sold in South America, it will be more “work-oriented”.
To bring the new Duster Pickup to the market, Dacia has teamed up with Romturingia. The coach-builder already launched such a vehicle back in 2014, in a limited-production run of 500. Last year, the Romanian company was again the first one to create a utilitarian variant of the second-gen SUV, albeit as a prototype that was taken to the Hannover Commercial Vehicle Show.
Details about the official Dacia Pickup, however, are scarce. Still, we wouldn’t be surprised if they decide to use the 1.5-liter dCi diesel and the new 1.3-liter TCe petrol. Four-wheel drive should be available, although it’s unknown whether it’ll be standard or an optional extra.
The Duster Pickup isn’t the only new car planned by Dacia for this year. In fact, they have “at least three [other] new models” in the pipeline, as Boutehra confirmed, who referred to special editions and “line-up animations” of different vehicles, including the Duster.
Note: Dacia Duster Pickup by Romturingia pictured