Ever since Renault bought the Romanian brand Dacia - with which it had long-lasting ties -, it essentially gave itself access to a whole new market segment of smart, affordable cars.
There's a reason James May liked the Dacia Sandero so much, and that's because it reminded him of his Fiat Panda: a small, practical car that cost very little to buy and maintain and yet gets the job done. And unlike the Panda, which is a very narrow car, the Sandero is actually a lot roomier.
There have been talks about a sportier Sandero version for quite some time, but they have mostly emanated from people who would like a low-cost car with a certain degree of go-fast built into it that they can trash around without too much remorse. Renault, however, has no plans of building such a model.
It won't stop the French marque from presenting one as a concept, though. Present at the 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show, Renault brought with it two studies based on Dacia models but sold under the rhomboidal logo on certain markets, including the Brazilian one. One of them is the Renault Sandero RS Grand Prix, while the other is called the Renault Duster Extreme.
The first one (scroll the gallery to the right) is a tribute to the company's Formula One team, so the Sandero comes painted in black with gold accents like the stripes on the side and the door mirror caps. On the inside, the theme is continued in a similar fashion. Power comes from a 150 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, so the parallels with the world of Formula One end there.
The Duster Extreme, on the other hand, is a much sexier offer. Sporting ridiculously large mud tires and heavily modified bumpers, the crossover was turned into a bit of an off-road monster. It is finished in a dark matte gray color and comes with red details, including towing hooks or the central wheel hub.
To complete its rough terrain credentials, it gets a winch, a snorkel, and a light bar above the windshield. The Duster's ground clearance has also been significantly increased, which makes it look as though it could tip over if driven too fast in a bend. Still, that won't make it any less desirable for adventure seekers.
While the Sandero is a bit "meh," the Duster - with slightly smaller tires - would be a wonderful car to drive. It wouldn't sell in volumes like Renault wants its Dacia models to, but it would make a great limited edition vehicle. Just a thought, Renault, just a thought.
There have been talks about a sportier Sandero version for quite some time, but they have mostly emanated from people who would like a low-cost car with a certain degree of go-fast built into it that they can trash around without too much remorse. Renault, however, has no plans of building such a model.
It won't stop the French marque from presenting one as a concept, though. Present at the 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show, Renault brought with it two studies based on Dacia models but sold under the rhomboidal logo on certain markets, including the Brazilian one. One of them is the Renault Sandero RS Grand Prix, while the other is called the Renault Duster Extreme.
The first one (scroll the gallery to the right) is a tribute to the company's Formula One team, so the Sandero comes painted in black with gold accents like the stripes on the side and the door mirror caps. On the inside, the theme is continued in a similar fashion. Power comes from a 150 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, so the parallels with the world of Formula One end there.
The Duster Extreme, on the other hand, is a much sexier offer. Sporting ridiculously large mud tires and heavily modified bumpers, the crossover was turned into a bit of an off-road monster. It is finished in a dark matte gray color and comes with red details, including towing hooks or the central wheel hub.
To complete its rough terrain credentials, it gets a winch, a snorkel, and a light bar above the windshield. The Duster's ground clearance has also been significantly increased, which makes it look as though it could tip over if driven too fast in a bend. Still, that won't make it any less desirable for adventure seekers.
While the Sandero is a bit "meh," the Duster - with slightly smaller tires - would be a wonderful car to drive. It wouldn't sell in volumes like Renault wants its Dacia models to, but it would make a great limited edition vehicle. Just a thought, Renault, just a thought.