Interestingly, we’re now hearing another Dacia will be electrified, specifically the next-generation Duster. The subcompact crossover was given a mid-cycle facelift a few weeks ago, but the engineering team is already working on a direct replacement expected to arrive at some point in 2024. Autocar learned from Duster product boss Julien Ferry a few early details about the 4×4 SUV, which he said must remain a cheap, no-frills SUV with all-wheel-drive capabilities.

Separately, Dacia boss Denis Le Vot said the all-new Duster will take full advantage of the CMF-B platform developed by the Renault-Nissan alliance. Reading between the lines, it can only mean the affordable SUV built in Mioveni, Pitesti will adopt a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Presumably, the PHEV setup will be sourced from the Renault Captur.

Autocar speculates there might even be a fully electric derivative of the Duster expected to ride on the CMF-BEV platform that will underpin the hotly anticipated Renault 5 revival. The architecture is being developed for inexpensive EVs, and with parent company Renault aiming to keep the Duster cheap, it would make sense to use these underpinnings.

The bad news about an electric Duster would be its front-wheel-drive limitation as CMF-BEV has not been engineered to accommodate a rear electric motor that would be necessary for an AWD layout. That could pose an issue among customers as the Romanian SUV is appreciated for being one of the cheapest SUVs with real off-road credentials.

Source: Autocar

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By riding on Renault’s CMF-B platform, it means the Dacia Bigster can accommodate a hybrid powertrain. It could inherit the hybrid setup from the Clio E-Tech, with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine combined with two electric motors, an automatic transmission, and a 1.2-kWh battery pack. This setup allows the French supermini to start in electric mode and remain in pure EV mode for up to 80 percent of the time during city driving.

Another scenario would be for the Dacia Bigster to utilize Renault’s newly announced hybrid setup with a three-cylinder 1.2-liter teamed up with an electric motor. However, that seems unlikely at this point as the electrified setup will have 200 horsepower, which seems a bit too much for a Dacia. Needless to say, the beefier 280-hp PHEV specification with all-wheel drive confirmed to debut in 2024 also seems too sophisticated for a budget-friendly compact SUV.

The Spring EV and hybrid Bigster will kick-start Dacia’s electrification agenda as the latest-generation Logan sedan and Sandero hatchback are also rumored to adopt a hybrid setup in the coming years. Logic tells us it will be adapted from the Clio E-Tech since the cars share the same underpinnings, albeit in a more basic configuration for the Dacia models to enable a lower asking price.

As for the Bigster, it will also be offered with conventional engines as well as a bi-fuel powertrain compatible with gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to mirror existing models in Dacia’s lineup. The all-electric Spring was an instant hit in Europe from the moment the order books were opened, and with the Bigster shaping up to be one of the cheapest hybrid SUVs on the Old Continent, it too is shaping up to be a commercial success.

Source: Auto Express

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