Dacia has unveiled the new Duster (full design story in forthcoming issues of Auto&Design), a model that continues the history of a car that has become a true brand icon. Dacia has reinvented the design of the Duster. The new generation retains all the aesthetic qualities that made its predecessors so successful, in particular, it reconfirms its personality as a solid and robust SUV. “Even before working on the styling, we focused on its proportions to give it a strong balance of volumes. Finding the right proportions is crucial to avoid resorting to stylistic artifice later on,” said David Durand, head of design at Dacia.
Aiming for the essential, eliminating stylistic artifices: this Dacia philosophy also applies to the styling of the new Duster. The designers started working from simple volumes: passenger compartment, bonnet, mudguards, etc. They then assembled all these elements cleanly and neatly, giving the model a modern, well-constructed style with deliberately taut and decisive lines. The design, consistent and in step with the times, reconciles outdoor style and robustness with a more sustainable approach. The front and rear protection plates are originally coloured. The absence of paint is good for the environment, but also for customers: even if scratched or scored, they never lose their original colour.
The side protectors of the lower body and wheel arches, the elements conveying the brand identity, the front bumper triangles, the skid plates and the rear bumper apron are made of a new robust material, Starkle, designed by Dacia engineers and the chemical company LyondellBasell. Unveiled on the Manifesto concept car, Starkle is composed of up to 20 per cent recycled materials.
Like the exterior design, the interior design does not forget the essentials, i.e. what is useful. Particular attention has been paid to ergonomics with the 10.1-inch central display tilted 10 degrees towards the driver and placed in his field of vision. The new automatic transmission control is particularly ergonomic. The steering wheel, which is flattened at the top and bottom, is very comfortable to use and makes it easier to get on board. “Duster would not be Duster without an ingenious and practical cockpit that makes everyday life easier for users. Everything is designed to make you feel at home, both at the front of the cabin and in the rear,” David continues. The new Y-shaped signature underlines the link between interior and exterior design: in the passenger compartment, it can be found on the air vents, on the surface of which a Y is drawn (copper-coloured in the Extreme trim), and on the door panels, where the Y is drawn around the armrests. In the centre of the steering wheel, the brand logo replaces the Dacia name.
