Dacia Duster had a great success in Europe in the first year from the launch. The SUV model produced in Mioveni is the best-selling SUV in Spain and France. Dacia sold in France 47,845 Duster units during 2011, while the Spanish market has bought 7,000 units by November. The best selling model in Spain was Renault Megane, while the French market preferred Clio, the smaller model of the French car manufacturer.

Duster was very well received by the French, that the sales represent 2.4% of the total vehicle market in France. Moreover, the Romanian SUV has managed to surpass models like Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf in the sales ranking in France, and was the first non-French model in Top 10.

“The fact that Megane and Duster are leaders in sales makes us very optimistic about the immediate future: said Luis Subias, the marketing director of Renault Espana.

"Despite the mixed results in Europe, the Group continued to grow, setting a record for sales in the first half of the year. The performance was based on strong international growth, as expected, and thanks to the Brazilian and Russian markets, key customers for the Renault group. " said Jerome Stoll, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing of Renault.

The Dacia brand results were affected by suppliers, who could not give her the necessary components for the diesel engine assembly. Even so, Dacia has maintained a market share of 1.6%. The Renault officials did not specify how long it will take to resolve the issue of suppliers which affected the sales of Dacia.

The Renault Duster version dedicated to the markets in Brazil and Argentina was officially launched at the Auto Show in Buenos Aires and the differences from the European version are pretty important. First we have a completely new face, with grille that stands out by the horizontal silver bars and the back with the horizontal strip where is embossed in chrome the model name. Moreover, the South American customers will be able to order wheels painted gray.

Important changes are also found in the interior of the Renault, which is – according to official press release issued by the French manufacturer – one "improved" with materials and finishes. The aesthetic changes apply to the interior design are also found on the  board, that is completely changed from the one found on the European models.

Renault Duster will be available with two engines in South America, both having the capacity to operate on alternative fuels, very demanded in Brazil. It is the 1.6 and 16V engine and the and 2.0 with 16V engine. If the 1.6 and 16v version engine has an optional automatic gearbox, the only engine that can be ordered with the all-wheel drive system is the 2.0 liter engine.

The Duster version dedicated to South American markets will be produced in the Curitiba factory in Brazil since mid-2011. In addition, since May 2012 the Medelin factory in Colombia will start the production of the new Renault Duster.

Here are the 3 versions of the Duster:

1. Dacia Duster -  the European model produced at the Mioveni factory in Romania

2. Renault Duster – the model available for Ukraine, Middle East countries (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt) and some African countries produced at the Mioveni factory in Romania

3. Renault Duster – the model available for the South American countries and that will be produced in Brazil and Colombia

Although Jean Philipppe Dayraut hopped to obtain a time less than 10 minutes on the 19.99-kilometer race, but the Duster obtained only 10 minutes and 17 seconds. The Romanian SUV was ranked behind Rhys Millen (with Hyundai PM580 – 10 minutes and 9 seconds) and the winner Nabuhiro Monster Tajima (with Hill Climb Special Suzuki SX4). The time obtained by the victorious Japanese was 9 minutes and 51 seconds, and is the new record of the competition.

The Duster resources were, however, weaker the the winner, Tajima, who’s SX V6 engine developed no less than 910 HP.

The Start of the Pikes Peak race was given at 2860 meters altitude, but the finish line was at 4,300 meters, which means that the competing cars, nearly 150 in number each year, needed special settings to run in in this conditions of differences in altitude.

The aesthetic package contains a set of chrome trim side skirts, a chrome bullbar and two exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper. The bullbar was skillfully integrated into the front bumper. The wheels chosen for the Duster Giacuzzo tuning kit are Alutec Shark equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 245/35 ZR20 tires. The standard braking system was not improved in any way, and the interior has been ignored by Giacuzzo tuners.

The price of the bullbar is 485 euros with all taxes included. The oval exhaust trim system costs 29 euros each, the wheel-mounting kit spacers cost 115 euros with all taxes included. The Eibach spring kit is priced at 175 euros,  while set of alloy wheels of 20 inch Shark Alutec costs about 1,500 euros.

The Dacia Duster No Limit is equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine, taken from the Nissan GT-R. The VR 38 DETT propeller retains only the GT-R engine block and has been prepared by specialists from Sodemo. The aim is to give the engine maximum performance in a context of high altitudes, with a decreasing oxygen content. The race starts at 2860 meters and has the finish at 4,300 meters, which means that the engine needs special settings to deliver the 850 HP at 7000 rpm in these weather conditions. The peak torque is 900 Nm and is provided at 5,000 rpm.

The engine is mated to a Sadev sequential six-speed transmission, taken directly from motorsport and optimized for this competition. The Front axle is made also by Sadev, including the front differential. The suspension is double triangle, and the Duster No Limit uses Ohlins TT 40 MK2 shock absorbers. The Duster No limit chassis is tubular, made from 25CD4S steel, therefore has a mass of only 950 kg. The fuel tank has a capacity of 80 liters, enough for the 850 HP during the 20 kilometers of race, divided: 10 on macadam and 10 on asphalt.

The Duster competed with 23 SUV models launched this year, managed to win first place in the final after the Romanian SUV manufactured in Pitesti managed to overcome the second generation of the BMW X3 and the Volkswagen Amarok, the first compact SUV produced by the German manufacturer in its entire history.

The fourth important award won by Dacia Duster at European level it is added to a respectable presence in the final of the prestigious European Car of the Year competition. The Dacia Duster managed to rank seventh on the COTY Award, where the Nissan Leaf won the first place.

It is a unit with four-cylinder, 2.0 liter, capable of developing 140 horsepower, whose production has already started. The production of the four-cylinder unit comes after last year, Automobile Dacia, has invested 1.4 million euro in developing a new engine block, for a new family of engines. The Dacia officials confirmed that since last year in Pitesti will be produced a new generation of Euro 5 engines available for the models designed within the Renault-Nissan group.

The first three places in the sales market in France was occupied by the "classical" Peugeot 207, Renault Clio and Renault Megane, while on the nest positions were Renault Megane, Peugeot 308 and Dacia Duster. Very interesting is that, apart from the Duster, all models decreased in sales compared with April last year. The largest decrease was recorded by Clio, with 35% compared with same month of 2010.

Car sales in France – April 2011

1. Peugeot 207 – 7917 units

2. Renault Clio – 7454 units

3. Renault Megane – 6439 units

4. Renault Scenic – 5553 units

5. Peugeot 308 – 5455 units

6. Dacia Duster – 5328 units