Dacia Lodgy MPV first pics

Dacia has revealed its new Lodgy MPV, which is due to debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show.

Specification details are sketchy, but Dacia has confirmed that the Lodgy’s dodgy name derives from ‘lodge’, five- or seven-seat versions will be available and its overall length is 4,500 mm (about 14’ 9”).



That makes it just a tad shorter than the Grand Scénic from parent firm Renault, although it’s unclear whether both models share the same platform. Certainly they manage to look different which, judging by the images, isn’t necessarily a good thing for the Dacia.



While the Grand Scénic manages to appear fairly neat and stylish, the Lodgy looks a bit too van-like and its awkward proportions aren’t helped by seemingly tiny wheels. Going by the first view it’s a disappointment, especially as some recent Dacia designs (such as the Duster) have managed to be both distinctive and appealing. Perhaps the Lodgy will be better in the metal…



The Dacia brand is scheduled to launch in the UK in a year’s time, so there’s a chance that in time the Lodgy MPV could end up on sale here.



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Dacia Duster No Limit

Dacia Duster No Limit

Dacia has unveiled the Duster No Limit, a one-off version of the Romanian firm’s off-roader that has been created for one purpose: to win the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday, June 26.



Because it will be competing in the PPIHC ‘Unlimited’ class - where there’s no minimum weight rule, no limit on engine capacity or output and anything goes regarding aerodynamics and transmissions -  the competition Dacia shares nothing with its showroom equivalent except a silhouette.

Developed with the help of Renault Sport Technologies, the Duster No Limit features a mid-mounted 3.8 litre V6 engine from the Nissan GT-R beneath its glass-fibre bodywork. Built by specialists Sodemo, it pumps out around 838 bhp (625 kW / 850 PS) which is then fed to the wheels via a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox.



And it’ll need all that power too, as the 12.42 mile (19.98 km) course finishes at the 14,110 foot (4,300 metre) summit of Pikes Peak. That kind of altitude is reckoned to reduce engine outputs by 30%.



Driving the Dacia Duster No Limit at Pikes Peak will be Frenchman Jean-Philippe Dayraut.



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Multistrada Pikes Peak

Mahindra Verito launched

The Renault Logan has been renamed the Mahindra Verito for the Indian market.



It follows the termination in April 2010 of the joint venture that had been established by Mahindra & Mahindra and the French manufacturer to build the Logan locally in Nashik.



Under the terms of the restructure, M&M bought out Renault’s 49 percent share in order to fully own the operation, and Logan production has continued in India via a licensing arrangement. However, it was also agreed that the Renault branding would eventually have to disappear.

So, switching to the Mahindra badge comes as no surprise. The Verito model name is meant to allude to honest dependability, as it’s derived from the Latin word ‘veritas’ meaning ‘truth’.



To go with the new name, Mahindra has taken the opportunity to introduce a few cosmetic tweaks. These include the fitment of roof rails, revised fog lights, side cladding and extra chrome decoration at the rear, while the interior gets new upholstery.



Carried over from the Logan are the two engines, both of which are sourced from Renault. Cheapest is the 1.4 MPFI petrol unit, which is priced at Rs. 4.82 lakh for the BS3 version - that’s around £6,560 or €7,380 at today’s exchange rates.



Alternatively, buyers can opt for the 1.5 DCi CRDi diesel. It’s more expensive at Rs. 5.62 lakh (about £7,650 or €8,600), but it does have an ARAI fuel economy rating of 59.4 mpg (4.8 l/100km / 21.03 km/l).



Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said: “The Verito, with its unique value proposition aligns with the Mahindra DNA of offering tough, rugged and sporty vehicles. For the first time, we are using social media platforms to unveil a new product, reflecting alternative thinking. The earlier Logan will continue to get complete service and spares support from us.”



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Toyota reveals 2011 Etios

Leaf is Car of the Year

The Nissan Leaf has been declared 2011 European Car of the Year. It’s the first electric car to win the title, but it wasn’t a unanimous decision.

Fifty-seven motoring journalists from across the continent formed a jury to decide the winner, and each was given twenty-five votes to distribute across the seven finalists. The contest rules stipulate that they had to allocate those votes to at least five cars, with no more than ten points allowed for any one model.



Only three jurors gave the Leaf a maximum score, but nine didn’t give it any votes at all.

Such a divergence of opinion reflected that while it’s technically interesting, the Nissan is still unproven in real world conditions. Some of the journalists also recognised that the Leaf is very much a first generation electric car; future models will undoubtedly have better range, shorter recharging times, and cost less.



Consequently, it was a close result, with second and third spots being occupied by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Vauxhall / Opel Meriva.

2011 Car of the Year
Position	Model	Votes
1	Nissan Leaf	257
2	Alfa Romeo Giulietta	248
3	Vauxhall / Opel Meriva	244
4	Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max	224
5	Citroën C3 / DS3	175
6	Volvo S60 / V60	145
7	Dacia Duster	132

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2011 CotY nominations

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2011 CotY nominees

The seven finalists in Europe’s 2011 Car of the Year contest have been announced:

• Alfa Romeo Giulietta


• Citroën C3 / DS3


• Dacia Duster


• Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max


• Nissan Leaf


• Vauxhall / Opel Meriva


• Volvo S60 / V60

Notable is the Leaf, which is the first purely electric car to reach this stage of the competition.



All new models were eligible for the award, provided that they were already on sale (or soon would be) in five or more European markets, and are expected to achieve annual retails of 5,000 or more. This year, there were 41 that met the criteria.



A first stage of voting, which involved motoring journalists from across the continent, whittled those candidates down to the final nominees. The list of cars that failed to make it onto the shortlist makes interesting reading, too, and it includes some surprises:

• Audi A1


• BMW 5 Series


• Honda CR-Z


• Mini Countryman


• Mitsubishi i-MiEV / Citroën C-Zero / Peugeot i-On


• Nissan Juke


• Renault Fluence

The jurors will now have a second vote to determine the 2011 Car of the Year, and the winner will be announced on 29 November 2010.