[sumeshmani]

Why are the mud flaps missing. I notices this on all the photographs of test mules posted.
I am also posting a wider question of why auto manufactures have stared treating mud flaps as non-essential and have stopped providing them. Does anyone know of any technical explanation?

[m_upreti]

Originally Posted by sumeshmani

Why are the mud flaps missing. I notices this on all the photographs of test mules posted.
I am also posting a wider question of why auto manufactures have stared treating mud flaps as non-essential and have stopped providing them. Does anyone know of any technical explanation?

I understand mud flaps were never a part of the offering traditionally (at least i had to buy them with my WagonR), though I got them as a standard fitment with my top end Scorpio but most manufacturers still treat them as accessories.

[Monster_BHP]

I heard there will be no Automatic version on the Duster! Thats sad news if it is true.

I was looking for a small SUV with Automatic transmission and Diesel engine. :(

[Harshavarthan]

Originally Posted by Monster_BHP

I heard there will be no Automatic version on the Duster! Thats sad news if it is true.

I was looking for a small SUV with Automatic transmission and Diesel engine. :(

Don't be surprised if duster is launched with an auto box in India as renault will import an automatic duster to UK. But if in case it is launched in India, expect the price to be 13L+ price tag.

[shankar.balan]

Nice set of pics there Anand. Well done.

The Duster certainly looks purposeful on our roads. I am sure that with our penchant for "butch" vehicles this one will be a hit - regardless of trim levels, functionality and features. Whatever it is, it looks certainly that it will be a very good competitor for the Scorpio and other such vehicles - about time too!

[BUXX]

^ Looks like the 4WD is definitely not going to get launched in India. Not initially i.e

None of the pics of the test mules in India till now have sported the AWD badging..

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by BUXX

^ Looks like the 4WD is definitely not going to get launched in India. Not initially i.e

None of the pics of the test mules in India till now have sported the AWD badging..

There may still be a possibility of AWD variant, as test mules anyway are debadged / taped so that any person viewing them cannot find out the brand / variant / version, unless they see from the inside. Till now, we have not seen any inside spy pics of the Dusters in India, and maybe that can shed some more light.

Regards,
Behemoth

[BUXX]

^^ the AWD badging on the Duster is on the Rear right side on the top of the badge that is masked in this picture ( area marked by the rectangle)

I am pretty sure that they do not wanna launch the AWD version.
beats me , why though..?

[zulfi hansi]

This is a good one, take a look;

Confused Paris Driver Accidentally Parks Car on Metro Stairs - YouTube

[man_and_machine]

The dust seems to be settling around (for me) around this Duster. The more is see the images the more I an disliking the looks. I do not feel its contemporary at all. In the interiors are great, I feel my City has better interiors (even if its the lighter shade). What is so great about it finally? Its a small SUV alright, we are not sure of the pricing yet so can not say if it will be truly affordable, no great engine to talk about, the design is not radical, neither is the concept new. I mean if I think now "am I waiting for the ecosport more or the duster" my heart and mind have drifted from the Duster to the Ford! I am not sure what is Renault's commitment in India in the long run, their dealership experiences etc. Rather than growing on, the images are growing down. The question that I have now is it worth the euphoria?
Agree is a segment first (affordable SUV). But is this the one?

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by man_and_machine

Agree is a segment first (affordable SUV). But is this the one?

Same with me. But for affordable you need to wait for a Maruti :(

[sumeshmani]

Originally Posted by man_and_machine

The question that I have now is it worth the euphoria?
Agree is a segment first (affordable SUV). But is this the one?

I agree with you but here is where i differ:
1. I am being optimistic about the speculations that Duster will be priced well. The British auto shows are expecting it to start at around 11,000 euros
2. A lot of the videos of Dacia Duster prove the vehicles off-road ability (not to a hard code level, but to a practical use level)
3. I can not find an sedan/suv in the 10L range that can seat 5 in comfort for long distance travel. I am waiting to see if Duster can do this. Then to add on, it has good boot space.
4. Engine, might be adequate, not so worried about that.
5. Interior, I am a little worried about it.
6. Renault in India, very worried about their long term survival and about the lack of service centers.

[Rigid Rotor]

Originally Posted by BUXX

^^ the AWD badging on the Duster is on the Rear right side on the top of the badge that is masked in this picture ( area marked by the rectangle)...I am pretty sure that they do not wanna launch the AWD version. beats me , why though..?

Not so sure that the 4WD label should be where you had marked it- check out this pic - a close up of the tail lamp area of the Duster with the 4WD badge - its placed higher up - near the intersection of the shut line of the boot and the rear glass - and that area appears to be masked in the Maroon Duster.
So - hope (hopefully) still blossom-eth in one's heart (!) that the 4WD may be launched, if not immediately on launch, at least some time onwards.

[BUXX]

^^ sir.. you are a true optimist !
When I made that crude rectangle in MS Paint, I may not have been EXACT on the placement; but you ought to have caught my drift..!

I see now.. its not a badge , but a label.

Hope lingers on now.. !

[raj84]

Looking at the spy video posted on IndianAutosBlog, I feel the first two cars are 4x4 and the last one a 4x2(or is it just an optical illusion). Looking beneath the front bumber, I can see a difference, which suggests this theory. Or is it due to the difference in petrol and diesel engines? 4x4 gurus in Team-BHP can help with this perhaps.

Please download the image to see the areas which I have marked in red showing the difference. As this screenshot was taken off the video, I could not resize the image properly

Link
Renault Duster snagged once again by IAB reader

Also I find that the first two cars have a slightly blackened low beam, compared to the last car(again might be illusion). From what we know from the international models, the 4x4 has blackened headlamp clusters. Renault might have purposely used the non blackened cluster in 4x4 for testing in India, though small section still remains blackened