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Dacia (car)
Encyclopedia
Automobile Dacia S.A. (ˈdat͡ʃi.a) is a Romania
n car
manufacturer, named for the historic region
that constitutes much of present-day Romania. It is now a subsidiary of the French carmaker Renault
. The company is the main exporter from Romania with 10% of total exports.
), near Piteşti
.
Dacia acquired the tooling and basic designs of the Renault 12
. However, until the tooling was ready it was decided to produce the Renault 8
under licence; it was known as the Dacia 1100. From 1968 to 1972, some 44,000 were produced, with a very minor cosmetic change to the front in early 1970. Also produced in very limited numbers was the 1100S, with twin headlamps and a more powerful engine, used by the police and in motor racing.
.jpg)
The first Dacia 1300
left the assembly line ready for the 23 August parade in 1969, and was exhibited at the Paris and Bucharest
shows of that year. Romanians were delighted with the modernity and reliability of the car, and waiting lists were always lengthy. As early as 1970, there were several variants: the standard 1300, the 1300L (for Lux) and the 1301 Lux Super, which had novelties such as a heated rear screen, a radio, windscreen mirrors on both sides and a more luxurious trim. This was reserved for the Communist Party
nomenklatura
.
Changes soon followed as export markets opened up. In 1973, the estate variant, 1300 Break, was produced. There were 1300F (estate with no rear seats, for carrying goods) and 1300S (ambulance) variants, and in 1975 the Dacia 1302 pick-up was developed. 2000 examples were made until 1982. Dacia also produced the D6, a CKD version of the Renault Estafette
van, in limited numbers, but given the competition of the Bucharest-made T.V. van, numbers were very limited. In the very early 1980s, the Renault 20 was also assembled as the Dacia 2000; because of the exclusivity of this model numbers were always very limited. The 2000 was only available in dark blue or black, and was reserved for the Party elite.
At the Bucharest show in 1979, the restyled 1310 models were presented. These had quad lamps at the front, larger lamps at the rear, re-profiled bumpers, and a new interior. The changes were heavily inspired by Renault's own restyling of its 12 in 1975. After a brief series of "crossover" cars in 1979 (for example, there were no more rectangular headlights available for the 1300, so the last models used the quad lamps of the 1310), the 1310 finally hit the Romanian market in late 1979. In the UK, where it was known as the Dacia Denem, the top of the range model included such luxuries as a five-speed gearbox, alloy wheels and electric windows. The advertising slogan used for the car was "The Very Acceptable Dacia Denem", but this proved not to be the case with the British buyers, who increasingly opted for the more reliable Japanese, South Korean and Malaysian models. Sales were very limited, and the number surviving are not thought to exceed single figures, although the Romanian Embassy in South Kensington
kept a fleet running until the mid-1990s. Sales of the pick-up version, known as the Shifter, continued until about 1990, and the Aro 10
was also sold as the Dacia Duster
. The plug was pulled on the Denem, however, in late 1982.
At the same time the Sport model was produced. At the 1980 show, crowds admired the Braşovia, a prototype of a sports coupé
based on the 1310 and developed at a service station in Braşov
. The go-ahead was given for a prestige model, and so from 1981 the two-door Dacia 1310 Sport (1410 Sport from 1983), was available for the gilded youth of the period. These were very popular for rallies, and racing drivers such as Nicu Grigoraş tuned them to extract extraordinary power from the old Renault engine.
In 1982, after the 1302 was dropped, the Dacia 1304 Pick-up and 1305 Drop-side models were introduced. Actually, they had been launched from 1981. These were a commercial success and remained in production, gradually being modified along with the rest of the range, until December 2006. From 1985, also, the 1410 was available as a larger-engined variant, while the relatively short-lived 1210 was the economy variant until about 1992.
In 1983, there were more slight modifications, with a new horizontal rear vent and chunkier, rubber mouldings around the front grille. Work was developing on the 1320 CN1 model, which was a hatchback based on the 1310. The new front end seen on the 1320 also appeared on the top-of-the-range models (known under Dacia brand nomenclature as MLS) from about 1989; these cars were distinguishable by two large headlights, a much plusher interior clad in blue plastic and known as the CN1 dashboard, and often a proliferation of aerials to indicate the owner's status. Most were owned by senior officials in the Communist Central Committee. While the 1320 was the most expensive model in the Dacia range when it appeared in 1987, most were used as taxis until the mid-1990s. The 1320 did not last long, however; as early as 1989 there were prototypes using the front of the 1320 and a new rear, with wrap-around tail lights and other modern features.
, themes of liberty were very much in fashion) and stayed in production until 1996.
The last of the quad-lamped models were produced in 1989, and all the Dacia range received the new front end of the 1320, called CN1. An effort was made to rejuvenate the model range: the Sport was dropped, due to lack of sales, and new commercial vehicles were introduced. The 1307 was a double-cabbed pick-up; the 1309 was an estate with a tarpaulin instead of a boot; the car was a cross-over between estate and pick-up and sold very well on the Chinese market. There were also several prototypes:
The cars of 1992–1994 are curiosities: although efforts were obviously being made to renew the model range, there were numerous stylistic hangovers from the quad-lamped models. Thus, the last of the 1983-designed dashboards were seen in 1994 although a new dashboard had been seen on some model ranges since 1987. Similarly, although the CN1 restyling eliminated anachronisms such as a kink upwards at the C-pillar and a rubber rear spoiler, it was not applied consistently. One wonders about the techniques used on the production lines of the era.
The 1993 facelift was known within the industry as CN2. A reprojected front end was distinguished by a horizontal metal line in the grille. There were new headlamps, front and rear bumpers, and the shape of the front wings was accordingly different. Inside, there was a new dashboard for the base models, while the top-of-the-range cars had luxuries such as body-coloured bumpers, rear head restraints, a radio-cassette, hubcaps, and the ever-present CN1 dashboard, this time in black plastic. This model was not to stay in production for very long; in 1995 the CN3 type was introduced on the European market, followed by the Latin American market in 1996. Practically the only differences were those of trim level and the radiator grille.
From late 1994 little attention was paid to the improvement of the 1310 range, as Dacia launched a new model, the Dacia Nova
. This was a saloon or hatchback with a three-box design
. The design was rather outdated, because development work had started in 1983. Urban myth in Romania suggests that it was a version of the Renault 11 or the Peugeot 309
; this is incorrect, as the Nova is a 100% Romanian design, started after the end of any French involvement in Dacia. The model was initially unpopular, due to reliability and rustproofing issues, one rumour suggesting that when it rained outside, it also rained inside. However, after improvements in 1996, the Nova became more often seen on Romanian roads. In 1998 a seven-seater prototype was produced using the panels and windows from the standard Nova saloon.
In 1998, the anniversary year of three decades of production since the first Dacia rolled off the assembly line, vehicle number 2,000,000 emerged from the plant; this year saw the last restyling of the 1310. It was known as CN4 and involved a comprehensive restyling of the front end, as well as new door handles and a lightly restyled rear view mirror. The estate version was fitted with larger tail lights. The load-carrying models followed suit in 1999. It must be stressed that, even though the model was over thirty years old, it still sold exceptionally well due to a starting price of about 4200 Euro
s and high availability of parts. "Goodies" such as a fuel-injection also helped keep the model relatively modern.
In 2000, a special edition was produced for the first time; it was known as Dacia Dedicaţie. This luxury version of the saloon and estate had alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, power steering, electric windows, and a far better level of finish. The models were all painted two-tone silver, and sold at a significantly higher price. From 2002, also, the cars became known as Berlina and Break, with the 1310 lettering being relegated to an insignificant position underneath the side light.
On 21 July 2004 the last models of the 1300 series rolled out the gates of the Mioveni
production facility, just one month before their 35th anniversary. The very last Dacia 1310 (saloon version), number 1,979,730, will be kept in the Dacia museum.
On 8 December 2006, the utility Dacia Pick-Up suffered the same fate. Although many improvements had been made in recent years, such as four-wheel drive, the introduction of a 1.9 diesel engine, the dashboard from the Dacia Solenza
(also seen on the very last 1310s) and wheels fastened by five studs as opposed the archaic three, Romania's entry in the European Union
effectively prevented the continued production of the old models. The assembly lines will be remodelled and expanded to increase production of the Dacia Logan
.
In over thirty-four years of production, and more than 2.5 million units produced, the Dacia 1300/1310 easily became the most common car on Romanian roads. Almost everybody owned one and became adept at carrying out repairs or home-made modifications. For example, many older cars had newer front ends grafted onto them to make them seem more modern, or purely because newer parts were easier to get. Consequently, original early 1300s are quite rare, with prices steadily increasing for the best-preserved models. Tuning of Dacias is also a popular pastime, although the home-made nature of much of the work casts doubt on the level of quality, safety and reliability of the finished product.
During the Communist era
, in the plant where Dacias were made, there were two assembly lines: one line producing Dacias intended for sale in Romania and the other line producing the same car (albeit from superior parts, and assembled with greater care) for export. Romanians living near the border would commonly purchase their Dacia in neighbouring countries expecting a higher level of quality.
and Eastern Europe
, and investment was consequently increased. The first sign of this came in 2000, with the introduction of the SupeRNova
, an improved version of the Nova with engine and transmission from Renault. The top-of-the range version had air conditioning, electric windows, and a CD player. Sales were very good, although the outdatedness of the concept was striking. Dacia sold 53,000 vehicles in 2002, and it holds an almost 50 per cent market share in Romania. In 2003, a restyled version replaced the SupeRNova with Dacia Solenza
, featuring a new interior, the options for an airbag. This was, however, only meant to be a stopgap model filling the need for a saloon model before the introduction of the all-important Dacia Logan
, as well as to familiarise workers with the demands of manufacturing a model acceptable to Western European markets. Production was stopped in 2005.
The Logan
is the most successful model since the original 1300. It was introduced after considerable media interest in August 2004, and despite design-related criticism, it became one of the top-selling cars in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Russia. The Logan is sold in a large number of countries, occasionally under the Renault brand. It was awarded 3 (out of 5) stars in NCAP crash testing. It is by far the best-selling car in Romania, with a market share of 27% in February 2008. A diesel version was also introduced in 2005. Before its launch, it was known as the 5000-Euro car due to its projected launch price. This was never quite the case, although it is one of the cheapest cars for its size on the market.
In 2006, the prototype Logan Steppe was exhibited. This shows a speculative 4x4 estate version of the Logan. The estate version was launched in late 2006. The van, basically an estate with the rear windows filled in and a separate cabin for the driver, was launched in February 2007 after the stopping of utility vehicle production (Dacia Pick-Up).
A pick-up model and the Logan-based hatchback, Sandero
were launched in 2008. Dacia has chosen the 2008 Geneva Motor Show to unveil a five-door hatchback: Sandero.
In 2009 a new concept called Duster
was unveiled at Geneva Motor Show.
The Dacia Duster
, is the second crossover SUV
built by Dacia (after the collaboration at ARO 10
) both in 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe
from 18 March 2010.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n car
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturer, named for the historic region
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
that constitutes much of present-day Romania. It is now a subsidiary of the French carmaker Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
. The company is the main exporter from Romania with 10% of total exports.
The beginnings
Automobile Dacia company was founded in 1966 under the name Uzina de Autoturisme Pitești (UAP). The main Dacia factory was built in 1968, in Colibaşi (now called MioveniMioveni
Mioveni is a town in Argeş County, Romania, near the city of Piteşti. , it had a population of 35,849. The town administers four villages: Clucereasa, Colibaşi, Făgetu and Racoviţa....
), near Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
.
Dacia acquired the tooling and basic designs of the Renault 12
Renault 12
The Renault 12 is a family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1969 and 1980. Available as a saloon and estate , it was also produced under licence in many countries across the globe into the early 21st century....
. However, until the tooling was ready it was decided to produce the Renault 8
Renault 8
The Renault 8 and Renault 10 are two small family cars produced by the French manufacturer Renault in the 1960s and early 1970s....
under licence; it was known as the Dacia 1100. From 1968 to 1972, some 44,000 were produced, with a very minor cosmetic change to the front in early 1970. Also produced in very limited numbers was the 1100S, with twin headlamps and a more powerful engine, used by the police and in motor racing.
Dacia 1300
The Dacia 1300 was a car manufactured during the Cold War by Romanian auto marque Dacia. "1300" represents the car's engine displacement.The first Dacia 1300 left the assembly line on 23 August 1969...
left the assembly line ready for the 23 August parade in 1969, and was exhibited at the Paris and Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
shows of that year. Romanians were delighted with the modernity and reliability of the car, and waiting lists were always lengthy. As early as 1970, there were several variants: the standard 1300, the 1300L (for Lux) and the 1301 Lux Super, which had novelties such as a heated rear screen, a radio, windscreen mirrors on both sides and a more luxurious trim. This was reserved for the Communist Party
Romanian Communist Party
The Romanian Communist Party was a communist political party in Romania. Successor to the Bolshevik wing of the Socialist Party of Romania, it gave ideological endorsement to communist revolution and the disestablishment of Greater Romania. The PCR was a minor and illegal grouping for much of the...
nomenklatura
Nomenklatura
The nomenklatura were a category of people within the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries who held various key administrative positions in all spheres of those countries' activity: government, industry, agriculture, education, etc., whose positions were granted only with approval by the...
.
Changes soon followed as export markets opened up. In 1973, the estate variant, 1300 Break, was produced. There were 1300F (estate with no rear seats, for carrying goods) and 1300S (ambulance) variants, and in 1975 the Dacia 1302 pick-up was developed. 2000 examples were made until 1982. Dacia also produced the D6, a CKD version of the Renault Estafette
Renault Estafette
The Renault Estafette is a small front-wheel drive van, first introduced in 1959 and using the water-cooled Renault Ventoux engine, ultimately in a range of body styles.-History:...
van, in limited numbers, but given the competition of the Bucharest-made T.V. van, numbers were very limited. In the very early 1980s, the Renault 20 was also assembled as the Dacia 2000; because of the exclusivity of this model numbers were always very limited. The 2000 was only available in dark blue or black, and was reserved for the Party elite.
At the Bucharest show in 1979, the restyled 1310 models were presented. These had quad lamps at the front, larger lamps at the rear, re-profiled bumpers, and a new interior. The changes were heavily inspired by Renault's own restyling of its 12 in 1975. After a brief series of "crossover" cars in 1979 (for example, there were no more rectangular headlights available for the 1300, so the last models used the quad lamps of the 1310), the 1310 finally hit the Romanian market in late 1979. In the UK, where it was known as the Dacia Denem, the top of the range model included such luxuries as a five-speed gearbox, alloy wheels and electric windows. The advertising slogan used for the car was "The Very Acceptable Dacia Denem", but this proved not to be the case with the British buyers, who increasingly opted for the more reliable Japanese, South Korean and Malaysian models. Sales were very limited, and the number surviving are not thought to exceed single figures, although the Romanian Embassy in South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
kept a fleet running until the mid-1990s. Sales of the pick-up version, known as the Shifter, continued until about 1990, and the Aro 10
ARO 10
ARO 10 was an off-road vehicle produced by ARO and manufactured in Romania. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the ARO 10 Series. While the ARO-24 can be classified as mid-size SUVs, the ARO 10 is about the size of a Jeep Wrangler. It was produced in many body trims, equipped with...
was also sold as the Dacia Duster
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:...
. The plug was pulled on the Denem, however, in late 1982.
At the same time the Sport model was produced. At the 1980 show, crowds admired the Braşovia, a prototype of a sports coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
based on the 1310 and developed at a service station in Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
. The go-ahead was given for a prestige model, and so from 1981 the two-door Dacia 1310 Sport (1410 Sport from 1983), was available for the gilded youth of the period. These were very popular for rallies, and racing drivers such as Nicu Grigoraş tuned them to extract extraordinary power from the old Renault engine.
The 1980s
The designers were still coming up with fresh ideas, many of them shrouded in secrecy. Prototypes such as the 500cc Mini-Dacia, as well as Dacia 1310 variants, were designed; some, such as the Dacia 1310 Limousine, are still on the road. These cars are eagerly prized by Dacia enthusiasts, and Dacia web forums are full of evidence about the rarities and oddities produced by Dacia during the 1980s.In 1982, after the 1302 was dropped, the Dacia 1304 Pick-up and 1305 Drop-side models were introduced. Actually, they had been launched from 1981. These were a commercial success and remained in production, gradually being modified along with the rest of the range, until December 2006. From 1985, also, the 1410 was available as a larger-engined variant, while the relatively short-lived 1210 was the economy variant until about 1992.
The 1990s
The 1320 model emerged in 1991 as the Dacia 1325 Liberta (after the 1989 revolutionRomanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, themes of liberty were very much in fashion) and stayed in production until 1996.
The last of the quad-lamped models were produced in 1989, and all the Dacia range received the new front end of the 1320, called CN1. An effort was made to rejuvenate the model range: the Sport was dropped, due to lack of sales, and new commercial vehicles were introduced. The 1307 was a double-cabbed pick-up; the 1309 was an estate with a tarpaulin instead of a boot; the car was a cross-over between estate and pick-up and sold very well on the Chinese market. There were also several prototypes:
- the 1610 diesel estate, powered by VolkswagenVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
, with about 150 units sold - the Dacia Star, with curved side windows
- the 1308 Jumbo, a camper-van, and several attempts to give the 1310 a more modern look by grafting the front of contemporary cars such as the Nissan PrimeraNissan PrimeraThe Nissan Primera is a medium sized family car produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan for the Japanese domestic and European markets.-Nissan Primera P10 :...
onto it.
The cars of 1992–1994 are curiosities: although efforts were obviously being made to renew the model range, there were numerous stylistic hangovers from the quad-lamped models. Thus, the last of the 1983-designed dashboards were seen in 1994 although a new dashboard had been seen on some model ranges since 1987. Similarly, although the CN1 restyling eliminated anachronisms such as a kink upwards at the C-pillar and a rubber rear spoiler, it was not applied consistently. One wonders about the techniques used on the production lines of the era.
The 1993 facelift was known within the industry as CN2. A reprojected front end was distinguished by a horizontal metal line in the grille. There were new headlamps, front and rear bumpers, and the shape of the front wings was accordingly different. Inside, there was a new dashboard for the base models, while the top-of-the-range cars had luxuries such as body-coloured bumpers, rear head restraints, a radio-cassette, hubcaps, and the ever-present CN1 dashboard, this time in black plastic. This model was not to stay in production for very long; in 1995 the CN3 type was introduced on the European market, followed by the Latin American market in 1996. Practically the only differences were those of trim level and the radiator grille.
Dacia Nova
The Dacia Nova was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:Dacia Nova was the first car designed by the Romanian engineers, taking a very long time to complete. This is the reason for the car looking slightly outdated when it exited the factory's gates for the first time, in 1995...
. This was a saloon or hatchback with a three-box design
Three-box styling
Three-box design is a broad automotive styling term describing a coupé, sedan, notchback or hatchback where — when viewed in profile — principal volumes are articulated into three separate compartments or boxes: engine, passenger and cargo....
. The design was rather outdated, because development work had started in 1983. Urban myth in Romania suggests that it was a version of the Renault 11 or the Peugeot 309
Peugeot 309
The Peugeot 309 was a small family car manufactured between 1985 and 1993 in England and France.The 309 was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and, as development progressed, to be called the Talbot Arizona...
; this is incorrect, as the Nova is a 100% Romanian design, started after the end of any French involvement in Dacia. The model was initially unpopular, due to reliability and rustproofing issues, one rumour suggesting that when it rained outside, it also rained inside. However, after improvements in 1996, the Nova became more often seen on Romanian roads. In 1998 a seven-seater prototype was produced using the panels and windows from the standard Nova saloon.
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s and high availability of parts. "Goodies" such as a fuel-injection also helped keep the model relatively modern.
In 2000, a special edition was produced for the first time; it was known as Dacia Dedicaţie. This luxury version of the saloon and estate had alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, power steering, electric windows, and a far better level of finish. The models were all painted two-tone silver, and sold at a significantly higher price. From 2002, also, the cars became known as Berlina and Break, with the 1310 lettering being relegated to an insignificant position underneath the side light.
On 21 July 2004 the last models of the 1300 series rolled out the gates of the Mioveni
Mioveni
Mioveni is a town in Argeş County, Romania, near the city of Piteşti. , it had a population of 35,849. The town administers four villages: Clucereasa, Colibaşi, Făgetu and Racoviţa....
production facility, just one month before their 35th anniversary. The very last Dacia 1310 (saloon version), number 1,979,730, will be kept in the Dacia museum.
On 8 December 2006, the utility Dacia Pick-Up suffered the same fate. Although many improvements had been made in recent years, such as four-wheel drive, the introduction of a 1.9 diesel engine, the dashboard from the Dacia Solenza
Dacia Solenza
The Dacia Solenza was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:The Dacia Solenza was a small sedan produced from 2003 to 2005. It was a reshaped version of the Dacia SupeRNova, which in turn was an improved version of the Dacia Nova...
(also seen on the very last 1310s) and wheels fastened by five studs as opposed the archaic three, Romania's entry in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
effectively prevented the continued production of the old models. The assembly lines will be remodelled and expanded to increase production of the Dacia Logan
Dacia Logan
The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
.
In over thirty-four years of production, and more than 2.5 million units produced, the Dacia 1300/1310 easily became the most common car on Romanian roads. Almost everybody owned one and became adept at carrying out repairs or home-made modifications. For example, many older cars had newer front ends grafted onto them to make them seem more modern, or purely because newer parts were easier to get. Consequently, original early 1300s are quite rare, with prices steadily increasing for the best-preserved models. Tuning of Dacias is also a popular pastime, although the home-made nature of much of the work casts doubt on the level of quality, safety and reliability of the finished product.
During the Communist era
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, in the plant where Dacias were made, there were two assembly lines: one line producing Dacias intended for sale in Romania and the other line producing the same car (albeit from superior parts, and assembled with greater care) for export. Romanians living near the border would commonly purchase their Dacia in neighbouring countries expecting a higher level of quality.
Acquisition by Renault
Meanwhile, work was continuing on the other Dacia models. In September 1999, Dacia was bought by the Renault group, with a view to making Romania its hub of automobile development in both Central EuropeCentral Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, and investment was consequently increased. The first sign of this came in 2000, with the introduction of the SupeRNova
Dacia SuperNova
The Dacia SupeRNova was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:A small front wheel drive hatchback car, Dacia SupeRNova was produced from 2000 to 2003, being the first car released after signing the contract with Renault...
, an improved version of the Nova with engine and transmission from Renault. The top-of-the range version had air conditioning, electric windows, and a CD player. Sales were very good, although the outdatedness of the concept was striking. Dacia sold 53,000 vehicles in 2002, and it holds an almost 50 per cent market share in Romania. In 2003, a restyled version replaced the SupeRNova with Dacia Solenza
Dacia Solenza
The Dacia Solenza was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:The Dacia Solenza was a small sedan produced from 2003 to 2005. It was a reshaped version of the Dacia SupeRNova, which in turn was an improved version of the Dacia Nova...
, featuring a new interior, the options for an airbag. This was, however, only meant to be a stopgap model filling the need for a saloon model before the introduction of the all-important Dacia Logan
Dacia Logan
The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
, as well as to familiarise workers with the demands of manufacturing a model acceptable to Western European markets. Production was stopped in 2005.
Logan project
Dacia Logan
The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
is the most successful model since the original 1300. It was introduced after considerable media interest in August 2004, and despite design-related criticism, it became one of the top-selling cars in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Russia. The Logan is sold in a large number of countries, occasionally under the Renault brand. It was awarded 3 (out of 5) stars in NCAP crash testing. It is by far the best-selling car in Romania, with a market share of 27% in February 2008. A diesel version was also introduced in 2005. Before its launch, it was known as the 5000-Euro car due to its projected launch price. This was never quite the case, although it is one of the cheapest cars for its size on the market.
In 2006, the prototype Logan Steppe was exhibited. This shows a speculative 4x4 estate version of the Logan. The estate version was launched in late 2006. The van, basically an estate with the rear windows filled in and a separate cabin for the driver, was launched in February 2007 after the stopping of utility vehicle production (Dacia Pick-Up).
A pick-up model and the Logan-based hatchback, Sandero
Dacia Sandero
The Dacia Sandero is a five door hatchback car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. The Sandero is based on the Logan.-Design and global marketing:...
were launched in 2008. Dacia has chosen the 2008 Geneva Motor Show to unveil a five-door hatchback: Sandero.
In 2009 a new concept called Duster
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:...
was unveiled at Geneva Motor Show.
The Dacia Duster
Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:...
, is the second crossover SUV
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
built by Dacia (after the collaboration at ARO 10
ARO 10
ARO 10 was an off-road vehicle produced by ARO and manufactured in Romania. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the ARO 10 Series. While the ARO-24 can be classified as mid-size SUVs, the ARO 10 is about the size of a Jeep Wrangler. It was produced in many body trims, equipped with...
) both in 4x2 and 4x4 versions. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from 18 March 2010.
Sales
| Model |
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia 1310 Dacia 1300 The Dacia 1300 was a car manufactured during the Cold War by Romanian auto marque Dacia. "1300" represents the car's engine displacement.The first Dacia 1300 left the assembly line on 23 August 1969... |
? | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dacia Solenza Dacia Solenza The Dacia Solenza was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:The Dacia Solenza was a small sedan produced from 2003 to 2005. It was a reshaped version of the Dacia SupeRNova, which in turn was an improved version of the Dacia Nova... |
31,431 | 8,354 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dacia Pick-Up | ? | 21,165 | 11,733 | - | - | - | - |
| Dacia Logan Dacia Logan The Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa... |
20,274 | 134,887 | 184,975 | 230,473 | 218,666 | 158,251 | 127,164 |
| Dacia Sandero Dacia Sandero The Dacia Sandero is a five door hatchback car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. The Sandero is based on the Logan.-Design and global marketing:... |
- | - | - | - | 38,928 | 151,206 | 154,559 |
| Dacia Duster Dacia Duster The Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:... |
- | - | - | - | - | - | 67,000 |
| Total | 94,720 | 164,406 | 196,708 | 230,473 | 257,594 | 309,457 | 348,723 |
Models
- Dacia 1100 (1968–1972)
- Dacia 1210 (based on the 1310 version)
- Dacia 1300Dacia 1300The Dacia 1300 was a car manufactured during the Cold War by Romanian auto marque Dacia. "1300" represents the car's engine displacement.The first Dacia 1300 left the assembly line on 23 August 1969...
(1969–1979) - Dacia 1310 (1979–2004; Dacia Denem in the United Kingdom)
- Dacia 1301Renault 12The Renault 12 is a family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1969 and 1980. Available as a saloon and estate , it was also produced under licence in many countries across the globe into the early 21st century....
(1970–1974) - Dacia 1302 (1975–1982)
- Dacia 1304 Pick Up (1979–2006)
- Dacia 1305 Drop Side (1985–2006)
- Dacia 1307 Double Cab (1992–2006)
- Dacia 1307 King Cab (1992–1999)
- Dacia 1309 (1992–1997)
- Dacia 1310/1410 Sport (1981–1992)
- Dacia 1410 (based on the 1310 version)
- Dacia 2000Renault 20/30The Renault 20 and Renault 30 are two executive cars produced by the French automaker Renault between 1975 and 1984. The most upmarket and expensive Renaults of their time, the two cars were almost identical as regards sheet metal and mechanicals; the 30 was the larger engined and more expensive...
- Dacia D6Renault EstafetteThe Renault Estafette is a small front-wheel drive van, first introduced in 1959 and using the water-cooled Renault Ventoux engine, ultimately in a range of body styles.-History:...
(1974–1976) - ARO 10ARO 10ARO 10 was an off-road vehicle produced by ARO and manufactured in Romania. The ARO 24 Series got a "little brother" in 1980, the ARO 10 Series. While the ARO-24 can be classified as mid-size SUVs, the ARO 10 is about the size of a Jeep Wrangler. It was produced in many body trims, equipped with...
(1983–2003; Dacia Duster in the United Kingdom) - Dacia 500 Lăstun (1985–1989)
- Dacia 1320Dacia 1320The Dacia 1320 , was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:Dacia 1320 was a hatchback made from 1987 until 1990. It was actually the hatchback version of the second generation Dacia 1310 , but with new front grill and headlights that were later used in the third generation Dacia...
(1985–1989) - Dacia LibertaDacia 1325The Dacia 1325 , was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:Produced from 1991 until 1996, Dacia 1325 was the hatchback version of the third generation Dacia 1310 , as well as the hatchback version of the fourth generation 1310 and the successor of Dacia 1320 , which was...
(1990–1996) - Dacia NovaDacia NovaThe Dacia Nova was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:Dacia Nova was the first car designed by the Romanian engineers, taking a very long time to complete. This is the reason for the car looking slightly outdated when it exited the factory's gates for the first time, in 1995...
(1994–1999) - Dacia SupeRNovaDacia SuperNovaThe Dacia SupeRNova was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:A small front wheel drive hatchback car, Dacia SupeRNova was produced from 2000 to 2003, being the first car released after signing the contract with Renault...
(2000–2002) - Dacia SolenzaDacia SolenzaThe Dacia Solenza was a car manufactured by Romanian auto marque Dacia.-History:The Dacia Solenza was a small sedan produced from 2003 to 2005. It was a reshaped version of the Dacia SupeRNova, which in turn was an improved version of the Dacia Nova...
(2003–2005) - Dacia LoganDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
(2004–present) - Dacia Logan MCVDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
(2006–present) - Dacia Logan VANDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
(2007–present) - Dacia Logan Pick-UpDacia LoganThe Dacia Logan is a small family car car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. It is manufactured at Dacia's automobile plant in Mioveni, Romania, and in Colombia, Brazil, Russia, Morocco, Iran, India and South Africa...
(2008–present) - Dacia SanderoDacia SanderoThe Dacia Sandero is a five door hatchback car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its subsidiary Dacia of Romania. The Sandero is based on the Logan.-Design and global marketing:...
(2008–present) - Dacia DusterDacia DusterThe Dacia Duster is the first crossover SUV developed by the Romanian automaker Automobile Dacia. Officially revealed on 8 December 2009, it became available in Europe from 18 March 2010.-Design:...
(2010–present) - Dacia Lodgy (2012–)
Prototypes
- See Automobile Romanesti for photos
- Dacia Braşovia coupè (1980)
- Mini-Dacia (1980s) – prototype of an economy car made from cut-down Dacia 1310 panels and easily changeable from hatchback to pick-up to convertible according to removable panels
- Dacia Jumbo highrise van (1990)
- Dacia Nova minivan (1998)
- Several prototypes of the 1310 with diesel, LPG or smaller engines, throughout the model history
- Dacia Star (1991)
- Dacia 1310 convertible (1987; three produced)
- Dacia 1306 saloon-derived pick-up (1994/5; very small series)
- Dacia 1310 Break Limousine (late 1980s) – stretched estate with seven seats, several produced in normal-roofed and high-roofed variants
- Dacia D33 (1997) – prototype made by IDEA design house in Turin, one model only
- Dacia 1310 4x4 / Aro 12 (late 1980s) – estate-derived 4x4, very small series
- Dacia Duster concept car (2009)