The new variant of Dacia Nova car, which will retain the body and design of the current model, but will be equipped with Renault engine and gearbox, will be launched in early November, at a price starting from 4,200 euros (about 85 million lei), about 400 euros (8 million lei) more expensive than the current variant.
“My expectations linked to the new model are very high and I am convinced of the success of this first step,” stated Constantin Stroe, general manager of Dacia Automobile. “This is a project on which we base our future activity to a great extent,” he added.
The management of Pitesti-based company estimates that by the end of this year about 3,000 units will be sold and 30,000 next year. Since its launch 5 years ago, the carmaker of Colibasi has sold about 40,000 Nova models.
The new Nova was conceived in such a way as to become a reference model within the category it is part of. The company’s management considers that the new model’s being launched less than a year after the integration of Dacia plants into Renault group, one of the first six world carmakers, represents the first stage in the rebirth of Dacia make.
The new Nova might bring along a rally in Dacia sales, which are still below the level posted during previous years, though they overcame to a certain extent the steep drop registered early this year. Nova will be a cheaper variant to the current Renault or Daewoo models that are dominating the market.
With a 12% share of the Romanian car market, Dacia Nova represented the second car from the point of view of sales on the first half of year 2000, after Dacia 1310. Renault E7J engine, has a cylinder of 1,390 cubic cm and 75 horsepower, being mainly used in Europe for Clio cars. The engine is in line with Euro 2 norms related to pollution and will secure a cut down in the average fuel consumption by approximately 1 litre/100 Km, as well as a reduction in operating costs.
Dacia Nova will benefit from a Renault JH3 five-step gearbox, as well as from a series of optional pieces of equipment associated with various versions.