Dacia Bigster Concept is a bigger and more stylish Duster SUV

Most US buyers are not privy to Dacia, a Romanian car brand and Renault subsidiary, known for making affordable, reliable, and quirky vehicles like the Sandero and Duster SUV. Most recently, Renault unveiled the 5 concept electric vehicle to coincide with the brand's 'Renaulution' business strategy, and it seems Dacia is along for the ride with its newest Bigster concept SUV.

"Dacia will stay Dacia, always offering a trustworthy, authentic, best value-for-money proposition to smart buyers," said Denis Le Vot, CEO of Dacia and Lada brands.

Part of 'Renaulution' is a new Dacia-Lada business partnership to boost both brand's competitiveness through shared engineering and manufacturing. "With the creation of the Dacia-Lada business unit, we'll have everything we need to bring the brands to higher lands, with the Bigster Concept leading the way," added Le Vot.

This new partnership will enable Dacia and Lada to scale down from eighteen body styles to eleven while moving from four to a single platform to reduce manufacturing and engineering costs without compromising rigidity and design. Dacia and Lada will use the Renault-Nissan Alliance's all-new CMF-B modular platform, which debuted in the all-new Renault Clio in 2019.

It's the same platform underneath Dacia's Bigster Concept SUV, a 4.6-meter long family hauler that paves the brand's entrant in the highly-competitive C-segment. "Dacia Bigster Concept epitomizes the evolution of the brand," said Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Dacia Design director. "It proves that accessible is not opposed by any means to attractiveness. At Dacia, we believe so, and this car is proof."

Viewed from the side, the Dacia Bigster resembles a hulked-up version of the Duster. The rear profile in particular, with its rising window line and powerful haunches, is reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Montero or Pajero Sport SUV (remember, Mitsubishi is also part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance). However, the concept has "no bells and whistles, no chrome trim or imitation aluminum," said Dacia, and the protective exterior panels are crafted from raw, recycled plastic materials.

Powering the Dacia Bigster is a combination of alternative-energy or hybrid powertrains. We're expecting Bigster to have the same Bi-Fuel (dual petrol and LPG engine) technology as the Sandero and Duster, but an all-electric model is a distinct possibility. Meanwhile, Dacia is set to unveil Europe's most affordable electric car, the Spring, later this year.