Dacia has taken the wraps off the Dacia Lodgy Glace, a four-wheel-drive machine billed as the ‘rebellious little sister’ of the new family road car, which will be launched at the Geneva motor show in March 2012.
Two Dacia Lodgy Glace MPVs, both prepared by Renault Sport Technologies (RST), head the firm’s entry into this winter's Andros Trophy ice race series.
See official pics of the Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV
The first car will be piloted by last year’s runner-up – and four-time F1 world champion – Alain Prost and the second will be shared by the Frenchman's son, Nicolas Prost, and team-mate Evens Stievenart.
Stievenart said: “For me, the Andros Trophy is a unique challenge and something I'm passionate about. It's highly technical in terms of driving style and set-up; you need to push yourself throughout.”
The Lodgy is powered by the same three-litre V6 from the Renault-Nissan family that powered the Dacia Duster used last year. Tuning company Sodemo was charged with unlocking more peak power, and the unit now produces 355bhp as well as 265lb ft of torque.
The mid/rear-mounted engine is mated to SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox. A tubular steel chassis means the 4001mm-long Dacia Lodgy Glace – which was designed and built by French company Tork Engineering – weighs just 950kgs.
The suspension, which comprises double wishbones and adjustable Öhlins integrated springs and dampers, has also been revised to cope with the demanding ice- and snow-covered circuits that are a staple of the Andros Trophy. The car also features four-wheel steering, which is necessary for the specific cornering techniques used by top ice racing competitors.
A roadgoing version of the Dacia Lodgy could join the Duster and Sandero in the firm's UK line-up next year, but that's still under consideration according to official sources.
The Andros Trophy begins at Val Thorens on December 3/4.
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