DACIA LOGAN VAN AND DACIA LOGAN PICK-UP OUT TO WIN SALES IN EUROPE'S LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SEGMENT
• Dacia is expanding its range in Europe with two Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) from November 2008. Logan van and Logan pick-up feature the best in Renault's LCV engineering and inherit all the simplicity, robustness and equipment-for-money that characterize the Dacia range.
• Logan van has already been available in Romania and Bulgaria since February 2007 and Logan pick-up since March 2008.
• Logan van boasts all the assets of Logan MCV with a load volume of 2.5 m3 and sets new standards in terms of 'price per cubic meter' thanks to an unrivalled price tag.
• Logan pick-up is a practical compact pick-up with a cargo bed boasting 800 kg payload and 1.8-meter load length, together with almost 300 liters of storage space in the cabin behind the seats.
• The Dacia LCV line-up will of course be commercialized in Europe with a 3-year or 100,000 kmwarranty.
• Dacia Logan van and Dacia Logan pick-up are both manufactured at Dacia's ISO 14001 certified Pitesti plant in Romania. Both models are 95% recoverable by weight and contain 5% recycled plastic. Logan van and Logan pick-up dCi 70 and dCi 85 have CO2 emissions of 140 g/km and 137 g/km, respectively, which qualifies them for the Dacia eco2 signature.
1. AN ENTRY-LEVEL OFFERING IN THE LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SEGMENT
With Logan van and Logan pick-up, Dacia is launching a new entry-level offering in the European light commercial vehicle segment. Both models remain true to the key Dacia brand values of simplicity, robustness and roominess at competitive prices, and bring customers all the brand's cleverness and generosity.
Logan van and Logan pick-up are aimed primarily at self-employed tradespeople and shopkeepers looking for a simple and practical LCV. Logan pick-up could also appeal to private customers who want a vehicle for outdoor leisure activities. All these customers will be won over by the newcomer's versatility in use, outstanding robustness, and retail price. Most carmakers for some mysterious reason have abandoned the pick-up market in Europe over the last few years. A few large pick-ups are available, like the Nissan Navara, but the compact pick-up segment, unlike that on other continents, is practically non-existent apart from the Fiat Strada. Dacia Logan pick-up will no doubt ably fill this gap with its exceptional price/features ratio and loyalty to the Logan concept.
Both vehicles started their careers in Romania and Bulgaria, in early-2007 for Logan van and March 2008 for Logan pick-up. Logan van and Logan pick-up have also been marketed in Turkey since July 2008. Dacia has sold more than 12,000 units of Logan van and 3,600 units of Logan pick-up since launch, most of them in the brand's domestic market. The two models lead their respective segments in Romania.
Optimized development and industrial production
Logan van and Logan pick-up benefit from all of Renault's engineering expertise in light commercial vehicles and economical vehicles. Developed on the B0 platform (Logan platform), Logan MCV, Logan van and Logan pick-up share a high number of common components, which allowed to reduce development lead-times and costs.
- 90% of Logan van parts are also found on Logan MCV, main specific elements on Logan van being strengthened rear axle, two-part mounted floor and lateral paneled doors.
- Logan van and Logan pick-up share more than 80% of common parts.
The two models are manufactured exclusively at the Pitesti plant, which assembles all the vehicles in the Dacia range.
- Industrial investment common to Logan MCV and Logan van totaled €110 million, for initial outlay of €154 million
for the two models.
- Some €51 million was invested in developing (€22 million) and manufacturing (€29 million) Logan pick-up.
Investments at the plant primarily concerned stamping. A special, 100% manual Logan pick-up assembly line was
created in body assembly. In the paintshop and final assembly, Logan pick-up shares the same line as the other models in the range.
2. THE HALLMARK OF DACIA
Keyword: robustness
As with all the vehicles in its range, Dacia developed Logan van and Logan pick-up to respond to diverse and often severe conditions of use. Both models feature the spirit of simplicity and robustness that characterize the Dacia brand and all its vehicles. The materials used inside, on the dashboard, door panels and seats, were chosen for their solidity and excellent durability, essential for LCVs. Outside, the new models are fitted with classic Dacia protection systems: wax injection of substructure and opening panel hollow sections, mastic sealing of body panel matings and uprated underbody gravel protection. The Logan pick-up and Logan van bodies are protected against corrosion with door panels and roof in galvanized sheet metal. And depending on the version, both models feature wide protective strips on the doors.
Dacia's LCVs also boast raised suspension systems, higher than average ground clearance, and protective skid plates under the engine, together with a dustproof gearbox housing. Dacia Logan van and Dacia Logan pick-up are prepared to take on all types of road all over the world.
Reliable engines
The vehicles in Dacia's LCV range are fitted with the 1.4 MPI 75 petrol engine (only available on Logan van), the 1.6 MPI 90 petrol engine, and the dCi 70 and dCi 85 diesel units, all of them from the Renault group's powerplant bank.
The 1.4-litre petrol engine develops power of 55 kW (70 hp) at 5,500 rpm with 112 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm.
The 1.6-litre powerplant develops 64 kW (90 hp) at 5,500 rpm and generates torque of 128 Nm at 3,000 rpm. Both
units are robust and easy-maintenance, which are essential qualities for light commercial vehicles. They also
provide generous torque at low engine speeds, available across a broad operating range from 3,000 rpm to
4,500 rpm.
Both engines are equipped with a life-lubricated 5-speed manual gearbox.
The 1.4 MPI 75 engine (only available on Logan van) and the 1.6 MPI 90 engine (available on Logan van and
Logan pick-up) have respective fuel consumption figures of 7.9 l/100 km and 8.1 l/100 km over a combined cycle.
The 1.5 dCi is a benchmark diesel engine at the cutting edge of technology. It is equipped with a secondgeneration
Common Rail direct injection system that brings comfort, flexibility and low fuel consumption. This powerplant is fitted on Logan van and Logan pick-up in a 70 hp version and a more dynamic 85 hp version.
With controlled fuel consumption (5.3 l/100 km for the dCi 70 and 5.2 l/100 km for the dCi 85 over a combined cycle) and low CO2 emissions (140 g/km for the dCi 70 and 137 g/km for the dCi 85), Logan van and Logan pick-up diesels are positioned competitively in the LCV segment. The compact dCi unit is also recognized for its low weight, at just 127 kg in running order. Developing 50 kW (70 hp) at 4,000 rpm, this powerplant achieves maximum torque of 160 Nm from 1,700 rpm, of which 85% is available between 1,500 rpm
and 3,500 rpm. The life-lubricated 5-speed manual gearbox is well adapted to the diesel unit, with ratios that get
the most out of the 1.5 dCi. Pulling away and accelerating are dynamic, even when the vehicle is fully loaded. Lastly, Logan van and Logan pick-up dCi have a standard-setting range of around 1,000 km thanks to a generous, 50-liter fuel tank.
by Dacia
by Dacia