The Dakar-bound Duster looks like an Argentinian-spec, Renault-badged model when viewed from the front but it shares almost no parts with its regular-production counterpart. Fitted with only two doors and no rear hatch, it rides on a tubular frame and features a lightweight body made out of composite materials. Thick skidplates that run nearly the entire length of the SUV protect the underbody.
The Duster’s interior is standard race car fare. The cockpit includes two bucket seats with four-point harnesses, a minimalist instrument cluster, a three-spoke steering wheel and Plexiglas windows. Two spare tires are mounted in the open-air trunk.
Technical details are vague but Renault says the Duster is powered by a Nissan-sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine that sends 306 horsepower to all four wheels. A strengthened suspension and upgraded brakes help the SUV get over some of South America’s toughest terrain.
The next edition of the Dakar kicks off on January 5th, 2014, in Rosario, Argentina, and ends in Valparaiso, Chile, on January 18th after thirteen stages covering 5,300 miles of sand and mountains. The two factory-backed Dusters will have to fend off competition from wide array of vehicles including two South African-built Ford Rangers and no less than eleven examples of MINI’s Countryman crossover.
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