Autometer 1995 American Platinum Electric Tachometer on 2040-parts.com

First Dacia Duster SUVs leave India bound for the UK

The first Dacia Duster SUVs built in RHD for the UK market left India this morning to help satisfy Renault’s growing order book for the Duster. With the sort of response the Duster has received in the UK – with prices for the entry-level Duster starting at just £9k – Renault are no doubt wishing they’d brought the Duster to the UK sooner. But such was the demand for the Duster in mainland Europe and emerging markets that they just couldn’t get production of RHD Dusters organised for the UK until now, when Renault’s plant at Oragadam, near Chennai in India, finally managed to satisfy its home market demand sufficiently to leave enough capacity for RHD cars bound for the UK and Ireland to roll off the production line.

New Renault Twingo revealed – debuts at Geneva

The new Renault Twingo revealed The new Renault Twingo has been revealed a little earlier than Renault planned with a single group photo of the new Twingo (above) after first images leaked on to the Interwebs, and Renault are promising a proper set of photos later (we’ll update then). The new Twingo takes its cues from the recent Renault Twinz Concept and is underpinned by the same rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive platform as the next generation SMART ForFour. Both the new Twingo and the new ForFour will use the same range of 3-cylinder engines complete with either a manual or dual-clutch auto ‘box, and the Twingo comes with a front end that looks like the rest of the latest Renault range and will be available in both three and five-door options.

WRC Mini Concept (2010) first official pictures

While the Mini Countryman might be destined for suburban mumsville, BMW has confirmed the new model will also terrorise the countryside in the form of the WRC Mini from 2011, with IRC champ Kris Meeke at the wheel. Officially launched at the 2010 Paris motor show in concept guise, the WRC Mini will be engineered and run by motorsport doyen Dave Richards and his Prodrive outfit, although customer packages will be available too, allowing independents to compete in the car. Not so much – this is no time for misty-eyed Paddy Hopkirk odes.