15/10/2012 16:48
Despite being three months away from its UK launch, the Dacia Duster was the standout vehicle at the 2012 Scottish Car of the Year event.
Motorists have to wait until January 2013 before the vehicle enters car showrooms nationwide, though this has not stopped the Romanian manufacturer's next signature model from already causing a stir across Britain.
At a gala dinner held in the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow on Friday (October 12th), the Dacia Duster was honoured by being named both the SUV and Budget car of the year in Scotland.
If this was not enough, the Duster completed a hat-trick of remarkable feats by being awarded the overall title of Scottish Car of the Year at the ceremony.
With the honour, the newest vehicle from Dacia, which is owned by the Renault Group, managed to hold off stiff competition from the likes of the Kia Rio, the Citroen DS5 Hybrid4 and the Hyundai i30.
John Murdoch, president of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, commented on the Duster's phenomenal success, by stating: "When the economy is tough and the motoring public are feeling the pinch and tightening their belts the private buyer wants real value for money and the Dacia Duster certainly delivers on that score."
Thierry Sybord, managing director of Renault UK, echoed these words by acknowledging that the Dacia Duster has "really struck a cord" with British buyers since order books for the car opened in Britain over the summer.
Expressing his delight at the vehicle scooping three awards at the 2012 Scottish Car of the Year ceremony, Mr Sybord added: "We've watched our European neighbours sell tens of thousands of Dacias to happy customers over the last few years and are now delighted to be bringing the brand and its 'shockingly affordable' models to our shores."