Renault Captur Facelift
The second-generation Renault Captur is four years old, and the diamond brand knows that it needs a mid-cycle refresh in order to remain competitive until its successor arrives. Thus, they have started testing the facelift in southern Europe, and our spy photographers were there to immortalize it.
Caught doing its thing in prototype form, the 2024 Renault Captur had its front and rear fascias under heavy camouflage. As a result, it is hard to spot most changes, but if anything, it appears that it will retain the overall shape of the headlights. Still, they should at least sport new graphics, and new DRLs will likely join them.
The grille and bumper will also be new, and it appears that they have updated the hood, as the corporate logo no longer protrudes into it. Black cladding will still decorate the lower parts of the body. Out back, we can see an identical license plate holder and reflectors placement. Still, the bumper will be part of the novelties, and so will the taillamps. The tailgate is expected to still host the diamond emblem in the middle, above the Captur badge.
Don’t let the apparent closed-off design of the grille trick you because the facelifted Renault Captur will still pack internal combustion units. In fact, this test car had a visible tailpipe on the left-hand side of the diffuser. Speaking of the engines, it will likely soldier on with the usual gasoline (and maybe LPG) assortment. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are understood to be on the cards as well, and certain outlets speak of the demise of the diesel. While that would make sense from a carbon dioxide perspective, it remains to be confirmed.
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The interior will be a familiar place, as we are discussing a mid-cycle refresh, not a new generation. The dashboard panel, seats, door cards, buttons, knobs, and so on will carry over. If anything, the automaker might give it a new infotainment system, with a portrait-oriented design, and new digital instrument cluster. Either that or fresh software at least. It is likely that the centre console will be updated, and a new steering wheel could be included too. Revised safety gear and new tech amenities could round off the changes.
We don’t know yet when the updated Renault Captur will be unveiled. However, considering that the real-world testing phase began recently, we wouldn’t expect it any sooner than the end of 2023, or in the first quarter of next year, with deliveries commencing shortly after the presentation.
Dacia Duster
Good news for fans of the Romanian SUV, as the Dacia Duster is getting a new generation. The company has been spotted testing the high-rider in a premiere somewhere in Spain, and it immediately looks more modern compared to its six-year-old predecessor.
Believed to be an entirely new generation and not a mid-cycle refresh, the 2024 Dacia Duster has a fresh design. Overall, it looks like a smaller version of the Bigster, which is due for production in 2025 subsequent to being previewed by a concept two years ago.
Even with the heavy disguise on, it is clear that the next Duster has a new face. The slimmer headlights with integrated DRLs flank the grille that will be decorated by the corporate logo in the middle. Further down, it has side vents, and a bigger central air intake. Slightly boxier overall proportions are visible, and the profile looks about the same, bar the new door handles, and probably fresh lines that will be visible once the camo comes off. At the rear, it has new taillights, a tailgate with the license plate holder sitting further up, a cleaner-looking bumper, and the third brake light incorporated into the spoiler.
Overall, it seems to sport a similar ground clearance, and it appears that the space between the axles has been slightly increased. That hasn’t been confirmed yet, but such a move would automatically free up more legroom for those sitting at the back. Moreover, the cargo area is expected to be improved. We have yet to catch a glimpse of the interior, but we do expect it to feature a new infotainment system, perhaps with a portrait-oriented screen. The overall quality of the materials used inside should be enhanced, though you shouldn’t hold your breath for anything premium, as this is still a budget car.
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Word on the street is that the all-new Dacia Duster will not be built on the old B platform. Instead, it is understood to be based on the CMF-B construction of the second-gen Captur, which is also used on the Clio V. The same architecture is the foundation stone of the latest Nissan Juke, and other models made by Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and it will make it compatible with a generous host of powertrains. Rumours speak of a few gasoline burners, and maybe the Clio E-Tech’s self-charging hybrid. It’s too early to speak about a possible diesel, but we wouldn’t act surprised if they give it a low-revving lump once it premieres, supposedly sometime next year, maybe in the first half.
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