Dacia has confirmed, just a day after Renault revealed that its new concept car would be called the Bridger, that its new model will be called the Striker.
Are these two different versions of the same car?
You'd think so, wouldn't you, what with both ending in 'er' but no - while Renault's Bridger is a concept version of a new rugged, compact SUV, the Dacia Striker isn't a concept at all, it's a full production model, and it will be going on sale before the end of this year. We'll see the new Striker in full next week, at Renault Group's big future plans bunfight on the 10th of March.
What do we know about the Striker?
We know that it's breaking new territory for Dacia, as it enters the C-segment hatchback and estate market. Dacia has had massive success in the C-segment with the Bigster SUV, and so it wants to spread its wings in what is Europe's largest market segment.
Is the Striker another SUV?
No, it's not. In fact, it's an estate - or a sort of hatchback-estate hybrid, aimed at competition such as the Skoda Octavia. Mind you, the Striker should be considerably cheaper than the Octavia, or the Golf or the Peugeot 308, for that matter. Dacia has said that it sees the Striker fulfilling a similar role as the Bigster, undercutting the prices of its established rivals by some considerable margin.
How does the Striker fit into Dacia's outdoors image?
Good question, and while we'll have to wait till next week to see all the details, expect the Striker to have a raised-up ride height, and plenty of Dacia's recycled 'Starkle' plastic around the edges. Think of the Striker as a cut-price Audi Allroad, and you're on the right track.
What engines will it use?
That's still TBC, but given that the Striker shares the same CMF-B platform as the Bigster and the Sandero, expect a lot of commonality. Irish buyers will most likely get the 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a six-speed manual and the 1.8-litre 155hp hybrid automatic. There's the faint possibility that a four-wheel drive option, using the Bigster's hybrid system, might also be offered, but that's just speculation on our part. If four-wheel drive isn't offered, there's always the Sandero's handy traction control system, which has an off-road mode.
When can I buy one?
Later this year, most likely, but we'll get all the details on the Striker next week.