The new Dacia Sandrider has a 3.0 V6 engine and 4×4 drive. You will see him in action soon (VIDEO)

Dacia really wants to push the limits of its cars’ off-road capabilities. To make progress, the brand has chosen one of the possible ways and intends to participate in the Dakar Rally and other off-road meetings, which is, as we know, one of the best testing grounds. This is how the Sandrider prototype was born, which we should see in 2025 on the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship (W2RC).

The starting point for the Sandrider is the Manifesto concept model, presented in 2022. The concept was developed as a completely new off-road rally car and its development was based on the sports experience of Renault and the British company Prodrive, which specializes in sports of cars. . Dacia’s latest innovation, the Sandrider, was created with the participation of drivers and co-drivers and was developed to comply with the regulations of the Ultimate T1+ category.

Dacia designers are responsible for the style of the body, focusing on great simplicity, visible, among others, after the absence of unnecessary accessories. The use of a light tubular frame, the removal of unnecessary body panels and the extensive use of carbon fiber, as well as the abandonment of all decorative elements in the cabin and the choice of a more compact, lighter engine, led to weight reduction. of about 15 kg compared to other similar prototypes.

Less weight means less fuel consumption. To further reduce the desire for gasoline while improving performance, designers also focused on aerodynamics. Finally, we were able to reduce it by 10%. aerodynamic drag and by 40 percent lifting power. In addition, the geometry of the air intake was taken care of, thanks to which efficient engine cooling is possible. It is important to mention that the comfort of the crew was also taken into account and to reduce the temperature increase in the cabin, paints were used, placed directly on the carbon elements of the cabin, whose function is to absorb infrared radiation.

Dacia Sandrider – focusing on the comfort and convenience of the crew

Innovative solutions go deeper than just bodywork and are also meant to bring relief to competitors. Sabel armchairs are covered with a special antibacterial fabric that regulates the level of moisture. The designers also abandoned the use of spare wheel housings, which makes it easier to do any work on them. In addition, workers have quick access to on-board tools, without the need to use a toolbox. In addition, the nuts can be attached to special magnetic plates built into the body, which reduces the risk of losing small elements in the sand during the intervention.

Drivers and pilots should also be aware of the short and slippery “floating” hood, which disappears from the crew’s field of view. Good looks are one of the key issues highlighted by the players themselves. In addition, the upper part of the dashboard uses anti-reflection paint – an aerospace-based solution – which further improves visibility. The response to suggestions from drivers and pilots is also a common dashboard, which allows you to set some features according to the individual preferences of each crew.

Dacia Sandrider – with a 3.0 V6 engine running on synthetic fuel

The Dacia rally car will be powered by a 3-liter biturbo V6 engine with direct fuel injection. The device with a power of 265 kW/360 HP and a maximum torque of 539 Nm was produced by Nissan/Infiniti. The drive is transmitted to all wheels through a 6-speed gearbox. In turn, the front and rear suspension system includes double wishbones, triangular. Sandrider uses 17-inch aluminum rims and BF Goodrich tires (37 inches), its advantage is good grip on all terrains and high resistance against impacts and cuts.

During Dacia’s press conference presentation, more light was shed on what the Sandrider will be powered by. The Romanians chose synthetic oil produced by the Aramco concern. This type of fuel developed by Aramco is made by mixing renewable hydrogen with captured CO2. The result is a low emission product compatible with modern engines. For Dacia, the Dakar Rally will be the ideal testing ground for testing this solution.

Dacia Sandrider – will two public stories guarantee its success?

Dacia Sandrider will soon face a long series of tuning tests. The baptism of fire will take place during the Morocco 2024 Championship, an event that is one of the rounds of the World Rally Championship (W2RC). The next test will be the Dakar Rally 2025, where the official Dacia W2RC team – The Dacia Sandriders – will participate. The team will have three employees. At the wheel of the Dacia Sandrider we will see the famous rally driver Sébastien Loeb, driven by Fabian Lurquin, the 32-year-old Cristina Gutierrez Herrero driven by Pablo Moreno Huete, as well as Nasser Al-Attiyah, the legend of the Dakar Rally, who stopped at the highest platform in these five competitions.