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Duster Oroch: Designed for water sports

  • Duster Oroch Sao Paulo debut
  • Design from Latin America
  • Pick-up ‘inspired by kite-surfing’

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Renault is set to unveil its Duster Oroch show car, designed in Latin America, on Thursday (Oct 30) at the annual motor show here.

“The Oroch,” Renault says, “is a styling exercise for a five-seat recreational pick-up with the robust looks of a true SUV.

Pick-ups account for nearly 75% of the light commercial vehicle market in South America (920 000 units) and Renault has already announced plans to enter at market with at least two models.

BRAND-NEW IDENTITY

The show car’s body colour, Renault says, is an exclusive combination of satin-finish white and touches of orange that “highlight its sporty personality and the world of kite-surfing, which inspired the vehicle’s design”.

The vehicle’s front has, the automaker says, a new brand identity and carries over some of the styling explored on the D-Cross concept car, which was a reinterpretation of the Duster presented at the Sao Paulo Motor Show in 2012.

The large front and rear bumpers convey an impression of strength and power.

'FRESH INTERPRETATION'

Laurens van den Acker, senior vice-president for corporate design for the Renault group, explained: “The Duster Oroch show car has the energetic, the robust, stance that appeals to customers. It’s the work of our Sao Paulo design centre and packs an emotional punch characteristic of design in Latin America.

“While it takes its inspiration from the Duster, itself a robust vehicle with an assertive personality, our local design team has delivered a fresh interpretation of the model in the form of this show car.”

VIDEO: 2014 Renault Duster Oroch

The roof rails protect the glass sunroof which, Renault says, improves the sense of space inside the car, while the rear layout was designed to stow several kite boards.

The Oroch carries two rear-mounted cameras to capture special sporting moments. Their angles, Renault says, are set at 80° and 140° for full outdoor coverage.

“In true ‘go anywhere’ style,” the media release continues, “the Duster Oroch offers a spacious cabin, high ground clearance, 18” rims with 255/60 tyres and broad side protective mouldings.

“The facia has a multimedia screen which displays the images from the two rear cameras outside the dual cab that are controlled by a rotary control on the centre console.”

TAILORING FOR SOUTH AMERICA

The Duster Oroch’s combination of colour and trim are said to be reminiscent of the world of water sports. “Fluorescent orange details brighten up the dark charcoal interior. The facia, door inserts and some parts of the seats are made from a material which looks like wetsuit neoprene.”

Denis Barbier, chairman of Renault’s Americas Region, said the Oroch was “an illustration of our strategy to develop products tailored to our Latin American markets.”

It is, of course, based on the Duster, one of Renault’s best-selling models in South America region, “a segment from which we’re absent”!”

The Sao Paulo Motor Show will run from October 30 to November 9 at the Anhembi exhibition centre. It’s the biggest auto show in South America, attracting more than 748,000 visitors in 2012.

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