In this instalment of John Murdoch’s Drive Time, Johntakes a look at the Bigster which is sure to be the next success story for Dacia, and the new VW California camper.
Dacia is about to boost its popularity to a new level with the arrival of a new mid-sized SUV called the Bigster.
It has been three years in the making and the Romanian manufacturer is certain to have another winner on its hands.
The Bigster signals another leap for the Renault-owned brand that is out to conquer the C-segment with a comprehensively-equipped SUV which, like other Dacia models, will undercut the mainstream competition with an expected starting price of around £30,000 when it arrives in the UK next year.
Dacia reckons that the spiraling costs of mid-sized SUVs are becoming an issue for many buyers who want to purchase a new car without compromising on comfort, performance and space
“Bigster is the ultimate expression of Dacia’s values and is now our brand’s flagship vehicle,” says Dacia design director David Durand.
Built on the same Renault Group platform as the Jogger and Renault Clio, the Bigster is one of the most spacious vehicles in its segment, according to Dacia, with class-leading headroom, rear legroom and boot capacity with up to 667 litres of storage under the parcel shelf.
It is the first Renault Group model to gain the French company’s all-new Hybrid 155 powertrain, combining a 107 bhp four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors, a 1.4 kWh battery and an automatic electric gearbox.
It will be the most powerful Dacia to date.
Two other variants will be on offer – the TCe140 and TCe130 – both using a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine supported by a 48v mild-hybrid system.
The TCe130 comes with four wheel drive with terrain control offering five driving modes.
Bigster will offer a choice of three trim levels – Expression, Extreme and Journey – with generous levels of standard kit.
The entry-level Expression models come with dual-zone automatic air-con, electric parking brake, rain sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, fixed roof bars, media display with 10.1-inch central touchscreen, seven-inch digital instrument panel, rear parking sensors and camera, electric front and rear windows, power folding mirrors and a 40/20/40 rear modular bench seat with easy fold function.
There will also be a choice of interesting options including a tent and a sleep pack which fits into the Bigster’s boot and includes a 1.9m long double bed which can be deployed in less than two minutes.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen (VW) has announced UK specifications and prices for the new California campervan.
Available initially with a turbocharged diesel or petrol TSI engine, prices start from £63,376 including VAT.
VW says it is the most versatile and innovative version yet of the brand’s most popular campervan and every aspect of the new California has been redesigned.
First customer deliveries are expected in the next few months.
The new California is available in three highly-specified trims – Beach Camper, Coast and Ocean.
Petrol-powered Coast versions are priced from £69,240 for a 150ps model, £72,156 for a 204ps version and £76,140 in Ocean specification with the 150ps petrol engine. The range topping Ocean model costs from £79,056.
All models have a seven-speed DSG transmission and the line-up will be available in two-tone colour schemes.
In addition, there are 11 single-tone colour finishes to choose from, while the pop-up roof’s three-layer bellows can be configured in the three colours.
The new California now comes with two sliding side doors as standard, making it more flexible for everyday life.
The sliding door on the driver’s side ensures comfortable and easy entry and exit.
The second sliding door, on the passenger side, together with the completely redesigned kitchen and an external folding table, enables greater versatility for cooking and outdoor eating.
The new California also features a new five-inch portrait touch display campervan control unit mounted in the door pillar on the passenger side which can be used to adjust the climate control in the passenger area, heating of the interior via the auxiliary heater, control of the ambient light, and much more.
Alternatively, these features can be operated via a corresponding in-car app on the infotainment system or the California app on a smartphone.
All new California vehicles are based on the Volkswagen Group’s innovative modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform, on the current long-wheelbase version of the Multivan.
The new California will also soon be available with an eHybrid plug-in hybrid drive for the first time.
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