Renault's new engineering centre, officially inaugurated in Bucharest yesterday, will develop both models based on the Logan's technological platform, as well as Renault models.
Renault Technologie Roumanie (RTR) will be able to develop cars for the Renault and Dacia brands at full capacity in two or three years. Until then, engineers at the centre will work on new versions of Logan.
"RTR now has teams of engineers working on new versions; both based on the Logan platform and the Kangoo. Within two or three years, we will be able to operate complete projects for cars, especially for those based on the Logan platform, and for other low-cost models," said Philippe Prevel, RTR's general manager.
For instance, the engineers in Romania have developed such elements as the cooling system and the electrical systems for the new Logan models.
The Dacia Logan Pick-up model, first showcased at the Auto Show in Bucharest last autumn, was 40% designed by RTR, while the first prototypes were assembled at the plant in Mioveni.
At RTR, the Renault engineers are working on a new version of the Kangoo utility vehicle, a model that was officially launched on the domestic market last month. Prevel did not reveal whether the new version was sporting an all-wheel drive and a SUV-like appearance or not, given that previous Kangoo iteration had offered such a model.
Renault official says the new Kangoo version on which the Romania engineers are working will be unveiled next year, or in 2010 at the latest.
"Over 50% of the technical side of the future Dacia SUV model was developed in Romania at the engineering centre, as was the facelift of the future Logan," Prevel said. The French company has invested more than two million euros in this centre.
Renault Technologie Romania will operate in three locations - in Bucharest, where the training o
