Rooted in legacy but built for tomorrow, the SUV blends substance, emotion and technology into one cohesive experience.
The first thing I realised while listening to Renault Group’s Chief Design Officer Mr. Laurens van den Acker, speak about the new Duster was this: bringing back an icon is never as simple as sketching a familiar shape. “You are not just redesigning a car—you are reviving memories, expectations and an entire identity that people have built over more than a decade,” he said.
Speaking to this publication, he said, “And yet, the new Duster had to feel fresh. It had to belong to a future where customers want more technology, more refinement and more meaning from their SUVs.” The designer described the task perfectly: creating “a bridge to the past and a bridge to the future. I want people to recognize the car as a Duster immediately. And here is where the silhouette plays an important role, that you recognize the car even if it’s under a cover.” That became the guiding philosophy behind the new Duster.
When the team started work, they knew one thing clearly—people should recognise the Duster instantly, even from far away. So, they kept the core elements that defined the original. The upright, boxy silhouette. The wheels pushed all the way to the corners. Short overhangs. A tall stance with honest, go-anywhere ground clearance. These ingredients made the Duster unmistakably rugged, and they continue to do so today.
But preserving heritage was only half the job. The other half, according to him, was to acknowledge how much the Indian customer has evolved. Compared to ten or 15 years ago, buyers today expect cleaner lines, better materials and a sense of “premium” even in a tough SUV. And the new Duster reflects that shift.
There’s a new confidence in the way it looks and feels—more refined, more mature, more advanced. But never disconnected from the authenticity that made the Duster famous, he said.
For the first time, the front carries a bold “DUSTER” nameplate, a design choice borrowed from big American trucks. Renault’s designer explained that the Duster is no longer just a model—it has become a brand people trust. So, its name takes centre stage. The Renault logo moves to the back, almost like a signature.
Modernity continues inside. Customers today want more technology without feeling overwhelmed. So the new Duster gets two big 10-inch screens, Google Automotive services built in, and hybrid powertrains that make city driving smoother and more efficient. “And here we are seeing a big success with our e-tech powertrain lineup.
It’s allowed us in Europe to become the number one or number two in the market in terms of electrification,” he mentioned. And yet, despite all this new tech, the SUV remains practical—with a massive 700-litre boot that still reminds that this is a Duster born for real-world use.
Of course, designing a modern SUV isn’t easy. Regulations are stricter. Safety demands are tougher. Features like airbags, pedestrian protection and cameras force designers to work around thicker pillars and higher hoods. But the Duster team hid all of this cleverly, ensuring the SUV still looks tough, purposeful and instantly recognisable.
The aerodynamic tweaks are almost invisible too—carefully integrated so that the Duster remains boxy, but now smoother and more efficient on the move. It stands taller in capability but feels more confident in refinement.
What ties all of this together is “ambition” he said, adding that the Duster isn’t returning quietly. It wants to reclaim the segment it once created in India. It wants to be the SUV that encourages people to explore again. It wants to stand tall as a flagship—something customers aspire to own, and something that lifts the entire Renault portfolio with it.
In the end, the Mr. Acker summed it up stating that an icon cannot be frozen in time; it must grow, evolve and stay meaningful. The new Duster does exactly that—respecting its past without being trapped by it, and stepping boldly into a new era where substance, emotion and technology blend together seamlessly.
