Renault is remaining tight lipped about its UK launch plans but confirmed that it had yet to officially start recruiting British dealers and that an announcement would be made “in due course.”

The Sandero was show at this month's Geneva Motor Show and is a Clio-sized supermini.

“Its positioning in terms of price corresponds with that of the small car segment, despite its interior and exterior dimensions which are more in keeping with those of the segment above,” said a spokesman for the brand. Dacia was founded in Romania in 1966 and has operated as a Renault subsidiary since 2004. It currently operates in 51 markets and from this spring will enter Portugal and Scandinavia. As with some Nissan models, both the Logan and Sandero use components found in other Renault products, notably 1.5 diesel engines. Dacia is marketing its cars on price and a three-year warranty package.