Dacia Lodgy MPV ice racer (2011) first official pictures

Strip away the ice-racing livery – this is being presented as Alain Prost's ice slider for the 2011-12 Trophee Andros – and this is the new Dacia Lodgy, as revealed in our artist's impression. That unusual name signifies the budget brand's new small MPV, which could come to the UK.

We won't see the new Lodgy in roadgoing spec until spring 2012, but we hear it could join the Dacia Duster and Sandero when UK sales begin next year.

We'll see the new Lodgy Glace perform at the ice racing championship at Val Thorens (any skiers reading may well have seen the track as you drive into the French mountain resort).

But you'll be able to drive this racing car, once four-time F1 champ Prost has finished his icy antics and after its world debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show. Drop the 'Glace' name – French for ice – and you're left with the roadgoing MPV.

Alas not. Replace the four-wheel drive with front-drive, and that Renault-Nissan Alliance V6 will be dropped in favour of more austere diesels and petrols.

Still, we get some idea of the roadgoing Dacia Lodgy from this ice racer.

It'll be 4001mm long and 1900mm wide, which means we're looking at a compact people carrier sitting somewhere between a Renault Modus and a Scenic. And doubtless with bargain-basement prices.

By Tim Pollard