An alternative vision, a different product that takes up the idea of the European “E-Car,” which should give a boost to the automotive sector in the coming years. The Dacia Hipster Concept offers 100% electric mobility, with smart solutions tailored to everyday needs, aimed at halving the carbon footprint compared to current electric vehicles. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the automotive market has evolved—particularly as a result of regulations and electrification—towards increasingly larger, heavier, more complex, and more expensive cars. “We need to evaluate the next steps in terms of regulations and technology, but we have all the in-house expertise to produce such a vehicle,” commented Katrin Adt, CEO of Dacia. “Over the past five years, Dacia has transformed itself from a ‘low-cost’ brand to one focused on value for money, and we will continue to do so, but we will need to add other ingredients because the market is changing very quickly.
“It’s the most Dacia project I’ve ever worked on. A project that has the same social impact as Logan did 20 years ago. It’s about inventing something that doesn’t exist today,” says Romain Gauvin, Head of Advanced Design and Exterior Design at Dacia. To design the Hipster Concept, the teams started with the real needs of users, how they use their cars in everyday life. In short, the essentials. The Hipster Concept stands out for its very simple and robust design: a block well positioned on four wheels at the four corners, with no front or rear overhang. The same simplicity is also found in the design of the front end, which extends horizontally, integrating pure-design headlights that give it a serious but friendly look. Functionality is a priority at the rear: the tailgate covers the entire width of the car, opening in two parts for super-practical access to the trunk.
The cabin blends in with the cubic shapes of the bodywork, especially with the vertical windows and windshield, to make the most of all the available space. The glass front section of the roof gives it a brightness that accentuates the feeling of space. To reduce costs and weight, the side windows are sliding. The Dacia Hipster Concept comfortably seats four adults. The position of the driver and passenger seats is identical to that of the Dacia Sandero, ensuring comfort and allowing you to tackle traffic in complete safety. Access to the rear seats is facilitated by the large door opening and the possibility of folding down the front passenger seat.
Connectivity and digital technology are now considered “essential” and help to simplify and streamline everyday vehicle use, especially with the smartphone docking station, which remains faithful to the Dacia BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy and enables super-smooth connectivity between smartphones and vehicles. The smartphone even becomes a digital key to unlock and start the car. Once the driver is seated, the docking station acts as a multimedia display to show the preferred navigation app, while also serving as the vehicle’s audio system with a portable Bluetooth speaker compatible with YouClip.
