Cars: Dacia unveils Hipster prototype as the “ultra-affordable, ultra-essential” mini-EV of tomorrow

Dacia has unveiled its latest concept car, the Hipster, a compact all-electric city car designed to strip urban mobility down to the essentials. The Hipster embodies Dacia’s push to redefine value in the electric age, offering a minimalist, lightweight design focused on accessibility and real-world functionality rather than excess.   At just three metres long and weighing under 800 kilograms, the Hipster is one of the lightest four-seat EVs ever presented by a European manufacturer.   The interior closely follows the very cubic shapes of the bodywork, particularly with very vertical windows and windscreen, to make the most of the available space. The glazed front section of the roof provides light, contributing to the feeling of space. To reduce costs and weight, the side windows are sliding.   Four adults can sit comfortably in Dacia Hipster Concept. The seating position for the driver and front passenger is identical to that of the Dacia Sandero, ensuring comfort and a safe view of the road. Access to the rear seats is facilitated by the wide door opening and the front passenger seat that tilts forward. Thanks to the folding rear seat, boot capacity can vary from 70 litres with four passengers to 500 litres with two passengers.   While Dacia has not released full technical specifications, the company says the Hipster’s range is tailored for urban use, requiring charging only twice a week on average. The car’s affordability will depend in part on a proposed price target of around EUR 15,000, if European regulations allow a new category of smaller, lighter vehicles — similar to Japan’s kei cars.   The Hipster is “a concept of Dacia’s bold vision for local, affordable and everyday mobility,” said Dacia’s CEO Katrin Adt. “If the opportunity to mass produce it arises, we are ready,” she added.   Connectivity and digital technology are now essential features, helping to simplify and streamline everyday vehicle use, particularly with the smartphone docking station, which remains faithful to Dacia’s BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy. It enables seamless connectivity between smartphones and vehicles. The smartphone even becomes a digital key to unlock and start the car. Once the driver is seated, the smartphone, placed in its docking station, acts as a multimedia screen and displays their favourite navigation app.   “This is the most Dacia-esque project I have ever worked on. It has the same societal impact as the Logan did 20 years ago. And it involves inventing something that does not exist today,” said Romain Gauvin, Head of Advanced Design and Exterior. Patrice Lévy-Bencheton, Dacia’s Director of Product Performance, argued that the model represents a much-needed change in mindset: “We cannot continue with this ‘always more’ trend. The Hipster offers a completely different approach — one that redefines what drivers truly need.”   More than a design study, the Hipster is Dacia’s challenge to both over-engineered Western EVs and the wave of low-cost Chinese imports flooding the market. With its radical simplicity, recycled materials, and honest engineering, the Hipster makes a case for sustainable mobility that’s both affordable and distinctly European — a reminder that sometimes, less really can be more.  (Photo:https://media.dacia.com/)