Renault-owned brand, Dacia, has unveiled a new electric vehicle concept called the Hipster, with the goal of becoming “the popular electric car of tomorrow”. The company’s approach focuses on delivering an EV that prioritises the essentials – practicality, simplicity, and efficiency – all while keeping costs as low as possible to ensure maximum affordability.
The simplicity starts with the dimensions of the car, as the Hipster concept measures only 3-metres long, 1.53-metres high, and 1.55-metres wide. Design-wise, it is essentially a box sitting on four wheels with no overhangs at the front or rear.
The design team has added some flair with a full-width LED light bar that integrates square-shaped headlights at each end, featuring a pixel-like appearance. It also comes with a front bumper that has angular contours, further adding a rugged look to the Hipster.
The rear is dominated by a full-width tailgate that opens in two parts, the top section being the rear glass window. The taillights are fitted behind the glass tailgate. Unlike the front bumper, the rear bumper is flat and follows the clean lines of the EV. Additionally, based on the pictures released from Dacia, it appears that the EV will be a two-door car, which likely means the rear seats are accessible through the front doors.
Speaking of the seats, the Hipster come with four seats and a 70 litre capacity boot that is expandable up to 500 litres. The interior also features vertical windows, a small panoramic roof just above the front cabin, and a hexagonal steering wheel.
As for connectivity, there is a docking station built into the Hipster that transforms your phone into the main infotainment system. It also serves as the cabin’s music player when connected to the Bluetooth speakers. Practicality in the cabin is further enhanced with 11 anchor points around the vehicle for mounting accessories such as cupholders, armrests, and ceiling lights.
In terms of performance, there is not much information available, except for Dacia’s statement that the Hipster will be designed with sufficient range for daily journeys, requiring only two recharges per week.
Recently, Honda launched the N-ONE e, which is slightly larger than the Hipster concept. It comes with a single motor producing 47 kW of power and 162 Nm of torque. Powering the motor is a 29.6 kWh battery that offers a WLTP range of 295 km.
(Source: Dacia Press Release)
