Renault-owned Dacia, an economic car manufacturer, has unveiled its new Hipster electric vehicle (EV) concept that’s inspired by the Japanese kei car — and the automaker hasn’t ruled out full-scale production. Dacia’s CEO, Katrin Adt, said: “If the opportunity to mass produce it [Hipster EV] arises, we are ready,” Reuters reports.
David Durand, design director of the Dacia brand, noted: “The regulations will also surely require the vehicle to be produced in Europe. We also need to develop the industrial model that goes with it,” according to Reuters.
Darcia Hipster Concept: Spec Spotlight
The Dacia Hipster concept is 9.84 ft long, 5.01 ft high, and weighs under 1,763 lbs — all of which align with Japan’s kei regulations. However, its 5.08 ft width slightly exceeds the maximum kei width in Japan of 4.85 ft. The European Union would have to create a new small car category for the Hipster to enter production. In addition to having four seats, the Dacia Hipster features a trunk that can be adjusted from 2.47 cu ft to 17.65 cu ft.
Minimalism helps the Dacia Hipster’s design remain practical in more ways than one
The Hipster is 20% lighter than Dacia’s Spring vehicle, which exists within Europe’s supermini class. Less weight means fewer raw materials and less energy used in manufacturing, along with less mass to transport during travel. Dacia aims to halve the Hipster’s carbon footprint over its life cycle compared to today’s EVs. In countries like France, 94% of drivers travel under 24.8 miles per day, and motorists would only have to recharge the Hipster twice weekly to meet this average.
A closer look at the Dacia Hipster’s Interior and Exterior
Regarding the Hipster’s exterior, its block design doesn’t overhang at the front or the rear, and the rear light design is behind the tailgate window to avoid the need for a dedicated glass panel. When the driver or other passengers want to access the trunk, the tailgate opens in two parts to provide more seamless access. However, the model’s minimalist exterior doesn’t compromise safety. Instead, the car offers generous side protection using a material partly derived from recycling.
Dacia’s decision to replace the door handles with a strap further reduces weight and costs, while a glazed glass front section on the roof helps create an airy interior. Inside, weight optimization stems from two rows of bench seats, the use of mesh upholstery, and openwork headrests.
Dacia notes: “Equipped with only the bare essentials as standard, this interior can be customised using the range of YouClip accessories developed by Dacia. The 11 YouClip anchor points are distributed across the dashboard, door panels, and boot interior. They can accommodate various accessories, such as cup holders, armrests, ceiling lights, etc.”
While the Hipster concept doesn’t have a built-in vehicle display, the cabin contains a smartphone docking station, resulting in safer visibility for navigation apps. Smartphones can also act as a digital key to unlock/start the car and connect to a portable Bluetooth speaker. Windows are manually adjustable.
Dacia Hipster Performance Rundown
You’re likely wondering how fast you can travel in a car like the Dacia Hipster. The maximum speed would register at 55.92 mph, and range would top out at just over 93 miles. City and suburban drivers would be among those most benefitting from these performance specs, along with the model’s compact dimensions.
Dacia’s solution to the EV weight dilemma
EVs are getting increasingly larger, heavier, and more complex, spurring increased costs. Compounding the price problem is the fact that heavier EVs provide more protection for the person inside the vehicle, but pose greater safety risks to others. U.S. Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy told CBS News that regarding the additional weight of today’s EVs, “there’s not a focus on the safety aspect of this,” and that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists face more significant danger than in the past. In mid-2023, the average vehicle on roads weighed around 4,300 lbs, but some newer, larger EVs can weigh thousands of lbs more.
Final thoughts
The average price of new EVs in Europe rose by 77% between 2010 and 2014, far outpacing household purchasing power. While Europeans today continue to look for more affordable EV options, Chinese EVs have been flooding the continent with low-cost alternatives, placing increasing pressure on domestic manufacturers to compete with companies like BYD.
The Dacia Hipster, if it enters production, could address both of these issues while mitigating heavy EV safety risks via its lightweight, sustainable design. If Europe creates a new small car category facilitating the Dacia Hipster’s production, the move could create a domino effect, triggering more kei-inspired designs throughout Europe at a time when the market’s primed for their arrival.