Dimensions and Design
The Hipster is astonishingly compact at just 3.0 meters long, 1.55 meters wide, and 1.53 meters tall, smaller than a Smart ForTwo but with four full-sized seats and a surprising 500 liters of boot space when rear seats fold flat, enough to carry a washing machine. The flat sides, wide-opening doors, sliding glass windows, and absence of traditional door handles emphasize affordability and weight savings.
Performance and Range
The only official hints on powertrain suggest a small battery sized for urban use, enabling typical daily journeys of about 24 miles, with recharging needed approximately twice a week. It weighs under 800kg, about 20% lighter than the Dacia Spring EV, helping to halve the lifecycle carbon footprint compared with current EVs on the market. No official range figure is released, but early speculation suggests around 150 km (about 100 miles), sufficient for city driving.
Interior and Features
Inside, the Hipster leans into minimalism with no built-in infotainment screen; instead, it features a smartphone mount embodying a “bring your own device” philosophy. The dashboard doubles as storage space, and lightweight fabric and plastic elements reduce cost and weight. Dacia also offers ‘YouClip’ accessory mounts throughout the cabin, letting owners add custom kit like cupholders, lights, or speakers without expensive factory options.
Market Position and Price
Dacia targets a sub-£15,000 price point, undercutting its own Spring EV and slotting above tiny quadricycles like the Citroën Ami. This would be a game-changer for accessible EVs, making electric mobility more viable for many amid rising car prices and failing current regulations that push cars to grow heavier and more complex.
Vision and Impact
The Hipster concept previews the new ‘E-car’ category, a planned regulatory framework aimed at encouraging small, efficient electric cars. As Dacia’s Sales and Marketing chief Frank Marotte explained, Europe may soon relax regulations that currently make small car production uneconomical, unlocking a new wave of accessible EVs that connect with real user needs.
Dacia intends the Hipster not only as a car but a social statement a lightweight, pragmatic, and affordable electric vehicle for a future where less is more.