Paris, France. mobile.bg team from the event site.
Against market pressure that pushes cars towards ever larger sizes, weights and complexity, Dacia presents the Hipster concept – a radical response focused on pure 100% electric mobility. This prototype has been developed with the clear aim of halving its carbon footprint over its entire life cycle compared to the best electric cars currently available.
Lightweight technology
The main technological innovation in the Hipster Concept is the overall eco-smart approach aimed at drastically reducing mass. The concept is 20% lighter than the current Dacia Spring model. This result has been achieved through optimization in every aspect of the car, which leads to fewer raw materials needed, lower energy for production and, accordingly, lower energy consumption while driving.
Our personal impression is that this is Dacia's boldest step. In an industry where weight is synonymous with premium feel and battery capacity, Hipster relies on the technology of negation – removing everything unnecessary. The weight reduction is the real innovation here, as it directly corresponds to the goal of sufficient range when charging only twice a week, covering the needs of over 90% of drivers.
In addition, the robustness of the design is reinforced with side protectors made of Starkle – a material created by Dacia engineers, which is partly obtained from recycling.
Ultra-compact design, modularity and ergonomics
The concept adheres to ultra-compact dimensions – length of only 3 meters, height of 1.53 meters and width of 1.55 meters. Despite these parameters, the interior is optimized to offer four full seats, which we personally saw.
The trunk capacity can vary from 70 liters (with four passengers) to 500 liters (with two seats) thanks to the folding rear seat. And the tailgate covers the entire width of the car and opens in two parts, which facilitates access to the luggage compartment.
The taillights are integrated directly behind the tailgate glass, eliminating the need for a separate glass panel and reducing complexity. As for the seats, their design is simplified with a visible frame and soft technical mesh fabric, and despite their appearance they are comfortable and ergonomic. The side windows are sliding, and the external handle has been replaced with a strap - solutions that are purely technological choices to reduce weight and costs.
Our personal observation is that the ergonomic solutions in the interior - such as the sliding windows and the strap instead of a handle - although unconventional, are a logical extension of the concept of lightening and at the same time are functional. The practicality of the trunk (from 70 to 500 liters) is also particularly impressive, which in this ultra-compact segment is an excellent engineering achievement for space utilization.
Connectivity and personalization
The digital technologies in the Hipster Concept follow the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy to reduce costs and complexity. In addition, the interior is prepared for the YouClip personalization system, with eleven attachment points on the dashboard, door panels and trunk that can accommodate various accessories.
The interesting and very functional solution is that the smartphone becomes a digital key for unlocking and starting the car. Placed in a special docking station, it functions as a multimedia screen and displays the preferred navigation applications. The phone also serves as an audio signal source, connected to a portable Bluetooth speaker, which is compatible with the YouClip system and can be attached to various places in the trunk.
In conclusion, the Dacia Hipster Concept is not just a car, but a technological exploration of the limits of minimalism in electric mobility. The transformation of the personal smartphone into a central multimedia module and the introduction of the universal YouClip system are intelligent solutions that eliminate costly built-in components. It is a concept that boldly demonstrates that high efficiency in the EV segment can be achieved not with larger batteries, but with less weight and more intelligently designed, modular solutions.
From what we saw in Paris, we can safely say that the Dacia Hipster is more than a prototype; it is a clear response to the growing price gap in the automotive market. In a context where the average price of new cars in Europe has increased by 77% between 2010 and 2024, significantly outpacing household purchasing power, the Hipster represents a targeted counter-offensive that will appear in a series priced below 20,000 euros.
After Dacia Spring made electric mobility accessible, the Hipster Concept demonstrates the ambition to go even further, targeting a wide range of consumers with limited budgets. This concept has been developed entirely for everyday needs. It offers sufficient range to cover routine journeys, with statistics showing that 94% of drivers travel less than 40 kilometres per day.
Hipster therefore does not aim to be a record-holder in autonomy, but a record-holder in efficiency and affordability, requiring charging only twice a week for daily use. Whether in the city, in the suburbs or on a country road, this concept is positioned as the true, technologically lightweight solution to overcome the price barrier to electrification.
