The Dacia microcar pulls up in a parking space that would make any SUV turn up its nose. Three meters long, square like a Rubik's Cube, with handles like canvas straps. Pull one, and the door opens. Inside, four adults can comfortably fit. Outside, it weighs 800 kilograms.
The Hipster Concept isn't trying to look like a normal car. It's the opposite: an experiment in what you really need to get around the city. No frills, no built-in touchscreens, no cup holders you attach yourself. Range? Two hundred kilometers. Enough for five days of work without recharging. The estimated price is under 15,000 euros. Maybe less. Dacia has built a working prototype and wants to make it the "people's electric car." Will it succeed? No.
A cube on wheels
The dimensions are accurate: 2.990mm long, 1.550 wide, 1.530 high. Four wheels pushed to the corners, practically no overhangs. The Hipster Concept It looks like it was drawn with a ruler. The flat front integrates the headlights without separate lenses, protected by the hood. The rear hatch opens in two parts to access the trunk: 70 liters in the standard configuration, 500 liters with the rear seats folded down. Enough to fit even a washing machine, says Dacia. The doors open by pulling purple fabric straps. It's not an aesthetic gimmick: it costs less, weighs less, and is less likely to break.
The tubular frame supports colored plastic panels that do not require painting. And in fact, in the entire Dacia microcar only three components require painting: the front and side inserts. The side protections use Starkle, a partially recycled material developed by DaciaThe rear lights are mounted behind the glass tailgate, eliminating costs and the risk of breakage. Every detail reflects the "design to cost" philosophy: building well while spending the minimum necessary.
Inside the Dacia microcar: bring everything from home
The Dacia microcar's interior is surprisingly spacious. The vertical windshield and partially glazed roof amplify the feeling of volume. The seats have an exposed frame and perforated mesh fabric: light, economical, and cool in summer. Four adults can actually fit inside; this isn't brochure-style optimism.
Behind the steering wheel is a vertical screen for essential information. Stop. You bring the rest. The YouClip system offers 11 attachment points throughout the cabin for attaching modular accessories: smartphone holder for navigation and multimedia, Bluetooth speakers, cup holders, armrests, additional lights, and fans. Your smartphone also becomes a digital key for opening and starting the car. The philosophy is BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): why pay for integrated technology that becomes obsolete in three years when you can attach what you already have?
The passenger airbag remains exposed, uncovered. It's a bit like certain restaurants where the kitchen is visible: if you have nothing to hide, why spend money on covering it up? The Dacia microcar embraces a spartan aesthetic that almost becomes a manifesto.
Autonomy for living, not for the highway
The battery is not specified in size, but the declared autonomy is 200 kilometersAccording to French data, 94% of drivers travel an average of less than 40 kilometers per day. In Italy the percentage is similar. With these numbers, recharging twice a week becomes sufficientThe top speed should be around 90 km/h, enough for ring roads and secondary extra-urban roads.
The weight contained under 800 kilograms (20% less than the Dacia spring) improves energy efficiency. A smaller battery means lower costs and faster charging with a standard household outlet. No need for fast-charging stations, no more range anxiety for city dwellers.
European Kei car (if the EU says yes)
The Dacia microcar takes inspiration from the car kei Japanese: ultra-compact vehicles with easier regulations, reduced taxes, dedicated parking. The Italian Ministry of Economy has published a study which proposes a similar category for Europe. The European Union is evaluating so-called "E-cars": electric microcars with lighter safety and weight requirements than traditional cars.
If the regulation passes, the Hipster could avoid complex and expensive homologation tests, further lowering the final price. Dacia It doesn't confirm production dates or precise figures, but the stated goal is to stay under 15.000 euros. British Autocar even suggests less than £12.000A price that would make electric mobility accessible to segments of the population currently excluded.
Dacia Microcar: Do You Really Need It?
The average price of new cars in Europe increased by 77% between 2010 and 2024: much, much faster than household purchasing power. Electric cars cost on average between 30.000 and 50.000 euros.These figures are prohibitive for a large portion of the population, which (legitimately) fuels disaffection towards electric vehicles and slows their adoption. The Dacia microcar proposes a reset: eliminating everything that isn't strictly necessary, reducing weight and complexity, and lowering costs.
David Durand, design manager of Dacia, explains that the prototype is functional and technically feasible. Regulatory certainty and market confirmation are lacking. But the intention is clear: demonstrate that the accessible electric car is not a utopiaIt's a design choice. You just have to want it.
The Hipster doesn't solve all the problems of urban mobility. It doesn't replace a car for large families, it doesn't travel long distances, and it doesn't impress anyone at traffic lights.
It does one thing: get you from A to B in the city without drama, without emissions, without breaking the bank. If that's enough for you, you'll buy one.
