The Hipster Concept prototype has already been unveiled to the public and could go into production soon, according to Reuters. However, this requires the EU authorities to agree to create a new category of small cars. The new “Hipster” does not fit into the existing varieties of models, so it needs special regulation. The car will not only be budget, but also tiny in size: it is only 3 meters (9.84 feet) long and weighs less than 800 kilograms.
The three-door, square-shaped “Hipster” will have a top speed of about 90 km/h (55.92 mph) and a range of 150 kilometers. According to Dacia, the average car travels less than 40 kilometers per day at an average speed of 56 km/h. The car is equipped with cloth seats, minimal electronics and straps to open the doors instead of handles for the sake of lowering production costs.
As Reuters notes, it was Renault, together with Stellantis, that led the campaign to create a new category of small cars in the EU that will have fewer mandatory features than larger cars, especially in terms of safety.
This approach, proponents of the concept argue, is justified in the current climate. They believe that a mini-car for the city can do without many “contrivances” and additional options, while remaining safe. Most importantly, this is the only way to significantly reduce the weight and price of cars, which for many Europeans are becoming an unacceptable luxury.
As an argument, Dacia cites statistics, according to which the average price of a new car increased by 63% between 2001 and 2020.
