Remember the tiny, three-metre Dacia Hipster concept? It might not be just a show car anymore. Patent images spotted by AutoWeek reveal a noticeably simplified and far more practical version of the car — one that actually looks ready for the assembly line. That said, a design registration alone doesn’t confirm production has been greenlit. But the signal is there.
The concept’s unusual split tailgate is gone, replaced by a single side-opening door. The patent also shows conventional exterior mirrors, reflectors built into the rear bumper, and simple flip-out side windows — solutions reminiscent of the Citroen Ami and Fiat Topolino. The front end has been simplified too, with a blank plastic panel filling the space between the headlights. No unnecessary styling here — just what can be cheaply stamped out.
The original Hipster Concept measures just 3 metres long, roughly 700 mm shorter than the Dacia Spring. Even so, it still fits four people, and boot space can grow from 70 to 500 litres. The prototype tips the scales at under 800 kg: a small battery, minimal trim, and a simple structure, all aimed at keeping both the price and energy consumption down. For comparison, the current Spring starts at €18,000 in the Netherlands.
The Hipster could theoretically slot in a notch below that — especially if it lands in the EU’s proposed compact EV category, M1E. The European Commission is weighing dedicated incentives for cars up to 4.2 metres long, though the final technical requirements are still being worked out.
And a rival is already looming. Citroen has officially confirmed it’s developing an affordable EV inspired by the legendary 2CV — built around the same principles of simplicity, lightness, and practicality.
The patent shows what the Hipster could become, but it doesn’t answer the big questions: where it will be built, what battery it will get, or how much it will ultimately cost. For now, this is a more realistic take on the concept — not a confirmed production car.
Tarantas.news previously reported that Dacia built the most powerful Sandero yet for Europe.
