Dacia unveils its “electric” buggy without an engine. Although it does not announce a production vehicle, it does present innovations that will be present in future creations of the low-cost brand.
Dacia Manifesto is a new model born, an electric Buggy that imitates the Meyers Manx 2.0 model. The time when Dacia had a very low-end brand image that was not flattering is long gone. The manufacturer has not been as low-cost as before for a few years now. The Romanian company has moved upmarket, although still faithful to its original philosophy, and has even tried electric vehicles with its new Dacia Spring. Today, the manufacturer is taking a new turn, reflected in a new logo and a revised stylistic identity.
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A TRUE MANIFESTO
Nevertheless, it still wants to keep its initial recipe, focusing on the essentials and targeting customers who love outdoor activities. That’s why the company has just unveiled its latest concept, Manifesto. The Manifesto symbolizes Dacia’s strategy but doesn’t announce a new model, as the brand’s press release states. This “electric” buggy of a new kind, which has nothing to do with the recently unveiled Meyers Manx 2.0, aims to present innovations that will be integrated into the manufacturer’s future vehicles.
In terms of style, this concept is surprisingly uncluttered. The front end features the new Dacia logo and a futuristic light signature. But what stands out is the single headlamp on the left-hand side, which can be removed and turned into a flashlight. In addition to the modular roof, which can be used to carry luggage thanks to fixing bars that can be deployed in multiple configurations, the Dacia Manifesto also features an innovative YouClip system, which makes it very easy to attach various modular accessories. This feature will be found on other production models in the future.
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Dacia Manifesto: A PRACTICAL AND WELL-THOUGHT-OUT INTERIOR
But it’s the interior that’s worth a look. Designed for outdoor adventures, the Dacia Manifesto has a waterproof driver’s seat that can be washed with a hose. Also noteworthy is the removable seat cover, which can be transformed into a sleeping bag. It remains to be seen whether this clever idea will find its way into a production model in the next few years.
To respect the environment, the manufacturer has given its concept a body mostly dressed in Sparkle, a material made from recycled polypropylene. The interior is made of cork, a material that is also used in the Mazda MX-30 electric car.
To simplify matters to the extreme, the Manifesto concept is not equipped with a touch screen. The driver can place their smartphone on dedicated support in the dashboard’s center to take advantage of the navigation and all its applications. Nevertheless, the “electric” buggy has a small digital display showing the speed.
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Dacia Manifesto: A BATTERY TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY
The concept car is equipped with a removable battery (with a capacity of 2.25 kWh) capable of supplying electricity through a simple household socket. Thus, during excursions in the wilderness, it is possible to recharge or power various objects, such as a phone or a kettle. A system that reminds us to some extent of the bidirectional recharge already proposed by some manufacturers. But this battery is not a traction battery feeding an electric motor.
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Dacia Manifesto: A “GREEN” ENGINE OR NO ENGINE?
If nothing has been said yet about the technical specifications of this concept, rumors say that it would not have an engine. But as David Durand, the brand’s design director, explained to Automobile Magazine, it would necessarily have a green engine. No further details.
The only thing we know for sure is that it’s equipped with an all-wheel drive system. Designed to get off the beaten path and drive on difficult terrain, the Manifesto is equipped with puncture-proof airless tires. This promising technology could eventually find its way onto production vehicles. Something Michelin has been working on for many years. Called Up, this revolutionary tire could arrive in three to five years, between 2025 and 2028. Goodyear is also working on a similar system, which should be available by 2030.