Wild Dacia Manifesto concept previews future adventure tech

Dacia has revealed its latest concept vehicle and it’s perhaps not quite the sort of thing you’d expect from the budget-friendly Romanian brand whose first products are due to arrive in Australia with Renault badges in 2024.

Dubbed the Dacia Manifesto, the new concept is a plastic-bodied electric off-roader devoid of doors, windows or a windscreen, and designed first and foremost as a testbed for future technologies, innovations and features.

As such it’s not indicative of a future product or model, but rather the features one can expect to see on the brand’s forthcoming off-roaders… like the YouClip accessory fastening system and evolving Bring-Your-Own-Device smartphone integration.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Manifesto was made out of Mechano or was the latest LEGO Technic creation with its blocky panels, cool-looking front lighting signature and airless tyres.

Even the interior looks as if it’s been simply clipped in and comprised of just a handful of parts.

Designers say this has been done on purpose to make the vehicle look more rugged and capable, but more importantly, to remove the “barriers between the passengers and the environment”, leaving the occupants “fully immersed in nature”.

No details have been spilled as to the car’s electric powertrain, however, plenty of attention is being drawn to its plastic body and the package’s overall robustness, including the jet-washable interior.

The light body and low kerb weight is said to minimise the vehicle’s literal impact on the environment and maximise efficiency so the adventures can be longer and cleaner.

Other unique adventure features include seat covers that double as sleeping bags, configurable roof racks, removable battery with V2L functionality, recycled body panel materials, cork dashboard and airless off-road tyres that are said to be puncture-proof and claimed to last as long as the vehicle.

Dacia product performance director Lionel Jaillet said the Manifesto concept would keep evolving as the brand explored more ideas and develops current ones.

“We want to build a range of products that strengthens our brand promise, focusing on the essentials and adapting our vehicles for outdoor activities,” he said.

“Beyond our models, we are also working on innovative features that match our customers’ need and lifestyles even more closely.

“Manifesto Concept is a ‘lab’ to try out and mock up new ideas.”

Local readers and budget off-roader fans will be pleased to read the first Dacia models are expected to be launched in our market in 2024, potentially with the new Duster, Bigster and Oroch ute leading the charge.

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