Dacia’s Manifesto Concept is a Radical Departure from Traditional Off-Roaders
Romanian automaker Dacia unveiled the Manifesto concept SUV back in September of this year. The company, a sub-brand of Renault has entered the modern SUV space with a rugged low-cost SUV concept that departs from the industry’s emphasis on premium materials and finishes.
Image: Dacia
A new kind of recycled plastic known as “Starkle” is used as the primary material on the vehicle and has been developed as a collaboration project between Dacia and its suppliers. Manifesto is pioneering the use of “Starkle” which the company hopes to become part of mainstream production models in the near future.
Image: Dacia
The Manifesto concept is purely for off-road adventures with the company having no ambitions for a road version of the vehicle. However, that may change in the future based on demand as all elements of the design as well as the vehicle’s proportions can easily be carried over to a road-going vehicle.
Image: Dacia
For now, the Manifesto remains an ultra-compact rugged off-roader that is 3.6m in length with no doors, no windscreen and a single headlight that can be removed and used as a torch. So, what is the ultimate purpose of this vehicle? According to the company, the goal was to create a car to support outdoor activities such as camping, rock climbing, forest ranging and more.
Image: Dacia
Another amazing feature of the Manifesto concept is its airless tires, another technology that is being pioneered by several companies and promises to revolutionize the tire industry by 2030. With airless tires, there is no need for an onboard spare tire which saves a lot of space and weight on the vehicle.
Image: Dacia
The interior of the Manifesto concept is exceptionally bare and minimal with infotainment reduced to nothing more than your own smartphone. A highly innovative modular system known as “u-clip” decks out the interior which allows a range of gadgets to be placed in various places throughout the interior. Since there are no doors, windows or windscreen on the Manifesto, everything in the interior from the cork dash to the seats are waterproof.
Image: Dacia
The Manifesto concept is a bold radical departure from traditional off-road vehicle that tend to focus more on luxury and comfort. Manifesto is a bare bones radical departure with an emphasis on minimalism. The vehicle is only a concept at present but offers endless possibilities for improvements and upgrades before a production model is determined.
