How do you beat the infamous Tesla truck at its own game? By creating a rebellious adventure buggy with no doors or windscreen, that actually walks the walk, of course…
T he Renault-owned Romanian company Dacia has a reputation for rugged vehicles that offer great value. This is no different with the Manifesto – a window free dune destroyer with chunky airless tyres, inbuilt camping gear, and plastic bodywork made from recycled rubbish.
The concept may not see mass production but its features will influence future Dacia models. That recycled bodywork, for instance, will be found on the next-generation Duster.
With the Manifesto, you can really go off the grid, in a small (3.58 metres) but capable SUV, free of doors and concerns for the outside world. All you need is your smart phone, which clips into the rubber dash, and connect your fave navigation app or in-car entertainment into the integrated ‘YouClip’ feature.
The concept does away with the two headlamp setup up front. Instead, a single headlamp is used, which can be detached and used as an insanely powerful torch to light up any path you come across – although other motorists might mistake you for a motorcycle.
The tyres are puncture-proof, meaning you’ll never need a jack, spare wheel, or road service. The only support you’ll need is the onboard camera which monitors your movements and will alert you if you’re drowsy – a perfect excuse to unzip the car’s seats which are actually sleeping bags. For tents and other outdoor gear, the roof rack can be shifted into many configurations, while the flat surface behind the seats features a workbench – handy stuff.
Unlike the Tesla Cybertruck, here you are one with nature. Dacia has created no filters between the passengers and their environment, just a crushing machine with extreme innovation – and we need one stat!
By Bill Varetimidis
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