The beach buggy is having a moment.
First, Meyers Manx announced a resurrection with an electric version slated for 2024. Now, Dacia has entered the fray with the Manifesto concept car. It’s not just another styling exercise. It is a rolling declaration of intent.
This vehicle doubles down on what makes the brand tick. Utility. Simplicity. Cost. The Manifesto looks like a Swiss Army knife for people who hate luxury trim.
Stripping Away the Essentials
Drop the doors. Remove the windows. Lose the windshield.
That is the baseline here. The design is geometric. It is basic. It mirrors the no-nonsense ethos of Dacia’s production models.
The roof is modular. It shifts to carry different loads. Need space? It opens up. Need coverage? It closes.
Detachable Gear for Detached Lifestyles
The details reveal the true purpose of this machine.
A large spotlight is buried in the front bumper. It is not fixed. You can detach it. It becomes a portable torch.
The rear tailgate transforms into a work surface. A detachable power station allows you to plug in gear for outdoor activities. Campers might appreciate that the seat fabric detaches entirely to become a sleeping bag.
Why This Matters for Car Enthusiasts
This is not about high performance. It is about adaptability.
The Manifesto answers a specific question: How do you make a car useful for activities that happen away from the road?
Meyers Manx focuses on heritage and electric power. Dacia focuses on modularity and extreme utility. Both point to a growing interest in recreational vehicles.
The buggy is returning. It just looks different now. Less retro. More functional.
The market for these vehicles is shifting. It is no longer just about sand. It is about where you can go when you leave the pavement.
Dacia’s approach is stark. It removes everything that does not serve a direct function. It is a statement.
Is this the future of recreational driving? Or just a clever concept?
The answer lies in how people actually use their cars. The Manifesto suggests a future where the car is a tool. Not a status symbol. A tool.
The plastic body panels aren’t virgin material. They are recycled. Underfoot, the dashboard is wrapped in cork.
The interior can be hosed down.
It is rugged. The tires are puncture-proof. Think Michelin’s 2024 concept. No air to lose. No road to fear.
Under the skin, Dacia sees flexibility. The Manifesto could take electric motors. Thermal engines. Hybrids. The prototype is static. It will not go into mass production.
But the concept is not dead. The good ideas will bleed into future models.
