The revised Spring is only 3.70 meters long and, at 984 kilos, is lightweight. Image: Dacia/DPP
The Dacia Spring will have a new look from summer. There are also changes under the hood – but not as many as you would expect.
Christopher Clausen / t-online
An article by
The Spring is Dacia’s first electric car – and thanks to its affordable price it is quite successful. But visually it didn’t really fit into the Romanians’ product range, which in recent years has become increasingly self-confident and bold (like the new Duster) occurred: the little Stromer was too round, a bit too simple, a bit unfashionable. There is a reason for this: Before the Spring 2021 started in Europe, it had already been available in China as the Renault K-ZE for two years. By the way, it is built there by Renault cooperation partner Dongfeng.
After a minor facelift in 2022, there is now a radical treatment for the cheapest electric car in Switzerland. Even if Dacia itself speaks of a “new spring”, nothing has changed in some important points.
The look: more self-confident and modern
The look is much more self-confident than before: for example, on the front hood and the rear with a striking dark stripe between the taillights. According to press material, there is only one component that has not been changed on the Spring: the roof. The small car completely dispenses with chrome and a roof rack.
While the basic shape of the Spring does not change, what is particularly noticeable at the rear is the black strip with lettering that connects the taillights. Image: dacia/DPPI
For comparison: This is what the previous spring looks like
image: dacia
Where the interior previously had the charm of the 2010s, there is now a fully digital seven-inch speedometer and, in the higher versions, a high-mounted ten-inch central display with navigation function. The developers have revised both the materials and the color palette: white elements frame the instrument cluster, the selector lever for the automatic transmission and the door shelves. The middle ventilation nozzles are also framed in color – depending on the equipment version in light gray, red or olive green. In addition, the functionality has also improved somewhat: the steering wheel is now height-adjustable.
Spruced up: The cockpit now looks much more modern, but still uses visibly cheap materials. Image: dacia/dppi
For comparison: the previous cockpit
image: dacia
Technology: Not everywhere better than before
Despite the visual changes: The Spring has remained almost the same in terms of both dimensions and technology. 3.70 meters long (previously: 3.73 meters), weighs less than a ton (top version “Extreme”: 984 kilos, six more than before). The trunk holds 308 to 1,004 liters, and a so-called “frunk” with a volume of 35 liters can also be installed under the front hood as an accessory: The word is made up of “front” and “trunk” (English for trunk) and ensures additional storage space, for example for the charging cable.
For an additional charge: The so-called “Frunk” under the front hood. Image: dacia/dppi
Dacia has upgraded the assistants – also due to the new regulations in the EU: There is now an emergency braking system on board (in town/out of town with vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection), traffic sign recognition with speed warning, rear parking aid, emergency brake signal, lane change warning, lane departure warning, attention warning and emergency call (eCall). This should increase the chances of achieving a better crash test result than when it was introduced in 2021: There the spring only received one out of five stars – not only because of occupant protection (49 percent degree of compliance), but also because of the lack of assistance systems.
However, there is little new when it comes to the engine variants: As before, the Spring comes with either 45 or 65 hp – although the weaker version is probably less popular. In the best case scenario, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h can be achieved in 14 seconds.
There is also little increase in the battery: As before, the energy storage device holds 26.8 kilowatt hours – meaning, according to Dacia, ranges of more than 220 kilometers are possible. The exact values are not yet known, but the current model also manages around 230 kilometers with its battery and in the 65 hp version. In the future, there will be a regenerative braking system (recuperation) that generates electricity like a generator when rolling and braking and thus feeds the battery. The chassis is now designed for 15-inch wheels, and the parameters for assistance systems (including ESP and ABS) have been retuned. The suspension and damping have also been revised, according to Dacia.
New in three equipment variants
In the future, the Spring will have three equipment variants instead of two: “Expression” will be located between “Essential” and “Extreme”. The basic version (including central locking, rear parking beeper) is always available with a 45 hp engine, while customers can choose between 45 and 65 hp in the middle version “Expression” (manual air conditioning, rain and light sensors). The top version “Extreme” (including a multimedia system with central display, bidirectional charging) is only available with 65 hp.
There is little electrifying news when it comes to charging: As before, the Spring is equipped as standard with a seven kW AC charger that can charge the battery from 20 percent to 100 percent in less than eleven hours using a household socket or in four hours using a seven kW wallbox. A 30 kW DC charger is available as an option – so everything is as usual. This enables fast charging from 20 percent to 80 percent in 45 minutes. Various automotive magazines had previously speculated that Dacia could improve the charging performance and also the batteryin order to stand up to new competitors such as the Citroën e-C3: The French mini-SUV, built in Europe, is said to offer a range of around 320 kilometers for around 23,000 euros, i.e. a hundred more than the Spring offers. After all: The top version of the Spring now also supports bidirectional charging, so it can serve as an energy source for e-bikes or other devices.
A look behind the steering wheel: The new, digital instrument cluster. Image: dacia/dppi
Dacia argues that it has improved the technology based on the real usage behavior of Spring owners: The car is then driven 37 kilometers a day, spread over four trips. The average driving speed is 37 km/h and more than 75 percent of charging takes place at home. The motors and battery size are ideal for customers and their needs, so charging once during a working week would be enough.
This is what the revised Spring should cost
Orders start in spring, the market launch in summer 2024. Dacia is still silent about the prices: So far, the Spring has been available without discounts from 20,000 francs (with discounts from 14,990 francs). However, the brand announces in its press release that the Spring remains “the cheapest electric car in Europe”.
An electric car for the masses – that’s what the “ID. 2all” from VW
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An electric car for the masses – that’s what the “ID. 2all” from VW
When it comes to electric cars, the large and expensive models have so far dominated. But now VW has introduced an affordable small car that is supposed to impress in terms of performance and comfort.
Source: Volkswagen AG
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2024-02-22 01:15:11
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