Dacia took us to Paris to introduce us to one of the great new features of the year, the new Spring. In a static presentation, the Renault group brand gave all the details of the new 100% electric model, which will also be presented on Monday the 26th at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Dacia Spring is the brand's first fully electric model, a compact car that appeared in 2021 and of which 140,000 units have since been sold worldwide.
It is, from its initial conception, a practical and affordable car, designed to put electric mobility at the service of the greatest possible number of users. In short, a good idea to democratize the electric car.
In fact, in 2022 and 2023 it was the third best-selling electric vehicle in Europe. In addition, it has received awards for energy efficiency and carbon footprint and the highest score (5 stars) awarded by the European organization Green NCAP.
In its assessment, Green NCAP measured the impacts of the vehicle and its use on air quality and global warming, as well as its energy efficiency. In each of these categories, the Spring stood out for both its energy efficiency and its low environmental impact.
Designed for simple, accessible and emission-free mobility, the data provided through the vehicle's connectivity shows that the daily trips of Spring users are on average 37 kilometers. And at a speed of 37 km/h. Likewise, in 75% of cases, the car is recharged at home.
With this interesting information, Dacia claims that most Spring owners can use the car on a single charge a week.
More attractive than before, the Spring “benefits from the new brand language, thus confirming its status as an essential member of the Dacia family. We have given it a serious and self-confident design. Building on the success of the previous generation, the new Spring asserts itself without complexes,” according to design manager David Durand.
In any case, the new identity is manifested through the two black stripes, one at the front and one at the rear, which dialogue with each other through their shiny appearance, with specific matte striations on the rear. These two stripes are framed by the recognizable Y-shaped lighting signature, which is replicated in the low beam headlights and rear position lights, all of which are LED.
A novelty - and curiosity - are the contemporary graphics that adorn the front and rear bumpers of the Extreme finish, inspired by European cities. In addition, the 15-inch wheels, now standard on the versions equipped with the 65 HP engine, are covered with attractive hubcaps that contribute to its robust presence.
Also noteworthy are the side protections on the bottom of the doors, which are light, easy to install and easy to replace. And the chrome trim pieces have been removed. The same goes for roof bars, generally superfluous in a vehicle that is mainly used for short journeys, whose elimination saves weight and gains aerodynamics. The Spring is also the only fully electric vehicle that weighs less than a ton: 984 kg.
The new Spring remains a highly versatile car for urban environments. With excellent maneuverability, it measures only 3.70 meters in length and the tinted protections that surround the body allow it to resist everyday scratches. And its ground clearance is an advantage on bad roads.
Dacia offers two engines for the new 100% electric Spring: 45 and 65 HP. More affordable, the 65 HP engine is offered from the new Expression trim level, in addition to the Extreme trim level.
The most powerful engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 14 seconds. And perfectly adapted to urban use, the Spring equipped with the 45 HP engine is available with the Expression trim level. Accelerates, in this case, from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 20 seconds.
The compact 26.8 kWh battery is calibrated to meet the needs and lifestyles of users, without degrading the overall performance of the vehicle due to excessive weight.
The Spring has a range of more than 220 km for all versions, although homologation is still in progress. More than enough benefits for users, let us remember, who travel an average of 37 kilometers per day.
More practical than ever, the Dacia Spring offers for the first time a bidirectional V2L (vehicle to load) charging capacity that allows it to be used as an energy source to power electrical appliances. A specific adapter that plugs into the vehicle's charging connector, located at the front, makes a traditional 220V socket available.
In this way, the V2L system allows you to connect any device, from an electric barbecue to a scooter or an electric bicycle. And, for example, it is capable of making 2,200 coffees with an electric coffee maker with a single charge of the car battery.
Dacia completely renews the dashboard with a more horizontal design and the integration of two digital screens. In higher versions, the central multimedia touch screen is 10 inches.
The Spring also benefits from the innovative YouClip fixings compatible with accessories designed by Dacia, also available on the Duster. This ingenious system allows you to hold various accessories in key places in the car. As standard, 3 YouClip attachment points are integrated (1 on the dashboard and 2 on the center console).
And the Extreme trim receives robust rubber mats and door sills with a specific “topographic lines” design.
To comply with the latest safety standards, the Spring incorporates driving aids that are added to the equipment: assisted emergency braking system with detection of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles, traffic sign recognition with overspeed alert , parking assistance, emergency stop signal, lane change warning, lane keeping assistance, driver attention monitoring system and emergency call (eCall).
To make life easier for drivers, Dacia has added an ingenious button called “My Safety” that allows quick access to the preferred driving aid settings.
Standard on the Expression trim, Media Control is a multimedia system that is controlled from the steering wheel controls and displays multimedia information and phone calls on the digital instrument panel.
It also includes two speakers, a Bluetooth connection and a USB port. By connecting to the Dacia Media Control application, the driver can control the radio or media functions and access other functions such as navigation from the screen of their smartphone, with ergonomics designed to accompany driving.
