Dacia, the Renault-owned brand, has revealed a major update to the Spring, their small electric car that was launched in 2021 as the cheapest EV in Europe. At the 2023 Brussels Motor Show, the brand showcased the Spring Extreme, a variant that boasts a new electric motor and a sportier, SUV-inspired design. The highlight of the Spring Extreme is its Electric 65 motor that provides 48 kilowatts (64 horsepower), a significant boost from the standard Spring’s 33-kW (44-hp) motor.
Spring Extreme comes with a new Electric 65 motor that delivers 48 kilowatts (64 horsepower) and is paired with a unique gearbox that multiplies torque transmitted to the wheels. This allows for greater acceleration and energy recovery over a wide range. Although, Dacia did not provide specifics on the exact range.
The Spring Extreme retains the same 26.8-kWh battery that allows for a range of 220 kilometers (136 miles) in the WLTP combined cycle and 305 kilometers (189 miles) in the WLTP City cycle. However, the combined range sees a slight decrease of 10 km (6 miles) compared to the existing version, while the city range remains unchanged.
The new Electric 65 motor is not replacing the existing Electric 45 motor, which will continue to be offered on the Essential trim level.
The Extreme grade replaces the popular Expression grade and has a sportier, outdoor feel with exclusive design features such as a new Slate Blue color, Copper Brown accents on the roof rails, mirror caps, wheel hubs, front bumper trim and rear Dacia lettering, and striping with a topographic design on the doors.
The interior of the Dacia Spring Extreme features Copper Brown accents, embossed Dacia Link logo on the front seats, topographic patterns on the door sills, and topographic print on the front rubber floor mats. Additionally, the Spring Extreme includes a standard 7-inch touchscreen with navigation and reverse camera.
Following its debut on the Spring, the Extreme trim level will be rolled out across other Dacia models, including the Sandero, Duster and Jogger.
Customers can order the Dacia Spring Extreme in France starting January 17, with prices starting at €22,300 ($24,180) before subsidies and other market-specific incentives. This makes the Spring Extreme €1,500 ($1,625) more expensive than the base Spring Essential powered by the 44-hp motor. Deliveries in France and other European markets will start before the summer.