At the Brussels Motor Show, Dacia unveiled a new flagship trim of the Spring called the Extreme. Interestingly, besides the different spec, the Dacia Spring Extreme introduces a more powerful electric motor, although the extra oomph is not so extreme.
The highlight of the Dacia Spring Extreme is the new “Electric 65” motor that produces 64 hp (48 kW / 65 PS). This may not sound like much but it represents a healthy increase over the 44 hp (33 kW / 45 PS) of the standard “Electric 45” variant. The electric motor is mated to a new gearbox allowing for “greater acceleration and recovery over a wide range”. Hopefully, the update makes the Spring zippier, since the original was one of the slowest models in the market.
The electric model retains the same 26.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is good for a WLTP range of 220 km (137 miles) in the mixed cycle and 305 km (190 miles) in the urban cycle. Compared to the less powerful trims, this is 5 km (3 miles) less in mixed conditions but 10 km (7 miles) more in the city.
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Visually, the Dacia Spring Extreme introduces the new “Slate Blue” shade for the exterior, combined with Copper Brown accents on the roof rails, mirrors, wheel hubs, Dacia lettering on the tailgate, and bumper intake garnish. It also features “topographical pattern” stickers on the profile making it look more like a tiny crossover. As with all models of the Romanian automaker, the Spring comes with the redesigned grille and the new DC emblem that were introduced to Dacia’s range last year.
Inside the cabin, Dacia designers added Copper Brown accents on the center console, air vents, and door cards, alongside Copper Brown stitching on the seat upholstery. Finally, the topographic pattern of the exterior stickers is mirrored on the door sills and rubber floor mats. Standard equipment includes the 7-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, rearview camera, and electronically adjusted mirrors. Manual air condition, auto headlights, a USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, AEB, and six airbags are standard from the base spec Spring Essential.
In France, Dacia will start taking orders for the Spring Extreme on January 17, with the first deliveries expected before summer. Pricing of the flagship trim which replaces the Expression starts from €22,300 ($24,123), not including the government subsidies. Mind you, the entry-level Dacia Spring Essential now costs €20,800 ($22,477), or €15,800 ($17,069) if you deduct the €5k eco bonus that applies to EVs in France. This is a far cry from the original sticker price of €12,403 ($13,400) back in 2021, due to inflation and the increased cost of raw materials.
Since the Dacia Spring’s market launch in spring 2021, the company has received more than 100,000 orders. While most people purchase the affordable EV as a second vehicle, Dacia says it is the main means of transport during the week for 90% of multi-vehicle households. According to official data, Dacia Spring owners drive them for an average of 31 km (19 miles) per day, with an average speed of 26 km/h (16 km/h), while in 75% of the cases, charging takes place at home for an average of 3.5 hours.
