Dacia's Electric Vehicle Tortoise Recently Received a Hare Transplant | Carscoops

      Dacia has updated its affordable Spring electric hatchback.

      The previous 44 hp and 64 hp engines have been enhanced to deliver 69 and 99 hp, respectively.

      This refresh also includes a new LFP battery and an anti-roll bar.

      The Dacia Spring demonstrated that electric vehicles can be very economical, provided you have the patience to wait. The original models were notably sluggish, but Dacia has introduced two new versions that significantly improve performance while remaining budget-friendly.

      Previously, the Spring was available with a couple of trims and two motor options, the 45 and 65, with their horsepower ratings translating to 44 hp (33 kW) and 64 hp (48 kW).

      These figures are a far cry from high-performance vehicles. The 65 model took 13.7 seconds to achieve 62 mph (100 km/h), while the 45 model took 19.1 seconds—performance reminiscent of mainstream cars from over four decades ago.

      Dacia has not disclosed the zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) time for the new 69 hp (70 PS / 52 kW) Spring 70, but it has provided in-gear acceleration data highlighting the significant improvements made with the new engines.

      The previous 45 and 65 needed 26.2 and 14 seconds, respectively, to accelerate from 50-75 mph (80-120 km/h), while the 70 can do it in 10.3 seconds. Furthermore, the 99 hp (100 PS / 74 kW) Spring 100 completes this in just 6.9 seconds and reaches 62 mph in 9.6 seconds, which may not equate to hot hatch speeds but will feel energetic in comparison to its predecessors.

      To manage this newfound power, an anti-roll bar is featured for the first time, along with an updated 24.3 kWh lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery. Although the electric range remains at 140 miles (225 km), the previous 30 kW on-board charger has been upgraded to 40 kW.

      While this upgrade may seem trivial next to the latest 400 kW electric vehicles, the Spring’s small battery allows a 20-80 percent charge in a manageable 29 minutes with a DC charger, and a 20-100 percent charge via a 7kW wallbox takes 3 hours and 20 minutes.

      Price remains an important factor. Although Dacia has not announced prices for the updated Springs, it is hoped they will not deviate significantly from the pricing of previous models. The base 45 model, priced at just £14,995 ($20,200), was among the most affordable electric vehicles available in the UK.