New electric Dacia Spring switches to Renault's RG-EV Small platform

Dacia has revealed the second-generation Spring EV, the first of four electric models under its 2030 roadmap. Built in Slovenia on Renault's RG-EV Small platform, it offers a 27.5 kWh LFP battery, up to 155 miles of range, 28-minute DC fast charging, and UK pricing expected below £18,000. Dacia has revealed the second generation of its Spring EV, the first of four all-electric models confirmed under the company's 2030 strategic roadmap announced last March. The outgoing Spring has sold more than 210,000 units across over 40 countries since 2021. The new model is built on Renault Group's RG-EV Small platform and is manufactured in Europe, at the Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia. Dacia says the platform allowed it to cut the vehicle's development cycle to under two years. New Spring is 15cm longer and 18cm wider than its predecessor, measuring 3.85m in length and 1.74m in width excluding mirrors. It weighs 1,212kg. The car uses a 60 kW (80 hp) motor producing 175 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 12.1 seconds and a top speed of 130 km/h. Energy consumption is rated at 12.7 kWh/100 km on the WLTP combined cycle. Power comes from a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with 27.5 kWh of usable capacity, giving a range of up to 155 miles WLTP combined. The standard onboard charger is a 6.6 kW AC unit, which takes a car from 15% to 80% charge in nine hours via a domestic socket, five hours 40 minutes via a heavy-duty socket, or two hours 55 minutes using a 7 kW home charger. An optional Charge Pack adds an 11 kW AC charger and a 50 kW DC charger, reducing the 15-80% charge time to one hour 55 minutes on an 11 kW three-phase supply or 22 kW charge point, and to 28 minutes on a DC fast charger. The Charge Pack also enables vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality for powering external devices. Boot capacity is 337 litres, rising to 1,283 litres with the 50/50 split rear seats folded. An optional 18-litre 'frunk' under the bonnet is available for additional storage. Turning circle is 4.95m. Wheel sizes are 15-inch or 16-inch depending on trim. The range is offered in two trim levels, Expression and Journey, both sharing the same motor, battery and standard charger. Expression includes 15-inch wheels, manual air conditioning, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors and Dacia's Media Control multimedia system. Journey adds 16-inch wheels, a hands-free entry card, a reversing camera, and the Media Nav Live system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, navigation and eight years of connected services. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster is standard across both trims. Four exterior colours are offered: Agave, Shadow Grey, Diamond Black and Glacier White. Dacia says it anticipates pricing the New Spring range below £18,000 before any government subsidies, with full UK pricing and specifications to follow.