If there is one thing that I learned after almost 20 years of writing about cars, it is that buying a new often happens at the wrong time. As the competition increases, car manufacturers more often roll out updates to keep track of the rivals, so that you rarely get the best version of a model. In the past, the refresh of the mid -cycle was the only major change, but that is no longer the case.
Take for example the cheapest electric car in Europe. Dacia gave spring a large facelift in 2024, but an improved version is already on its way. Before 2026, the budget -friendly EV will receive much more powerful engines. The basic model, previously limited to 45 hp, now delivers 70 hp, while the higher trim jumps from 65 hp to 100 hp.
Photo by: Dacia
As you can imagine, the performance gap is huge. The basic version now accelerates from 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 km/h) in 10.3 seconds instead of a painfully slow 26.2 seconds. Choose the stronger engine and that interval drops to 6.9 seconds from 14 seconds. Dacia says there is up to 20 percent more power and torque between those speeds, making it easier for spring to keep pace with traffic outside of urban areas.
The improved engines draw energy from a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a capacity of 24.3 kWh; Renault’s first electric car to use this chemistry. It also supports DC chargers faster at 40 kW, an increase of 30 kW, which means that a load of 20-80% is possible in just 29 minutes.
21
Source: Dacia
Even more changes arrive just a year after the facelift. Dacia’s Petite EV finally gets an anti-roll bar for improved stability of bends. The engineers have also reversed the shock absorbers and the suspensions and upgraded the brakes. Further refinements of the body have reduced the resistance coefficient from 0.745 to 0.660 on cars equipped with 14-inch wheels.
The spring built by China will eventually make way for a new entry level at entry level based on the upcoming Renault Twingo, which is expected to be around € 18,000. This A-segment model has already been given an example through a Design Sketch Show a Boxy, upright hatchback prior to the 2026 debut.
#Dacia #Spring #Europes #cheapest #power