Remember the Mercedes-Benz off-shoot Smart (spelt ‘s’ lower case)? It’s been more
than two decades since the launch of the revolutionary pint-sized smart fortwo.
You still see the odd fortwo and forfour around, but the brand bid farewell to Australia in
2015.
Well, in partnership with Chinese Geely, the smart brand has been re-invented as an
electric franchise and will launch soon in the UK.
The Smart #1 will initially be available in four versions: Pro+, Premium, Brabus and
Launch Edition
The #1 follows the Concept 1 from 2021, but with minimal changes. The suicide doors
have been replaced and larger lights and mirrors fitted, along with cut outs for the pop-
out door handles – but that’s about it. It also retains the Concept 1’s frameless
windows.
The #1 will be the first car to be offered online as well as through dealers.
The new #1 adopts a completely different format aimed at capturing a larger slice of the
electric market.
Based on Geely’s EV-specific SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform and
staying true to Smart’s long-standing drive for practicality, efficiency and style, it makes
full use of a 2750mm wheelbase with a spacious five-seat cabin and up to 421 litres of
cargo space thanks to a standard sliding second row (986 litres with the rear seats
folded).
The #1 Pro+ comes with an extensive range of driving assistance systems, panoramic
sunroof, adaptive cruise control, heated seats, a 360-degree surround camera,
intelligent voice assistance, LED lights and a powered tailgate.
The electric powertrain produces 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque, with drive to
the rear wheels.
With a 66kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery, it is expected to offer a driving range
of up to 440km (WLTP). Top speed is 180km/h and it dispatches the dash from 0-
100km/h in 6.9 seconds.
Premium adds Beats audio, head-up display, matrix LED headlights and automatic
parking.
While the Launch Edition combines unique design traits and exclusive aesthetics with
the long feature list of the Premium, with just 100 UK examples available.
Brabus ups the ante with all-wheel drive, 315kW of power and 584Nm of torque and a
0-100km/h time that is a whisker over 4.0 seconds.
It features more aggressive styling, bonnet vents, unique contrast paint and 19-inch
Dynamo wheels.
There’s also an Alcantara steering wheel, microfibre suede seats and headrests with
Brabus design stitching, along with red seatbelts and metal pedals.
“For us at Brabus, partnering with Smart feels completely natural, as we both keep on
challenging the status quo to improve our brands and products further,” Brabus CEO
Constantin Buschmann said.
“For the #1 we keep on pushing the envelope of our partnership to integrate the
essence of Brabus into a very capable car and future-oriented mobility concept, that is
accessible for a wide variety of people.
“We are very happy with the result and see the #1 as a more than worthy starting point
for a new era of our great relationship with smart going forward.”
The Smart Pro+ is priced from “just” £35,950 driveaway. No word whether we’ll get it
here in Australia, but you never know.
