Smart has grown up and introduced the compact, fully electric vehicle Smart #1. The project, which is being created in cooperation between two giants, Mercedes and Geely, builds on the practical niche function of its predecessors, but surprises with a significantly larger footprint, more capacity and many technical improvements. It is, of course, fully electric.
Unlike the ultra-compact – and mostly quite small – vehicles that Smart is known for around the world, the Smart #1 offers significantly more interior space, dominated by a redesigned, futuristic design. The exterior is characterized by smooth, flowing lines, frameless doors, folding handles and a panoramic glass roof. In short, the new compact SUV offers an all-round experience.
Smart, which is now only half owned by Mercedes and the other half by the Chinese car manufacturer Geely, is launching under a new banner with a completely renewed concept. At 4.27 meters, the new compact e-SUV is larger than any previously produced Smart and also has more power than its predecessors. Inside, the Smart #1 cockpit is equipped with a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, a Beats sound system, a 10-inch heads-up display and a 3D interface that can be controlled by voice command. But overall it looks very clean and unique. This is especially evident in the details that the switches and buttons are essentially only on the three-spoke steering wheel, which carry some of the history of the predecessors and will be recognized by fans of the brand.
The city SUV also has a digital key option for shared access. It means that you will be able to run the application itself. As for assistance systems, it has adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, high beams, traffic jam and parking assistant, and an active lane keeping system. The Smart #1 is powered by an electric motor with a power of 268 hp and reaches a speed of up to 180 km/h. It features a fast charging function that charges the 66 kWh battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes if you have a 50 kW DC charger at your disposal, thus achieving a respectable WLTP range of 440 kilometers. We expect that in real life the Smart #1 managed to travel around 330 kilometers.
In addition to regular sales at Mercedes-Benz car dealerships, Smart will also sell its vehicles online, the company says. Orders will begin in September 2022, and the first models of the brand from the joint cooperation between Mercedes and Geely should be delivered already in December of this year. There is no information about the price yet. But, as we are used to with this brand, it will not be cheap. Based on the announced range, we expect the Smart #1 to start at €40,000 for the entry-level model.
