A name that’s returning to these shores is Smart, originally a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch to create a small city car. It evolved into a partnership with Mitsubishi but now it’s evolving again into the electric age, with a tag line ‘the new premium intelligent all-electric auto-brand.’ The Smart #1, launched this week, is the first model in a lineup that will grow over time.
The #1 comes with a 200kW (272 PS) electric motor powering the rear wheels and it also offers up to 343Nm of torque, so performance should be strong. The battery is a 66 kWh unit, with a claimed range of 420+km under WLTP rules. 22KW AC charging and 150kW DC are on offer, with a 10-80% charging time of 30 minutes.
It’s 4.2m long and sits on a 2.7m wheelbase to liberate as much passenger room as possible. Frameless doors, a panoramic glass roof and lots of glass contribute to an airy feel in the cabin.
Inside, there’s a floating centre console housing a high resolution touch screen for infotainment while a customisable ambient lighting system and a 13 speaker audio system contribute to the feeling of well-being.
Luggage space is 273 litres with that increasing to 411 with the rear seats down. These can fold 60:40 and can slide front and back by 13cm to prioritise leg room or luggage space. An additional 15 litres of storage is found under the bonnet.
Other features include Matrix LED headlights, seven airbags, driver assistance systems, an app, AI based voice control and a 3D user interface.
Four versions will be available, starting with Pro entry level, followed by Pro+ and Premium with a BRABUS edition topping out the range.
The starting price is €37,479 for the Pro trim.
