Smart Automobile Co.

 

Once upon a time, tiny: With the new electric Smart #1, the brand is reinventing itself and is striving to enter the international arena with the first compact SUV. It just had its world premiere in Berlin, and we wanted to explain this addition to the Mercedes-Smart family.

Smart #1 (pronounced "Hashtag One") is the first joint development between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. While the team from Germany was responsible for the design, the technical substructure comes from the Chinese part of the brand. The #1 is based on Geely's SEA platform ( Sustainable Experience Architecture), which enables different wheelbases, drive variants, and battery sizes.

 

The Design

Smart Automobile Co.

 

With an external length of 14 ft, the new Smart has finally outgrown the small and microcar segment and is now courting customers among the compacts. However, in this field, there is no lack of attractive competition.

There are other compact SUVs of this size, such as the Hyundai Kona, the Opel Mokka-e, or the recently presented Kia Niro EV. And the compact ones like a Renault Megane Electric or VW ID.3 are also part of the immediate environment.

The design really shows that it was developed by Mercedes-Benz. For example, chic, frameless doors and the floating halo roof is surprising in this vehicle class. Concealed electric door handles, an aerodynamics package, and the standard AGS (Active Grille Shutter) ensures remarkably good drag coefficiency.

In general, the progressive design is characterized by a powerful shape and the usual short overhangs at the front and rear. The robustness is underlined by matching design elements in anthracite and black in the lower body area.

 

The Interior

Smart Automobile Co.

 

Theoretically, this car could also have been called “forfive”, because up to five people can now be accommodated in the interior. The press is not allowed to try it out yet, but the long-wheelbase of 9 ft and the first look at the rear promise ample legroom. According to Smart, this is at the level of the Mercedes E-Class.

In addition, the #1 convinces with a high degree of variability: the rear seat bench can be folded down and moved in a 40:60 ratio, and the volume of the luggage compartment behind it varies between 273 and 411 liters. The middle seat was also provided with a hatch.

The trunk consists of two levels because under the flat, first level there is a somewhat jagged additional compartment for smaller items. There is another frunk under the hood, although this is extremely tight at 15 liters. The standard Mode 3 charging cable will hardly fit in here.

 

The Power

Smart Automobile Co.

 

If you take a look at the datasheet, it quickly becomes clear that the SEA platform is a serious alternative to VW's MEB and Renault-Nissan's CMP EV architecture. The drive of the #1 is on the rear axle, which promises high agility.

It is granted with a whopping 200 kW, which mutates the Smart #1 into the most powerful compact electric vehicle right from the start if we leave out certain all-wheel drive models. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, and the SUV is only limited to 112 mph.

The Smart also places itself in the same category as the competition when it comes to battery size. At the start, the #1 will only be available with the 66 kWh battery, with which 260 to 275 miles according to WLTP should be possible. A cheaper entry-level model with a smaller battery will follow later.

The largest Smart to date also sets standards in terms of charging capacity. It draws up to 150 kilowatts at its peak from the DC fast charger in order to be able to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in less than half an hour.

It wasn't that long ago that the Audi e-Tron was highly praised for its charging performance and charging time. Now there is plenty of charging power in a small form, even if the average charging capacity of around 90 to 95 kW is below that of the Audi.

And AC charging is also extremely fast. The #1 comes with a three-phase 22 kW onboard charger as standard. Here you have to calculate with only three hours of charging time to bring the battery from 10 to 80 percent. Blocking fees at the charging station are no longer frightening.

 

The Tech

Smart Automobile Co.

 

The central 12.8-inch screen is the control element. While brands like Polestar and Volvo have now sought to join forces with Google when it comes to infotainment software, Smart relies on its own operating system, which is based on Android. The infotainment system can be updated over the air (OTA), which incidentally applies to 75 percent of the control units onboard the #1.

The Smart will have its own app store from which you can install apps for games, podcasts, videos, etc. A smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is not yet planned. The manufacturer promises seamless software integration here - from purchase to app connection to infotainment. Whether the software keeps what was promised at the world premiere can only be found out when deliveries start in a good year. In any case, the first, purely visual impression is positive.

But just because you've grown up doesn't mean you've lost your sense of humor. That's what the Smart development team thought too, so they programmed a cute little fox onto the screen, which is available on call at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. He is the personal assistant that you can interact with by voice command.

 

Conclusion

Smart Automobile Co.

 

Sure, the Smart #1 is no longer what you think of when you think of the brand with the ultra-short city car. But the #1 retains a lot of its charm and transfers it to a more lucrative segment.

With this, Smart is growing out of its infancy and is mutating into a fully-fledged first car. If you look at it from this angle, you are faced with a tastefully modern compact with a promising interior concept and attractive technology. If the price is right, not much can go wrong.

And everyone who is looking forward to a successor to the blessed Fortwo should be told: Smart didn't want to officially confirm the development of the successor model - but they didn't deny it either. Apparently, the last word has not yet been spoken.

The #1 will only be delivered from the beginning of 2023 At first there will be the Launch Edition, which is limited to 1,000 copies throughout the world, and the practically fully equipped Premium Edition. The Launch Edition can already be reserved.

 

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Tankut Basar

Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.

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