The Smart #1 Is the Brand's First Step Towards A Fully Electric Future
by AutoExpert | 8 April, 2022
A brand-new model called #1 marks the return of Smart to the crossover market. According to Smart Europe's CEO, Smart #1 represents the "nucleus of things to come" when it comes to tiny electric cars like the Hyundai Kona and Volkswagen ID.3.
Since Geely acquired a 50% stake in Smart from Daimler, this is the first new all-electric Smart vehicle to hit the market. It is also the first Smart product to be built on Geely's all-electric SEA platform. That translates to a maximum distance of 273 miles in the #1, owing to a 66 kWh battery pack housed in the floor.
The #1 will be launched with a single rear-mounted engine producing 264 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque. Other battery pack alternatives are expected to come, and the SEA layout can support up to three engines.
The #1 is also larger than any of its predecessors. It's around the same size as a Kia Niro EV or a MINI Countryman, according to Geely, but it's roomier on the inside. The cabin room is equivalent to that of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. A 12.8-inch infotainment system, a 9.2-inch driver information display, and a 10-inch heads-up display are all available on the inside. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive high-beam headlights are among the advanced safety features offered.
Smart has no current plans to market the car in the United States. Pricing has yet to be determined, but manufacturing is expected to begin later this year, with deliveries commencing in early 2023.
