The wraps have finally come off the new Smart #1, a 200 kW all-electric crossover that marks the reinvention of the brand. Here’s everything you need to know about the newcomer…

Over the past few years, the Smart brand – known for its diminutive ForTwo and ForFour city cars – has fallen by the wayside. But the city car marque is back, with the reveal of the battery-powered Smart #1 marking its reinvention.

Revived as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Chinese powerhouse Geely, the Smart brand has effectively transformed into a fully electric automaker. And the Smart #1 is the very first example.

So, what can we tell you about the new Smart #1? Well, the 1 820 kg crossover measures 4 270 mm long (making it a touch shorter than, say, a Mazda CX-3) and benefits from a 2 750 mm wheelbase. According to the company, the luggage compartment can swallow up to 411 litres, while an additional compartment up front (frunk, anyone?) adds a handy 15 litres of storage space.

A single electric motor drives the rear axle, delivering peak outputs of 200 kW and 343 Nm. While Smart has yet to confirm a 0-100 km/h time, it does say top speed comes in at 180 km/h. The 66 kWh battery pack offers a claimed range of up to 440 km, while maximum charging capabilities are listed as 22 kW in the case of AC and 150 kW in the case of DC.

Smart says charging the battery from 10 to 80% using the former system will take just under 3 hours, while the time drops to below 30 minutes when plugged into a super-fast DC charging station.

Thanks to a 2 750 mm wheelbase, the Smart #1’s rear passenger space looks reasonable.

In terms of exterior styling, the Smart #1 boasts a handful of interesting design elements, such as frameless doors, concealed door handles and a “floating” roof. Inside, you’ll find a 12.8-inch high-resolution touchscreen along with a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch head-up display.

“The world premiere of the Smart #1 in Berlin marks another milestone on the incredible road of development we began with the brand’s renewal. As the first of the new generation all-electric product family, the all-new Smart #1 is the perfect embodiment of this renewal,” said Tong Xiangbei, CEO of Smart.

“Now Smart has entered a new phase of full-speed development, further spurred on by our Europe and China ‘dual-home’ business strategy. Our team, working between Europe and China, are making fantastic progress, and we are extremely confident that the global market will embrace the unique, premium all-electric urban mobility experience offering from smart.”

It’s not yet clear whether there are any plans to relaunch the Smart brand in South Africa, after the previous line-up quietly left local shores back in 2019. Still, we can expect more electric Smart models to be revealed on the global stage in the coming months and years, so keep your eyes peeled. Here’s hoping another roadster is on the cards…

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