The first model by Smart under its new Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture is the Smart #1 and said model has just launched in China.
Three variants are offered in the Middle Kingdom – Pure+, Pro+, and Premium. Prices for Smart’s first electric vehicle (EV) start from RMB 181,600 (~RM 120k) and tops out at RMB 226,600 (~RM 150k).
Power for the Smart #1 (pronounced number one) comes from a rear-mounted electric motor that does 272 PS and 343 Nm, juiced by a 66 kWh battery pack.
Smart said that the Pure+ and Pro+ variants offer a 535 km range, while the range-topping Premium variant offers a 560 km range.
Why the discrepancy in range? That’s because the Premium variant utilizes an electric motor that utilizes silicon carbide (SiC) technology, which gives it the additional 25 km range.
Charging the Smart #1 is done via its CCS Combo 2-type charging connector, which supports up to 22 kW AC charging and DC charging up to 150 kW. It takes 7.5 hours to charge from 5 percent to 80 percent state of charge, while fast charging takes less than 30 minutes for a similar state of charge.
As for its exterior, all variants get automatic LED headlights and LED tail lights. The key difference between the variants are the 19-inch wheels on the range-topping Premium variant; less variants make do with 18-inch units instead.
Stepping inside the cabin of the Smart #1 and you’ll be greeted by a large 12.8-inch 1080P touchscreen infotainment display, as well as a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster. There’s also a 64-colour ambient lighting system for the upper variants, while the Premium variant adds a massive 10-inch heads-up display and a 13-speaker Beats sounds system.
As with any Geely-developed model, safety is rather comprehensive. In the Smart #1, it is capable of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, which includes niceties like Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highway and Traffic Jam Assist, Auto Parking Assist, and Adaptive High Beam Assist.
What about Malaysia?
Earlier this year, Proton inked an agreement with Smart which will see Proton’s subsidiary, Proton Edar, being appointed as the importer, distributor, and dealer for Smart in Malaysia and Thailand.
On top of that, Proton has also opened no less than 30 new positions for its New Energy Vehicle (NEV) department – a Chinese term for electrified vehicles (xEV,new energy vehicle, including mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids).
The job vacancy poster carries the Smart #1 photo, which pretty much confirms the arrival of said electric SUV in Malaysia.
Keyword: Now in showrooms, Smart #1 EV launched in China, from RM 120k, up to 560 km range