German city car specialist Smart has revealed its first-ever SUV in the form of the #1 EV. The Smart #1 electric SUV is also the first car from the marque since the joint venture partnership between Mercedes and Geely concerning the brand’s ownership was announced in 2019.
Smart #1 Specs & Dimensions
The Smart #1 electric SUV is powered by a single motor that drives the rear axle. The Smart #1’s electric motor produces 268bhp and 343Nm of peak torque. Smart claims that the #1 SUV has a top speed of 180km/h.
The electric motor on the Smart #1 draws power from a 66kWh Lithium-ion battery pack (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt chemistry). This electric battery pack gives the Smart #1 a maximum range of 440 kilometres on a single charge as per the World harmonized Light-duty vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) testing.
The battery pack on the Smart #1 supports fast AC and DC charging.
When plugged into an AC outlet, the Smart #1 charges at a maximum rate of 22kW which allows it to replenish its battery pack from 10 – 80 per cent in around 3 hours. However, if you plug the Smart #1 SUV into a heavy-duty DC charger, the electric SUV will charge at a maximum rate of 150kW. This allows the Smart #1 to charge up from 10 – 80 per cent in under 30 minutes.
The Smart #1 electric SUV is 4,270mm long, 1,822mm wide and 1,636mm tall. The electric Smart #1’s wheelbase is 2,750mm long and the SUV weighs in at 1,820 kilogrammes. The boot offers 411 litres of loading space while the smaller unit under the bonnet can hold another 15 litres.
Smart #1 Design & Features
The Smart #1 SUV looks very similar to the Concept #1 vehicle from last year. Both the front and rear of the electric vehicle feature a simple lighting setup with a lightbar connecting the headlights/ tail lights. The front bumper of the Smart #1 features a large air intake along with smaller vents on either side.
The body of the Smart #1 features smooth surfaces. At the sides, the Smart #1 EV sports large wheel arches that play host to 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/45 R19 tyres. At the rear, the diffuser like element on the bumper and the sloping roofline are the standout features.
Step inside the Smart #1’s cabin and you’re greeted by a minimalist’s dream cabin. The Smart #1 EV’s dashboard is dominated by a 12.8-inch infotainment screen which offers a host of connectivity options while also allowing over the air updates. Other features include a 9.2-inch widescreen driver’s display and a 10-inch heads up display.
The Smart #1 also comes packed with driver aids which allow for Level 2 autonomous driving. These features include adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot assist along with highway and traffic jam assist among others. The Smart #1 gets 7 airbags as standard.
Speaking at the unveiling of the #1 EV, Tong Xiangbei, Global CEO of smart Automobile Co. Ltd. said, “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. 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.”
Thoughts On The Smart #1 Electric SUV
The Smart #1 SUV marks the brand’s transition into a fully electric vehicle manufacturer. The #1 is also Smart’s biggest car till date and sees the brand shed its ‘city car’ image. How the public responds to the new direction that Smart is heading in is something we’ll only get to know when the #1 goes on sale in international markets in 2023.
Keyword: Smart #1 Electric SUV Revealed - City Specialist Goes Electric