As for many inventors, they seldom have the funds to take their visions into full production, which is what led to (firstly) Volkswagen and (latterly) Mercedes-Benz investing and believing in the smart car project. At last, Nicolas Hayek can state that his dream is now fulfilled, as Merc, having developed a plug-in all-electric version of its smallest model, the fortwo, in 2007, has gone the whole hog and will soon launch both it and the larger forfour (production shared with the Renault Twingo) as strictly electric vehicles. In doing so, smart becomes the first carmaker to ditch the internal combustion engine for battery power.
While the styling aspects of the new smarts are largely evolutions of their previous iterations, they remain standout design statements, complete with bolstered wheel-arches, the shortest of frontal overhangs, which makes them so easy to park, and a modest list of customisable options to ensure that only a few examples will be alike. The exterior treatments benefit from LED lighting but it is the interior that has taken a leap forwards into even smarter territory.
Although some carmakers have insisted on borrowing some of smart’s industry-leading but beguilingly ‘simple’ engineering and space utilisation tactics, none of them does it better than smart. Expandable luggage areas are just the start, as the dashboard layout advances the cabin detailing into another arena. As you would expect, the car’s connectivity with smartphone technology is right up there and the accompanying app is essential to its operation.
Working to a ‘three-step’ process, each of the three smarts, fortwo, fortwo cabriolet and forfour, is available in one of three trim levels, passion, pulse and prime, although customers can then select one of three equipment packages, Advanced, Premium, or Exclusive (sadly, this latter package is not available in the UK market as yet). All that is left (apart from selecting from the options catalogue) is a choice of colour, which ranges from vibrant to subtle, even classy, en-route to creating a thoroughly customised smart car.
The EV driving experience provides instant torque, seamless acceleration (0-60mph in around 11.0s; top speed of around 80mph), all conducted in total silence (apart from a minute amount of tyre rumble). Thanks to clever packaging and the return to the ethos of the brand, the concept remains light and resource-friendly, while offering sustainable mobility for built-up zones.
A standard 22kW on-board charger, with rapid-charging function, means that new smarts are charged from 10% to 80% range in just under 40 minutes, where three-phase charging is possible. With its 3-pin cable, there is no need for a wall-box. Ranges (WLTP) are from 80 to 100 miles, dependent on model. New smarts can use virtually all charging stations and both registration and billing can be carried out with the all-new smart EQ control app. Just as the smart makes life in the city easier, its new design remains simple, liberating and even verges on radical. Clear, minimalist design ensures a high-class appearance across all aspects.
