German company Smart has embarked on a new phase in its history with an all-electric crossover, symbolically named Smart #1. In terms of dimensions, the novelty went just beyond what was previously produced by the world-conquering ultra-compact mini-car manufacturer: it is almost 4.3 m long and with a 2.75 m wheelbase it has exactly five seats.
In fact, the car can be compared with crossovers Hyundai Creta and Suzuki Vitara. In addition, personal space is guaranteed for the driver and front passenger – their seats are separated by a high center console. The sections of the rear sofa can also be adjusted individually – they move by 13 cm relative to each other.
The car has a fairly compact main instrument panel, but the purpose of this minimalism is the projection of the main information on the windshield – the diagonal of the virtual “screen” is 10 inches.
The basic arsenal of safety equipment is quite high, it includes 7 airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping system and blind spot monitoring system.
Clever
Customers are promised adaptive UI settings and broad integration with cloud services. For example, 20 levels and 64 colors are provided for interior lighting, and car keys can be delivered virtually by exchanging a digital identifier via a mobile app. In addition, a self-learning electronic system will allow the creation of an “avatar” of the driver – a voice assistant that can adapt to human needs.
The maintenance procedure also becomes partially virtual in the new Smart.
– more than 75% of the electronic control units included in the vehicle will update the software wirelessly without visiting the service.
In keeping with the Smart philosophy, the #1 index crossover retained a rear-axle driven rear engine layout.
Who condemned the famous compact Smart
The fact that only electric versions will remain in the Smart model lineup was announced in 2018 by Dieter Zetsche, then head of Daimler AG. And a year later in the German press seen Even the knowledge that the brand may close due to low sales volumes.
As a result, Mercedes-Benz managed to agree on the creation of a joint venture with Geely and the creation of a new model range. Concern formed a parity joint venture with Geely in 2019 and transferred the rights to the Smart brand. Now German experts are responsible for the design of the cars produced, and the technical content is the concern of the Chinese side.
Geely has SEA modular architecture at the heart of Smart #1, designed specifically for electric vehicles.
Available in five versions for different machine types. On the basis of this platform, it is possible to build both compact urban hatchbacks, premium sedans and supercars. The car is designed for power plants with a maximum power of up to 820 forces with front, rear or all-wheel drive.
However, the performance of the Smart #1 is far from the limit, but very impressive for a compact crossover:
The electric motor develops 272 horsepower and a top speed of 180 km/h.
On a single charge, the car can travel up to 440 km, replenishing the energy reserve from a 22 kilowatt charging station is possible in less than 3 hours.
Clever
In addition to Smart, cars of the new Chinese brand Zeekr use the SEA platform, and it is also planned to be used to create a compact Volvo crossover.
Where does the watch brand in the title come from?
It took Smart more than two decades before the decision to abandon gasoline engines and the switch to Chinese technology in 2018. The Daimler-Chrysler company developed the first examples of a two-seater urban microcar as part of a joint venture with Swiss watch giant Swatch, and the name itself stands for the words Swatch Mercedes Art.
Serial Smart cars went on sale in the summer of 1998. The second generation “intelligent” that emerged from the scene was developed in close cooperation with the French Renault, and the Forfour hatchback was close in design to the Renault Twingo. Factory launch of the five-door Smart in France ended in December 2021, and the lifecycle of the two-seat Fortwo model is nearing completion.
Source: Gazeta
