EVx 2023: smart #1 local launch ahead of Q4 launch – come check out the 66 kWh, 440 km EV at SCCC!
There is no shortage of shiny new electric cars at paultan.org EVx 2023 at Setia City Convention Center this weekend, but no newer events smart number 1. Brand reborn – now a 50:50 Joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely – will launch in Malaysia at EVx and its first product, #1 (pronounced hashtag one), is here Smart Hap Sengstall’s.
New Smart is an electric-only brand, and #1 goes to Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), a modular electric vehicle platform that also underpins things like lotus flower (just across the lobby at EVx), Zeekr 001 And Polestar electric car. The SEA2 version of the facility is shared with Zeekr X and recently revealed Volvo EX30. Mercedes-Benz is in charge of vehicle design – what do you think of Stuttgart’s efforts?
The #1 is supposed to be a B-segment SUV, although to these people it looks like a full-size hatchback. The car’s shape is aggressive and square from the width (32 mm wider than Honda HR-WORLD despite being 115 mm shorter) and a very long wheelbase of 2,750 mm (140 mm longer than the HR-V), the rear axle pushes 19-inch wheels to the corners – with almost no overhang at the ends. This square base allows the #1 to be tall (46 mm taller than the HR-V) without feeling awkward.
The #1 Premium on display at the EVx is powered by a rear motor with 272 PS (200 kW) and 343 Nm of torque to the rear wheels. That’s good for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 180 km/h. There will be a high performance #1 Brabus Variation that adds a front-wheel drive to make it AWD, 428 PS (315 kW), 543 Nm and 3.9 seconds in the standard sprint – it’s coming soon, so stay tuned.
The #1 Premium’s battery is a 66 kWh lithium nickel manganese (NMC) cobalt cobalt oxide (NMC) element that provides a WLTP rated operating range of 440 km. The maximum DC charging rate is 150 kW and 10-80% state of charge (SoC) can be reached in 30 minutes. There’s always been a lot of focus on DC fast charging, but EV’s main power source has to be AC and the No. 1 stands out in the field with 22 kW AC when most of the competition hits 11 kW max.
Having a built-in 22 kW AC charger makes a big difference – smart Malaysia says charging from 10-80% of the SoC takes just three hours. This means you can have a long lunch or break at home, and when you’re done, EVs will be replenished without paying the DC rate. Of the electric vehicles currently on sale in Malaysia, only the ’55 quattro’ variants of the Audi Q8 e-tron/e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan support 22 kW AC and some with around 7 kW or less.
This Premium variant comes equipped with a kit and is likely to become a best-seller in the lineup, which will feature a base model and dual Brabus engines on top. Everything one would expect from a top-notch executive is here, and perhaps more.
On the outside you’ll find Matrix LED adaptive headlights, front/rear sequence signals, lights on the front grille/door handles/side logos, elegant lights on the base of the rearview mirror, 19-inch ‘Rotor’ alloys with 235/45 tyres, a panoramic ‘halo’ roof, roof rails, heated and anti-glare rearview mirrors and an automatic trunk kick (when reversing).
We can’t show you live photos of interior however, due to the embargo and the EVx display car is blacked out, but the T-shaped cockpit with a very high center console, above is a horizontal 12.8-inch independent touchscreen. To its right is a slim 9.2-inch instrument cluster complemented by a 10-inch color head-up display (HUD), which displays all essential information, including navigation. There’s also Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Qi wireless charging, and stay tuned – Beats’ 13-speaker 640W sound system.
In terms of comfort, you’ll find leather-wrapped, ventilated and electrically adjustable front seats with memory, a courtesy driver’s seat (which automatically reverses for easier entry/exit), a touchscreen-adjustable front passenger seat (for the driver), dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents, an N95 air-conditioning filter and a central cooler (directed from AC). There’s ambient lighting, of course – you can choose from 64 colors and different top and bottom combinations, in Mercedes style. Of course, there is also a full set of ADAS driver support.
Last but not least – if the EV performs as well as an everyday car – it’s space and practicality. The #1’s width and high roof are evident upon entering, the ample space in the back, as well as the comfort of the seats. The rear bench has 130 mm of 60:40 sliding adjustment if you want to extend the trunk length; capacity ranges from 323 to 411 liters, or 986 liters when the rear seats are folded flat (there is also a ski hatch). Under the hood is a small 15L bin, which can be useful for spicy foods, but only small packages.
Smart #1 will launch in Q4 of this year and pricing has yet to be announced. So, what do you think of the Smart #1’s package and looks, and how much will this well-equipped electric SUV cost? More about #1 smart and Our first impressions here.
LIBRARY: 2023 smart #1 Premium at EVx 2023
LIBRARY: 2023 smart #1 Premium in Malaysia
LIBRARY: 2023 official image #1 smart
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with MyTukar.
