The Smart car brand has announced that its all-new electric compact SUV, the Smart #1, will arrive in the UK later this summer, with prices starting from £35,950 on the road. The new vehicle will initially be available in three production variants – Pro+, Premium and BRABUS – as well as a highly exclusive Launch Edition. The smart #1 will be the first car to be available online through Smart’s direct-to-customer service, in addition to the brand’s nationwide retailer network.
We loved the Smart ForTwo when we reviewed it back in 2021, so we're looking forward to the next evolution of this popular city-car brand. Smart has been at the forefront of electric vehicle development, with the #1 combining expertise from its years at the vanguard of electrification, premium design from Mercedes-Benz and advanced engineering power from Geely’s BEV-dedicated SEA platform. The #1 is said to offer “next-generation mobility today” with its exceptional level of standard specification, driving assistance systems, panoramic sunroof, Adaptive Cruise Control, intelligent voice assistance, LED lights, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree surround camera.
The Smart #1 Pro+ starts at £35,950 on the road and offers a WLTP range of 260 miles, and 0-62mph performance of 6.7 seconds. The Smart #1 Premium, priced from £38,950, has an even greater WLTP range of 273 miles with a state-of-the-art silicon carbide invertor and heat pump for improved response and efficiency, as well as a 22kW three-phase on-board charger for 10-80% AC charging in less than three hours. The exclusive Smart #1 Launch Edition starts from £39,450 and combines unique design traits and exclusive aesthetics with the long feature list of the Premium.
The Smart #1 BRABUS is priced from a rather serious £43,450 and, according to its designers, sets standards unmatched by any rival at its price point. The transformation continues within, where an Alcantara steering wheel, microfibre suede seats and headrests with BRABUS design stitching add to the sporty feel of the car alongside red seatbelts and metal pedals. The standard 200 kW of power is increased to 315 kW, with torque up from 343 Nm to 584 Nm, and all-wheel drive to ensure traction and aid acceleration, as well as a specifically calibrated BRABUS driving mode, resulting in an even more thrilling smart experience with 0-62mph performance of just 3.9 seconds.
David Browne, CEO of Smart UK, said: “We are very proud of what we achieved with the Smart #1… We look forward to the media and public alike getting to experience the entire #1 line-up as we build toward our full market launch later this summer.”
The proportions of the #1 take a different design direction to that of the diminutive city cars for which the brand is known, expanding smart’s appeal and broadening its audience. Despite this, smart’s dedication to efficiency continues in the new car’s use of space, all-electric powertrain, and excellent value for money. By combining this ethos with the SUV body style, premium build quality and state-of-the-art features which modern buyers demand, the #1 offers a compelling combination of size and space, luxury and frugality.
Smart has long been at the forefront of affordable and accessible electric vehicles, and the Smart #1 is a testament to its dedication to innovation in the field of efficient, innovative mobility.
As soon as we've had a chance to drive it – we'll let you know how it feels to leave 98% of the world's ICE cars for dead at the lights, in a rather cute summer-friendly number.