With the combination of the ‘#’ symbol followed by a number, smart has defined a recognisable family name (even if we have no idea how to pronounce it!) for its new generation of all-electric vehicles. Now often used to indicate the hottest topics in social media, the ‘#’ symbol is evocative of trendsetting in the digital era – fitting, because ever since its first production car unveiling at IAA in 1997, smart (yes, they are determined to use e.e.cummings lower case) has been striving for innovation and has remained a trendsetter in the automotive industry.
Designed by Mercedes-Benz to blend aesthetics and aerodynamics
The China Automotive Engineering Research Institute in Chongqing features the country’s most advanced automobile aerodynamics testing centre. Here, the smart #1 measured a drag coefficient performance of just 0.29, a high achievement, especially when compared side by side with SUV segment competitors. The drag coefficient is the core factor influencing a vehicle’s energy consumption, range, wind noise and stability at high speed.
The all-new car is the product of the collaboration of the Mercedes-Benz Design Studio team, which introduced a new design-DNA for the brand. Three keywords are building blocks for the new car: love, pure and unexpected. Combined with the frameless doors and the floating halo roof, the seamless treatment of glass sets design exclamation marks and expresses the new premium standard for smart.
Thanks to the ‘Sensual Producty’ (no, we don’t get it either, but some designer thinks it’s pretty good) design philosophy applied by the Mercedes-Benz global design team, the smart #1 features a pure and elegant streamlined exterior, a perfect balance of aesthetics and aerodynamics. The concealed door handles, the highly effective aerodynamics package, as well as the AGS (Active Grille Shutter) that is equipped as standard, all contribute to elevate aerodynamic performance. Wind resistance and noise have been significantly optimised, contributing to greater energy efficiency, comfort and driving range.
The all-new SUV smart #1 is the first car of the new generation of fully electric smart cars. It was specifically designed with the new mobility needs of users in mind. The urban companion gives a whole new sensation of space inside the cabin through its unique e-mobility platform architecture. This directly plays into meeting premium and high-tech demands of users. The interior design is defined by superior room efficiency. The smart #1 creates an emotional living room character, supported by unique design features such as the ambient light and the floating centre console.
The smart #1 delivers peak power of 200kW, 180km/h maximum speed and an AC charge of 10 to 80 per cent at 22kW in three hours. With DC superfast charging, this can be achieved in less than 30 minutes.
Feature highlights
The smart #1 is characterised by its advanced technologies. It always puts the user in the centre. With a dedicated app environment and a customised infotainment user interface, the car builds on purposeful and human-centric technology to connect people, places, and experiences both virtually and in real life. The new smart features an avatar as an intelligent companion with AI-based voice control, implemented in the 3D user interface. This is the centre of the connected ecosystem of the car, smart app and cloud data – all linked to the personal smart ID and protected by the highest cybersecurity encryption standards.
To meet the needs of users in terms of ever-changing mobility, the all-new smart #1 and all connected products and services form one coherent, intuitive, and adapting ecosystem.
smart sees the advanced technologies in the car as enablers for an authentic and worry-free electric mobility experience.
Flexible mobility through easy sharing technology by smart
The new vehicle platform also includes a digital key based on a peer-2-peer system: via the smart app, users can share the smart #1’s digital key with friends. The owners can decide which rights they want to transfer to the other users. Of course, the smart #1 is also designed with passenger safety in mind, which is optimally ensured by a wide range of vehicle assistance systems.
Mandy Zhang, Global CMO of smart Automobile Co., Ltd. says: “This is the first of the new generation all-electric product family, the all-new smart #1. We are extremely confident that the global market will embrace the unique, premium all-electric urban mobility experience offerings from smart.”
“The all-new smart #1 showcases our new design DNA of ‘Sensual Producty’,” says Kai Sieber, head of design smart, at Mercedes-Benz Design. “It is grown-up, cool and embodies beauty with smart solutions. Our new smart #1 has the potential to make smart a leading design brand.”
Would you ever buy an electric vehicle? What would convince you to? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Surging Australian EV market making the right decision even harder
