Louth Motoring: The launch of Smart #1

The onslaught of electric cars continues with the arrival of another “new” brand here in Ireland. When I say new I mean new to Ireland because Smart has been around for 25 years.

Motor Distributors Limited are now the importers of Smart here in Ireland adding to their two other brands – Mercedes-Benz and BYD.

You’ll have seen Smart cars on Irish roads for sure, but they have all been private imports.

The MDL deal now makes it official. Until the launch of their first model here, aptly called the “#1” I’d never actually driven a Smart Car.

I’ve longed to as I think the original Smart ForTwo is a cracking concept executed brilliantly for city living. It is a zen way of making sure you use the car for the transportation of you whilst at the same time making you OCD about carrying unnecessary baggage.

That principle has gone with the new #1 as the configuration is a normal 5-seater with four doors and a hatch. The brand is also an entirely electric one and future models – all starting with the # symbol - will all be all-electric.

Smart is a 50/50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely – the Chinese manufacturer that also owns familiar names like Lotus, Volvo and another all-electric brand, Polestar. The split is Geely makes the cars in China (no surprise there) with Mercedes-Benz doing practically everything else and you can see that interior influence when you sit inside the car.

The #1 is a compact crossover landing smack in the middle of the premium sector. Gone are the days when you had to earn your spurs here because buyers, and buyer loyalty, is not as rigid as it once was.

The car has a 66kWh battery claiming, not promising, a range of 420 - 440 kms. If you must recharge when out and about from a rapid charger it’ll take 30mins to get from 10% to 80%.

Funny how this fact has become the new 0-60mph stat for a car. Coming soon enough will be a smaller 49kW battery version which will reduce cost and range but in the EV space I’m still a biggest is best believer.

The #1comes in 4 trims Pro, Pro+ and Premium with a range topping Brabus edition – a relationship Smart have had for a long time.

I’ve always hankered for a Brabus Smart Coupe and there is one near me that I ogle over at the local supermarket.

Prices start from €37,479 going all the way up to €54,170 for the Brabus edition. The savvy or early adopter buyers have already created a waiting list for the Brabus edition showing how tenuous buyer loyalty is.

Smart cars are on sale now and you’ll be able to see them at some Mercedes-Benz dealerships with the two brands under the same roof.

I’ll be getting my hands on the new Smart #1 soon for a full review here in Democrat Motoring.