Malaysia-bound Smart #3 premieres in Europe; Corolla Cross-sized EV with up to 455 km range, faster than Smart #1, price equals from RM 219k
Sanjay · Sep 5, 2023 10:48 AM
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Munich's IAA Mobility event played host to the global introduction of the all-new, all-electric (EV) Smart #3, following its initial unveiling at Auto Shanghai in April.
Base Pro+ variant
Top of the line Brabus
Though the bulbous genealogy is apparent from the Smart #1, the #3 is equally distinctive with its own elements. The front includes a wide A-shaped grill and slim LED headlights, while the rear has a noticeable spoiler. 19-inch wheels are standard (the Brabus variant gets 20-inch rollers), and a panoramic glass roof is standard.
What's more important is the size, and the #3 is bigger than the #1 in every way:
Dimensions
Model
#1
#3
Length (mm)
4,270
4,400
Width (mm)
1,822
1,844
Height (mm)
1,636
1,556
Wheelbase (mm)
2,750
2,785
Standard fitments are a full-HD 12.8-inch central display and a 9.2-inch HD instrument cluster, while higher variants add things like a 10-inch head-up display and a Beats audio system with 13 speakers.
As for the interior, synthetic (powered and heated) leather seats are standard, as is the powered tailgate. Climbing the variant range nets buyers niceties like ambient lighting and Duo leather seats.
Performance and charging
Premium variant
A 272 PS/343 Nm electric motor is standard (just like the #1) while the Brabus' twin-motor (all-wheel drive) variant will get a 428 PS/543 Nm combined output.
Smart is quick to point out that the #3 is 'sportier than the #1', courtesy of its marginally quicker 0-100 km/h times: the Brabus #3 does the century sprint in 3.7 seconds (3.9 seconds for the Brabus #1), while the Pro+ variant clocks in at 5.8 seconds.
Range has gone up a bit too, between 415 and 455 km now on a single charge; an improvement partly brought upon by a slippery body that has a drag coefficient of 0.27 cD. All variants are powered by a 66 kWh lithium nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery.
Charging is quick, taking under 30 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent using 150 kWh DC fast-charging. AC charging is up to a maximum 22 kWh that promises a sub-3 hour charging time to get from 10 to 80 percent.
Full ADAS is standard, encapsulating these features:
Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function
Lane keeping assist
Blind spot detection
Traffic sign recognition
Highway assist with lane change assist
Traffic jam assist
Parking assistant sensors
360-degree camera
Automatic parking assist (Premium and above)
Adaptive high beam (Premium and above)
Trims, variants, pricing
The 25th Anniversary Edition
Smart has also confirmed a limited 25th Anniversary Edition for Europe (aside from another 3 variants, including Brabus) that comes with specific design elements and a special colourway, along with a 'panoramic galaxy roof' with embedded LED details.
The Smart #3 will be available to customers in Germany by the end of this year, with additional European markets following in early 2024.
Malaysian availability confirmed
In April 2023, Proton confirmed that its subsidiary Pro-Net will be launching the Smart #3 after China and Europe. However, its immediate priority is the Smart #1, and that's due for its launch here in Q4 this year.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
