The new #3 driver is: The greatest Smart of all time

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Everyone who enters the hotel parking lot in Santa Ponça, Mallorca (Spain) thinks they are attending the wrong event. Why is everything here full of Mercedes SUVs? But then you see the round logo with the arrow on every car and you realize, well, it looks like that. Because the design of Smart’s new Stromer #3, that is, Hashtag 3, reminds us of the models of one of the two Smart mothers with many details.

The next model after the still-fresh No.1 looks as if Mercedes couldn’t end the era of the old Smart brand quickly enough. The current electric Fortwo, which is still close in concept to Swatch co-founder Nicolas Hayek’s original Smart (1928-2010), is expected to finally be phased out next year. The two-door model attracted ardent supporters rather than casual customers, but it was never enough to make Smart profitable. So reset with the new partner.

Especially since the relaunch fits into the new Mercedes strategy: Targeting the luxury segment and higher margins; Prices will increase on all models. At the same time, many versions of the current small A-Class that previously guaranteed high volumes will be canceled in the next model generation. Smart’s new electric vehicles will perfectly fill the gap in the future.

Less cubic but more elegant

As for the design of the #3, Mercedes is clearly researching this; The technology is provided by the Chinese Geely Group in a joint venture. Because it’s not exclusive – Volvo’s EX30 also uses it – appearance and interior are much more important for its independence: #3 is the biggest Smart of all time – not just the coupé version of #1, but also a good 13 centimeters longer, wider and more generous loading volume between 370 and 1160 liters. It’s truly a grown-up SUV, not as cubic as its little brother but more elegant.

There are no gimmicks inside other than the fox on the clunky 12.8-inch central display, but it doesn’t do anything unless you talk to it. There’s plenty of room front and rear, three large air vents instead of slots like in #1, and the seating position is also convincing. The cockpit is nice, even if it’s mostly plastic. The nobility lies more in the equipment, which has numerous aids such as the head-up display and the unfortunately annoying speed limit warning. A brief crisis while searching for mirror adjustment; It needs to be activated from the touch screen first. And we go on a test tour in the north of Mallorca.

Charging with 22 and 150 kilowatts

Curvy, tight and breathtakingly beautiful. #3 moves nimbly through corners; Does it really weigh 1910 kilograms? The base five-seater is rear-wheel drive and has 272 hp (200 kW), while our Brabus version with all-wheel drive and 428 hp (315 kW) is called the top version of the Fortwo, as it once was. Bottrop’s (D) eponymous tuner approved only plug-in tracks. While the battery with a net capacity of 62 kWh should last 415 kilometers, we could not achieve this with a test consumption of 18.8 kWh / 100 km. Plus point: #3 is one of the few devices that can be charged in a wall box, with 22 kW charging power; The maximum on the fast charger is 150 kW.

Conclusion: You won’t find this much horsepower anywhere else for just 47,480 francs – and considering the equipment, the basic version is also cheap, starting at 34,980 francs. However, Smart has already announced that it will increase prices in January due to rising costs and a four percent car import tax that also applies to electric vehicles. So how does it continue? Since Smart doesn’t have to be mini anymore, anything seems possible. “There are still enough numbers,” grins Smart Switzerland boss Remo Guthauser. But “4” will be left out. Because this is considered an unlucky number in China.

Source: Blick