The Smart brand, part of the Daimler corporation, may not officially be sold on Irish shores, but its recent transformation to all-electric power could still make it of interest to Irish motorists. At the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show next week, Smart will unveil a significant upgrade to the entire range, focusing on design and connected technology.
Three body styles
Buyers still have the option of three different body styles, starting with the two-seat Smart Fortwo and the open-topped Fortwo Cabrio. Naturally, the four-seat, five-door model is called the Smart Forfour. They all get styling changes in terms of bumpers, the front grille and lighting, while full-LED headlights will be an option for the first time. New colour schemes will also be offered.
Interior focuses on phone tech
While the cabins of the Smarts get a few stowage tweaks to make them more practical, the major focus is on a significant move forward in the car's digital ability. And it's all focused on interaction with the owner's smartphone. So yes, there's an eight-inch touchscreen, but it's at its best when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. To get the most out of it, there's a new 'smart EQ control app', including Apple Watch functionality. The 'my smart' hub allows remote access, to lock and unlock the car and locate it, for example. It's also possible to check the battery charge and range or pre-set a cabin temperature before departure. In some markets, the car can be shared via smartphone, for free or for a fee, and there's also a theft recovery function.
Electric power for the city
All versions of the Smart are branded 'EQ' and powered by the same synchronous electric motor. Power peaks at 60kW (81.5hp), while there's 160Nm of torque on tap from rest. Smart limits the top speed to 130km/h in all cases and the 0-100km/h times vary from 11.6-12.7 seconds.
The lithium-ion battery pack has an energy capacity of 17.6kWh, allowing for a quoted range of between 140- and 159 kilometres. Buyers that opt for the 22kW on-board charger can top up the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent charge in as low as 40 minutes.