Smart, the brand formerly known for its tiny city cars, is reinventing itself as an EV-only maker of stylish and spacious crossovers. After unveiling the Smart 1, a small SUV that will go on sale in Europe later this year, the company has now revealed the Smart 3, a larger and sleeker coupe SUV that will join the lineup early 2024.
The Smart 3 made its world debut at the Shanghai auto show this week, and it will be shown to the public at the Munich auto show in September. It is based on the same Geely SEA platform as the Smart 1 and Zeekr X, but it is longer and classified as a compact rather than a small crossover. It competes with other coupe-SUV EVs, such as the Skoda Enyaq Coupe and the Citroen e-C4.
The Smart 3 is powered by a single electric motor that produces 268 hp and sends power to the front wheels. A more powerful version with two motors and an all-wheel drive is likely to be available in the future. The battery capacity is 66 kWh, which should give the Smart 3 a range of around 300 miles on a single charge. That's less than some of its rivals but still enough for most drivers' needs. The Smart 3 can also charge up to 150 kW, which means it can go from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes with a fast charger.
The design of the Smart 3 is similar to that of the Smart 1, but with some differences. The Smart 3 has a more aerodynamic shape, with a sloping roofline and a rear spoiler. The front grille is wider and features slim LED headlights. The rear has pixelated LED taillights and a diffuser. The Smart 3 also has a two-tone roof and black wheel arches, giving it a sporty look.
The interior of the Smart 3 is minimalist and modern, with a high-center console that flows into the dashboard. The main feature is a 12.8-inch touchscreen that houses the infotainment system, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. The driver also gets a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster that shows key information such as speed, battery level, and navigation. The Smart 3 has seven airbags and various driver assistance systems, such as blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
The Smart 3 will be built in China and exported to Europe, where it will go on sale in early 2024. The price has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be around £39,000 ($54,000). That's more than some of its competitors but still reasonable for a premium EV with plenty of space and style.
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The Smart 3 is a bold move for the brand, which is trying to appeal to a wider and more demanding audience with its new EV lineup. The Smart 3 offers a lot of features and performance for its size, and it could be a game-changer for the brand if it delivers on its promises. It also shows that Smart is fearless in experimenting with different genres and styles of EVs and that it has a vision for the future of mobility.
What do you think of the Smart 3? Would you buy one? Let us know in the comments below.
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