Another new city electric vehicle from Smart will be offered for sale in China in the very near future. It’ll be called Smart #3 and comes only months after the first customer deliveries of the Smart #1 SUV.
The sightings of the new model were first reported by cnevpost and were spotted in the government’s list of approved models which the public can provide feedback on.
The once Mercedes-Benz-owned traditional small city car maker is now making slightly bigger EVs in a joint-venture partnership with Volvo’s parent company, Geely.
The Smart #3 is 4,542 mm in length, which is 272 mm longer than the Smart #1 SUV. It will also be slightly lower than the Smart #1 model, giving it a sportier look.
The new model will come in both single and dual-motor versions. The single-motor version will have a 200 kW rear-mounted motor while the dual-motor version will also have a 115 kW front motor. Smart #3 also has a top speed of 180 km/h.
The power specifications are consistent with the earlier Smart #1 model which featured a 66 kWh battery pack.
Both versions of the new Smart #3 will feature a lithium battery with NCM chemistry and won’t opt for the cheaper, less energy-dense LFP packs found in most single-motor EVs in Australia.
The size of the battery in the new Smart is not yet confirmed but given the motor outputs, it may be very close to the Smart #1.
The Smart #1 will be heading to the UK in early 2023 which is also a right-hand drive market like Australia. With a Smart #1 Brabus performance edition also on offer that can get the smaller SUV from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, this could be an EV with a broader appeal.
Depending on the reception of the new model from Geely/Mercedes-Benz, Australia may also see Smart models on our roads in the next 24 months.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.