Chinese-owned electric Smart, co-developed by Geely with Mercedes-Benz, is targeting a new (private) potential buyer public by introducing a new basic variant called Pro with a 49 kWh battery at a price €5 000 lower than the Pro + with a 66 kWh battery. It will be available in Belgium from 2024 at €36 495 (VAT incl.).

With the premium of €5 000, the Flemish government is offering from January 2024 for sub-40k euros electric cars bought by private persons; the Smart #1 Pro will become an attractive offer at €31 495. That’s precisely €10 000 cheaper than the Smart Pro+, already available for pre-ordering today. The penalty you’ll pay for this is 110 km fewer range: 310 km instead of 420 (WLTP).

Same power

This basic model will first be offered this autumn in Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland and will be introduced gradually in 2024 in other European markets, starting with Belgium and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, it will be offered at €37 395.

The Pro version becomes the loafer model of the Smart#1, positioned under the Pro+, Premium, Pulse, BRABUS, and the special Launch Edition. With the same 200 kW/272 hp motor as the Pro+, you’ll get the same power, acceleration from 0-100 km/hour in 6,7 seconds, and a 180 km/hour top speed.

The same power means more or less the same consumption, which comes at a price paid in range, with the cheaper but smaller 49 kWh LFP battery. The price reduction is almost entirely attributable to the battery price, avoiding you having to compromise little on quality or comfort.

The Pro features a panoramic roof, multi-colored ambient lighting, a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, and 19-inch rims. That also goes for the comfort of fast charging, offering 130 kW DC for charging 10 to 90% in thirty minutes. It’s not clear whether a 22 kW AC charger will be maintained standard in Belgium, which allows charging at home or work in three hours on a capable wallbox.

Smart #3 presented in Brussels

The news broke when Smart Belgium presented the latest #3 in Brussels on the 25th anniversary of the Smart brand’s first launch at the Shanghai auto show in April and in September at IAA Münich.

The coupé cross-over is 130 mm longer than the #1 but 80 mm lower and the longest car the brand has ever launched. It is similarly sized to the Volkswagen ID.5. With a wheelbase of 2 785 millimeters, it can comfortably transport up to five people.

Compared to a VW ID.5, the weight is a few hundred kilos less (1 810 kilos for the #3 against 2 117 kilos for the VW), which promises swift handling and acceleration. As it is built on the same SEA platform from Geely, the Smart #1 shares with the Volvo EX30 and Zeekr X, you can expect almost similar performances of the RWD and AWD versions with 200 kW up to 315 kW power.

The top speed remains 180 km/hour, acceleration in 5,8 seconds to 100 km/hour or 3,7 seconds for the Brabus version, and a 415 to 455 km range with the 66 kWh NCM battery pack. Prices have not been communicated yet, but the Smart #3 should become available in the first half of 2024 in Belgium.