Smart It has become the first conventional brand to switch to the exclusive manufacture of electric cars. both he the update of the Fortwo as the Forfour, revealed before the Frankfurt Motor Show, will be sold only as electric. If you are one of those who wants a gasoline one, don't worry. Do you still have some available in stock.
Smart maintains that the facelift of its EQ models it is a “return to its origins”. Mercedes had been toying with the idea of creating an electric-powered urban vehicle even before Smart was created. Although this ended up materializing in an independent brand with engines of various types.
The arrival of Fortwo and Forfour EQ 2020, is nothing more than the culmination of a multi-year plan. After offering electric versions since 2007, Smart announced that in 2018 it would become a "fully electric urban mobility brand". Since then he has been cutting back on fuel options bit by bit.
The new Smart electrics
The outside of the new Fortwo and Forfour EQ, have been described by Daimler chief designer Gorden Wagener as "radically simple«. Something that could already be discerned in the teaser they posted a few days ago. The grille has been lowered and increased in size. Although much of its surface has been erased as electric ones require less air cooling.
For the first time, the Fortwo and Forfour have a different design on the front. The four-seater has a wider grille at the bottom that houses the round headlights, while the two-seater has a wider grille at the top to keep said lights out. According to the brand, the first is more "dynamic" and the second more "friendly and familiar".
There are still no images of the interior, but those responsible for Smart maintain the center console has been redesigned and a new compartment has been added to place a mobile phone or two removable cup holders. It also includes a new infotainment system. simpler with better connectivity with smartphones.
They eliminate several of the functions that were previously integrated, to leave more prominence to the applications of the device you connect. In such a way that new features will be added to the car immediately, when the user updates his phone or downloads new applications.
To this we must add that Smart has developed a new app to install on the phone or tablet, which allows on request from the device data as the charge level of the car o program the air conditioning remotely so that when we get to the car it is at a suitable temperature. A very useful function in very cold or very hot climates, at the cost of charging the battery.
Motor and battery of the new EQ
What has not changed is precisely the load capacity and the power of the engines. Being a simple makeover aesthetic and equipment no relevant mechanical changes. The battery continues to have a capacity of 17,6 kWh that allows autonomies depending on the equipment of between 147 and 159 km for the Fortwo, between 145 and 157 km for the Fortwo Cabrio and 140 and 153 km for the Forfour. All of them values obtained according to the homologation cycle WLTP.
Variable autonomy
The new WLTP cycle is not only more realistic than the outgoing NEDC, it also includes consumption according to the versions chosen and the equipment they have. Hence the autonomies that we indicate about these models are variables. If you care a lot about how far a car can go on a single charge, keep in mind that the ones that tend to weigh this down the most They are oversized rims.
The engines are still In the back And power 82 hp and 160 Nm of by. This allows them to accelerate from 0 to 60 km/h in 4,8 seconds (4,9 for the cabrio and 5,2 for the Forfour) and from 0 to 100 km/h in 11,6 seconds (11,9 for the cabrio and 12,7 the Forfour). The maximum speed it is still 130 km/h for all models.
What has been added to the new Smart Fortwo and Forfour EQ are features such as radar-based kinetic recovery. A system that allows the car to automatically slow down behind the vehicle in front of it, in such a way that it charges the batteries in the best possible way and helps to increase its autonomy.
How long do they take to charge?
As for load times. With such a small battery, even a standard household plug can be charged in just over 3,5 hours. Although the best system is 22 kW on-board charger, which can recharge the battery from 10% to 80% in just 40 minutes.
Pricing for Smart's new electric range has yet to be released, but given the lack of mechanical upgrades, drastic changes aren't expected.
