Mercedes-Benz’s urban-focused Smart minicar brand is about to go cold-turkey on internal-combustion engines in the U.S. And it’s easing that transition by lowering prices on its remaining offering: the redesigned-for-2017 Fortwo Electric Drive.
Before the $7500 federal EV tax credit, or any state incentives such as California’s $2500 Clean Vehicle Rebate on EVs, the Smart Electric Drive coupe starts at $24,550. That’s $1200 less than last year’s model in its base Pure trim. The Electric Drive cabrio, which isn’t quite a convertible but a model that has a large sliding canvas roof, bottom-lines at a significantly higher $28,750—partly because it skips the base trim.
Even with the price drop, the Electric Drive coupe is considerably more expensive than the $15,400 base price for last year’s gasoline Fortwo. That has to have dealers worried, especially given the fact that the gasoline version has been the stronger seller. Looking back at 2015, the last year both models were in their previous-generation form, Smart sold about four times as many gasoline Fortwos as it did Electric Drives.
The new-generation Electric Drive’s range has increased slightly, to an estimated 70 to 80 miles versus the outgoing model’s 68 miles. Although the Fortwo—gas or electric—is unlikely to be purchased for long highway drives, that range still isn’t going to cut it for some American commuters. The electrified Smart also is missing the DC fast-charging hardware that would make the occasional longer jaunt a lot easier. Smart does note, however, that its 17.6-kWh battery pack now charges with a 240-volt wallbox (or public charger) to 80 percent in about 2.5 hours, or to 100 percent in about 3 hours, thanks to a faster 7-kW (versus 3.3-kW) onboard charger.
The Electric Drive has rear-wheel drive, just as with the now-discontinued gasoline Smart Fortwo. A new motor system makes 80 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque—up from 74 and 96 in the previous model. But based on first drive impressions, we’re expecting the new car to be a bit slower than the previous car, due to about 250 pounds of additional mass.
All models in the lineup now include cruise control—which seems silly given how little time the car is likely to spend on the Interstate (although top speed is 81 mph)—as well as power windows, power steering, and Bluetooth connectivity, while options include JBL audio and various appearance items such as matte and metallic finishes. The Fortwo launched in 1998 as a car affiliated with Swatch, and it still holds true to that aesthetic in a few ways, such as the three choices for the contrasting color of its Tridion safety cell. There are now three upholstery choices—cloth, leather, or synthetic leather—and a new Climate package that includes a heated steering wheel, heated seats, and “additional insulation for climate control, comfort and efficiency.”
The new Smart Electric Drive arrives at dealerships beginning this summer. There are 85 Smart dealers in the U.S., of which 82 are combined with Mercedes-Benz facilities and three are considered Smart-only. For those three, at least, it may be a stressful summer.
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