After the presentation of the already fourth generation of the purely electrically powered two-seater Smart Fortwo as a coupe, now follows the four-seat Smart called Forfour. Both are 10. March 2017 orderable. Within the city, the meanwhile whisper-quiet Mercedes daughters with Renault technology are in best hands, since the range of the two-door coupe is only 160 kilometers and the four-door even only 155 kilometers. The price for the Forfour starts at 22.600 Euro, of which then the environmental bonus in the amount of 4.400 Euro will be deducted. In summer 2017 is followed by a third electric smart variant, the folding roof convertible. Incidentally, then as the world's only topless e-mobile, but only with 155 kilometers purely electric range.
However, the topic of coverage is not taken so seriously by the smart managers because surveys have shown that the average customer would only want to travel around 35 kilometers a day anyway. Smart now swears so much on the electromobility bought by the French that they decided in the US and Canada to offer no more internal combustion engines. This decision was certainly not voluntary, after all, the small car sold in North America last year only about 7.200 times. Also in Norway, the new Smart is sold only with electric drive. All this suggests that in a few years Smart will probably only offer purely electric vehicles, maybe even from 2020, speculate insiders. With the models coming this year, however, double-track driving is still taking place in most markets. "In Germany, the entire smart model range is offered with both internal combustion engines and battery electric," says Smart boss Annette Winkler.
Our first look at and in the new four-door E-Smart is irritated by the two opening windows with rickety plastic closures on the rear doors. The appearance and the look do not really correspond to the premium claim of the Daimler subsidiary. Unfortunately, these details are now due to the cooperation with Renault, after all, the French deliver a large part of the total vehicle to the Swabians. Also, the two seats in the second row disappoint, because you really can not sit well here, no matter what height. The Forfour is more of a 2 + 2-Seater. Or rather just a two-seater, but with a large luggage compartment, which can hold considerable 975 liter with folded rear seat backs. Thus, the four-door Stromer is still perhaps the smartest Smart, with a total length of only 3,50 meters and a turning circle of 8,65 meters significantly more space and thus provides additional comfort and security.
When sitting on the driver's seat, the hands enjoy the thick, handy and high-quality multifunction steering wheel. Here you can operate the radio volume, cruise control and the multifunction display with your thumbs. Significantly cheaper, the four tennis ball-sized air vents of rough hard plastic in Mercedes star design. The seating comfort in the front row is not bad at all, only the support surface for the thighs is traditionally too short in small cars. The integrated headrests not only look good, they are also trustworthy.
The electric unit is started with a normal ignition key. Many colorful bars and diagrams appear, the battery is fully charged. The gear selector lever also knows four letters P, R, N and D. There is no gear, you drive with the impressive strong electric motor in only one gear. To reverse, it simply changes the direction of rotation of the engine, which incidentally comes from the Renault plant in the northern French town of Clèon. The suit at kickdown is, as we are used to from electric vehicles, remarkably strong. Even so, it is a long 100 seconds from the standard sprint to Tempo 12,7. The eSmart also proves here that it is actually intended for the city center.
Many accessories can be bought. A carabiner key fob with smart silhouette, beach volleyballs, T-shirts and USB keys in vehicle key optics. Recommended is the wallbox for 600 Euro, which will be available from autumn 2017 with an 22 kW fast charger. In about 45 minutes, then the batteries are recharged to 80 percent. But please do not install the wallbox yourself. It must be mounted by a qualified electrician and properly connected to the mains. (Wolfgang Wieland / SP-X)