Smart announces Brabus-tuned version of the #1
The all-electric Smart #1, which was presented in April, has been refined by the tuning company Brabus. The aim is not only to improve the car’s appearance, but also to increase its performance.
While Smart only mentions the design features of the Brabus kit in its announcement, according to Chinese media, the Brabus-tuned Smart #1 could include two electric motors for up to 324 kW of all-wheel drive. The presentation is planned for 26 August at the Chengdu Motor Show in China.
However, Smart itself hints that the power will increase – even if no figures are given yet. “The smart #1 BRABUS reimagines the urban performance driving experience for the e-mobility age,” says Mandy Zhang, vice president of global sales, marketing and after-sales for Smart Automobiles. “We are rebuilding our shared vision of the urban performance car from the ground up and can’t wait to see customers’ reactions when they see the aggressive design empowered by BRABUS and feel the class-beating performance.”
As is visually apparent, the Smart #1 has little to do with the previous Smart models. The #1 is based on Geely’s SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform. With a battery size of 66 kWh and a 200 kW rear-wheel drive, the #1 significantly outperforms previous electric Smarts. However, the 4.27-metre-long electric SUV is also a full-fledged compact model and not a small car.
The connection between Smart and Brabus, which has become known as a Mercedes tuner, dates back to Smart’s Daimler days – even then there were Brabus offshoots of the Smart models with combustion engines and also for the Smart EQ. Even after Smart’s move to the joint venture with Geely, contact with Brabus has apparently remained close.
“Over the past 20 years, smart and BRABUS have co-created a high-performance urban legend and won the hearts of countless performance car enthusiasts,” says Brabus CEO Constantin Buschmann. “We are excited to continue our two-decade partnership with smart into the e-mobility era.”
The Smart #1 Brabus is another example that the tuning forge is also changing. Only recently Brabus presented a tuning kit for the Mercedes EQS. The focus was not on performance, but rather on further improving the aerodynamics and efficiency of the electric sedan.
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