By Brian Byrne
The latest electric car brand to land in Ireland is the smart, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese automotive giant Geely, writes Brian Byrne. The smart #1 is the first of several models using the hashtag prefix that will be rolled out over the next 12 months, and is pitched against the likes of Hyundai’s Kona Electric and the VW ID.3.
The rear-drive car has chirpy looks and an interior that features quirky graphics, including a ‘madra rua’, an animated fox that sits on a bottom corner of the infotainment screen.
A 272hp electric motor with a 66kWh battery provides a rated range of up to 440km,
The smart #1 range will be marketed through a number of dealer outlets within the Mercedes-Benz passenger car network. There’s a choice from four versions, with an entry prize of €37,479.
