8 minute read
We hitch a lift in reborn Smart’s debut EV
We’re in pole position to s
● First taste of new Smart #1 ● EV has 273 miles of range
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YousufAshraf
Yousuf _ Ashraf@autovia.co.uk @ashrafoncars
WE’VE been here before, to a point. The
Smart brand is launching a vehicle that’s not a super-compact city car, but this time, the new, all-electric #1 crossover hopes to spread the rebooted brand’s wings a little further than the ForFour that came before it. And we’ve been for a ride in a prototype.
The #1 has a similar footprint to the MINI Countryman. It’s a bigger car than pictures might suggest, the benefits of which are apparent when you climb aboard. Despite a tall, Mercedes-like centre console that cocoons the front occupants, the cabin is spacious and accommodating, with plenty of rear legroom and a 411-litre boot.
Smart claims that there’s as much room in here as you’ll find in a Mercedes E-Class, and while we can’t verify that without putting the two side by side, the #1 is a very spacious car for its size. Some of the trim materials are still being finalised, but perceived quality is high, too. The leather-trimmed facia is nicely padded and the swooping dashboard looks thoroughly modern.
The #1 is the first model to use the new Geely-developed SEA platform, and it sets the trajectory of future electric Smarts. It will initially be available with a rear-mounted 268bhp electric motor and a 66kWh battery offering a range of 273 miles. The car’s 400V architecture enables 150kW rapid charging, too, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking around half an hour.
The road was wet during our passenger ride and our pre-production test car had a windscreen seal issue, so we’ll reserve judgement on overall refinement until we get behind the wheel of the #1 in production
FIRSTDRIVE
GROWTH
Smart #1 is similar in size to MINI Countryman, while EV drive boosts interior space
form. Even so, the car does feel solid and relatively well isolated at town speeds, with smooth, near-silent running typical of an EV.
One or two foibles emerge when picking up speed. The car’s suspension calibration has yet to be signed off, but as it stands, the #1 struggles to contain all of its 1,820kg over undulating roads. A quick sequence of bumps can send the car jostling around, and we’re hoping that the final production car is more settled. Sharper imperfections are absorbed fairly well, though, and the #1 rounds off the worst jolts.
Given that the battery pack is contained within the floor, the #1 doesn’t roll as much as you might expect in faster corners. You are conscious of the car’s weight as the chassis fidgets over mid-corner bumps, but it feels mostly secure and stable from the passenger seat. According to Smart’s engineers, the #1’s chassis is surprisingly adjustable with the ESP system slackened off, which bodes well for the rumoured dual-motor Brabus version.
With 342Nm of torque on tap, the electric motor is able to mask the car’s bulk, and acceleration is punchy, if not quite hairraising. There’s plenty of performance for most situations, but power begins to tail off when the battery charge has depleted – below 30 per cent in this case – and top speed is limited to 112mph.
Essentials
Smart#1
Price: £32,000 (est)
Powertrain: 66kWh battery, 1x motor Power/torque: 268bhp/343Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive 0-62/top spd: TBC/112mph
Range: 273 miles
Charging: 150kW DC/ 10-80 per cent 30 mins
ONSALE Dec
Hottest Golf marks 20 years of R
TO commemorate 20 years of its R performance sub-brand, Volkswagen has unveiled a Golf R ‘20 Years edition’ .
Thanks to a 13bhp power hike that increases the VW’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine’s output to 328bhp, this is the fastest production Golf ever. It features a new ‘Emotion Start’ system that flares the revs to 2,500rpm on start up.
While the mechanicals are fundamentally the same as the Performance pack-equipped Golf R, the engine and seven-speed dualclutch automatic gearbox have been recalibrated, with the latter offering more aggressive manual shifts in the sportier driving modes. The turbo is preloaded under part-throttle to reduce lag.
The powertrain tweaks give a marginal improvement in the Golf R’s 0-62mph time, with the 20 Years edition covering the benchmark sprint in 4.6 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the standard model. Golf R 20 Years cars get the R Performance pack as standard, which includes a torquevectoring rear differential, plus additional ‘Special’ and ‘Drift’ driving modes that work with the Vehicle Dynamics Manager to further broaden the model’s ability.
A prominent roof spoiler and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels also feature; the latter is available with optional semi-slick tyres to improve grip and track performance.
Unique ‘20’ badging on the Golf’s B-pillars and ‘20 R’ puddle lights that
illuminate on unlocking the car identify this special-edition version of the hot hatch. Inside, the Golf R 20 Years boasts carbon-fibre dash and door panel inserts to enhance its status as the sportiest Golf on sale, along with blue R branding for the steering wheel, sports seats and key fob. Pre-orders for the Golf R 20 Years edition begin this month, and while VW hasn’t given pricing details for the new car, expect a small increase in list price over a regular Performance pack-equipped Golf R. VW hasn’t confirmed if the car will be sold in limited numbers, but has outlined that it will be available until the middle of 2023. “Golf R 20 Years boasts carbon-fibre dash and door panel inserts to enhance its status as the sportiest Golf on sale”
OFFICIAL
HOT HATCH
Recalibrated engine and gearbox make this the fastest production Golf VW has built
sample Smart SUV
INTERIOR
Cabin layout is modern and features plenty of high-grade materials
RAC data shows EVs are cheaper to fuel than ICE cars
Chris Rosamond
Chris _ Rosamond@autovia.co.uk
THE cost of charging an electric vehicle (EV) has risen by 21 per cent since September, with the average electricity price now at 44.55p per kWh. That equates to an increase of 7.81p per kWh since last summer, meaning it now costs around £22.81 to charge the 64kWh battery of a typical EV to the recommended 80 per cent, a rise of more than £4.
To put that into perspective, over the same period of time the cost of an 80 per cent fill for an average family car with a 55-litre tank has risen by £14.54, meaning petrol-car drivers today have to fork out £74.21.
Analysis by the RAC shows that on average it now costs 10p per mile to run an EV kept topped up by public rapid charging, an increase of 2p per mile from last summer. So despite rising electricity prices, EV drivers are still onto a winner when it comes to energy costs; a comparable petrol car now costs 19p per mile to fill up, while diesel fuel costs are even higher, at 21p per mile.
The RAC has long tracked average UK fuel prices, but will now also monitor public rapid-charging prices to reflect the increasing take-up of EVs by new-car buyers.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s EV spokesman, said: “Just as the price that drivers of petrol and diesel cars pay to fill up at the pumps is driven by fluctuations in the world oil price, those in EVs are affected by gas and electricity prices.
“But while electric car drivers may not be immune from the rocketing price of wholesale energy, most notably gas, which dictates the cost of electricity, there’s no doubting that charging an EV still represents excellent value for money compared with filling up a petrol or diesel car.
“Unsurprisingly, our analysis shows that the quickest places to charge are also the most expensive, with ultrarapid chargers costing on average 14 per cent more to use than rapid chargers. For drivers in a hurry, though, or travelling a long distance, paying this premium might well be worth it, with the very fastest chargers capable of almost completely replenishing an electric car’s battery in a matter of minutes. ”
Sign of times as Ford ‘geofences’ limits
FORD is trialing geofencing technology in an effort to make speed limit signs obsolete. By creating a digital geographical boundary between different zones (above), the technology will see vehicles slow down automatically when approaching an area with a lower limit.
This could allow speed limit signs to be removed, making streets more aesthetically pleasing and dealing with the issues of signs being obscured by branches or badly placed.
Third London ULEZ expansion proposed
A CONSULTATION has been launched on further expansion for the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the whole of Greater London from 29 August 2023. The ULEZ currently covers all streets within London’s North and South Circular roads.
If the expansion goes ahead, the AA estimates that around a third of car owners in the new area would be priced off the road, despite London Mayor Sadiq Khan promising that a scrappage scheme would be launched at the same time.
Funky Cat is out of the bag with £30,495 tag
CHINESE brand ORA has named the price for its new retro-themed EV, now called the Funky Cat (below), which will arrive in the UK this autumn.
The Launch Edition has a 48kWh battery and a 193-mile range and comes with 80kW charging. It starts from £30,495 after the Plug-in Car Grant and is packed with standard equipment.
Further variants of the Funky Cat will arrive in 2023, including more affordable models and a version with a 63kWh battery for up to 261 miles of range.
