Smart reinvented Details and pics of crossover EV

Electric SUV is fresh start for Smart

New #1 has been created by Geely and Mercedes; gets 268bhp and 273-mile range

he reinvention of 28-year-

Told Smart as a style-led electric mobility brand is officially under way, with the production version of the #1 (pronounced ‘hashtag one’) arriving to challenge a host of electric compact crossovers.

This is the first new Smart car since Chinese group Geely became a 50% stakeholder, taking half of the company from Mercedes-Benz in 2019.

It is also the first all-new car to wear a Smart badge since 2014 and described by the firm’s European CEO, Dirk Adelmann, as “the nucleus of all things to come”.

The #1 is positioned as a premium-oriented crossover with dimensions and technical figures that line it up as a rival to the Renault Mégane E-Tech and Kia Niro EV. Importantly, however, Smart emphasises that a focus on maximising interior space results in a cabin comparable in size to that of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

It’s the first Europe-bound EV to use Geely’s new EVspecific SEA architecture, which was initially deployed on the Chinese-market Zeekr 001 shooting brake and will soon provide the basis for an entry-level electric SUV from Volvo.

The German and Chinese firms sharing management of the Smart brand have already outlined their respective responsibilities: Geely will supply the fundamental architectures and Mercedes will take care of design.

The #1 is driven by a single motor on the rear axle supplying 268bhp and 253lb ft of torque, which send the 1820kg EV from 0-62mph in 6.7sec and on to 112mph. Autocar understands Smart bosses are also evaluating the viability of a twin-motor layout.

Certainly, the #1’s yet-tobe-homologated efficiency and range figures stack up agreeably against those of its competitors.

Energy is stored in a 66kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack that’s good for a maximum range of 273 miles, while 150kW rapid-charging capacity means a 10-80% top-up can be completed in less than half an hour.

Smart’s focus on maximising range is evident in a design that

OFFICIAL PICTURES

Design language is all new; kick-up is nod to old safety cell

DeLorean name returns on American electric supercar

THE STORIED DeLorean name is returning for a futuristic American electric supercar, which will take a completely different design approach to the DMC-12 sports coupé of 1981-1982.

Now confirmed for an unveiling on 18 August ahead of a debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance three days later, the DeLorean EVolved, as it is currently known, will be a highly modern proposition with what look to be only subtle nods to its famous namesake.

Previews released by its creator hint at a rear end clearly designed with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency: the rear deck is tapered and houses louvres for directing airflow, the rear arches extend dramatically from the side of the car and there looks to be an extendable rear wing housed above the full-width light bar.

Beyond that, Texas-based DeLorean hasn’t given any more clues as to the design of its first new model since obtaining the rights to the defunct marque, beyond earlier confirming it will have gullwing doors and a light-up V-shape motif across the front.

It has also yet to confirm the supercar’s production name, saving this for its unveiling.

DeLorean previously suggested that the new car will place more of a focus on luxury than did the original DMC.

Design house Italdesign,

EV will look futuristic but reference DMC-12

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MERCEDES SL GAINS 375BHP FOUR

The Mercedes SL is available with a four-cylinder engine for the first time since 1955. The new AMG SL 43 gets 375bhp, 354lb ft and a 0-62mph time of 4.9sec from a version of the 2.0-litre turbo unit that’s destined for the next C63.

ASTRA SIGNS OFF AT ELLESMERE PORT

The final British-built Vauxhall Astra has rolled off the line at Ellesmere Port, ending 60 years of combustion car production at the plant. Stellantis will now repurpose the site to build electric vans and MPVs for Citroën, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

clearly majors on aerodynamic efficiency. Indeed, a drag coefficient of 0.29 – achieved with the use of concealed door handles, an active grille shutter and a slippery, curved silhouette – puts it almost on a par with the Volkswagen ID 4.

The #1 also bears a number of distinctive design cues that will become hallmarks of the reinvented Smart range, namely its charismatic wrap-around front light bar, two-tone paint scheme, ‘floating’ roof and squat, compact proportions.

With the interior design, Smart has prioritised ‘usercentricity’ and connectivity.

The high-definition 12.8in infotainment touchscreen is fully customisable and provides an interface for an avatar that responds to vocal commands.

An associated smartphone app gives access to a raft of connectivity functions and live data, while over-the-air download capability means a claimed 75% of the car’s ECUs can be updated remotely.

Pricing details have yet to be confirmed, but it will be pitched against the Volkswagen ID 3 from around £35,000.

Smart’s new retail strategy is to work with “experienced partners” to provide a “real and customer-oriented omnichannel experience along the entire customer journey”, mixing offline and online.

Mercedes has sold Smart’s factory in Hambach, France, to Ineos, so Geely will handle #1 production in Xi’an, China. FELIX PAGE

Mercedes-like cabin is as spacious as E-Class limo’s

DeLorean company has since 1995 supported owners of original DMC; now will make car of its own

whose founder Giorgetto Giugiaro was responsible for shaping the DMC’s characteristically angular stainless-steel body, is understood to be involved with resurrecting the brand.

The identity of a powertrain supplier has yet to be revealed, but notably Italdesign recently inked a partnership deal with British company Williams Advanced Engineering, under which the two will collaborate on an open-source platform for manufacturers of low-volume electric cars.

DeLorean was founded in 1995 by British engineer Stephen Whyte. It recently hired Joost de Vries, former sales and customer experience boss at Karma, as its new CEO. De Vries joined chief marketing officer Troy Beetz, also formerly of the American luxury brand. Split front lights mirror those of new 7 Series

BMW gives X7 bold redesign, new tech

BMW HAS UPDATED its X7 flagship SUV with a bold new front end, an upgraded interior, revised digital functions and new mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines.

Due in the UK in August, the refreshed X7 gets a distinctive split-headlight treatment that will also be used for the new 7 Series limo, coming next week.

In the future, BMW plans to provide each of its model lines with their own unique look, so the 5 Series saloon and X5 SUV will be more closely linked, for example, too.

The front bumper has also been heavily reworked to accommodate new-shape air ducts, the tail-lights are a different shape and there’s now the option of a light-up front grille, as well as the option of 23in wheels – a first for BMW.

The headline upgrade to the six-or-seven-seat cabin is a new iX-style infotainment interface, combining 12.3in and 14.9in displays in a single unit offering touch control and running BMW’s eighthgeneration operating system.

Lower down, there’s a new gear selector and iDrive controller within a revised centre console.

Under the bonnet, the X7 now plays host to BMW’s latest turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol and diesel engines, each now with a 48V mild-hybrid system to improve performance and efficiency.

The xDrive40i petrol packs 375bhp and 398lb ft of torque, while the xDrive40d diesel brings 347bhp and 531lb ft.

The flagship M50i xDrive has been replaced by a new M60i xDrive, which gets a 523bhp turbocharged mild-hybrid 4.4-litre V8 (as used by the new Range Rover P530). It’s good for 0-62mph in 4.7sec and a top speed limited to 155mph.

Eighth-generation iDrive is biggest change inside

MAYBACH ADDS TO ABLOH LEGACY

Mercedes has shown the Maybach by Virgil Abloh as its final tie-up with the late fashion designer. Just 150 examples of the S-Class will be sold, with a two-tone livery, unique badging and the option to adorn drivers’ profile pictures with Abloh items.

DEFENDER 130 V8 SEEN ON TEST TRACK

As Land Rover gears up to reveal its Defender 130, a test mule spotted with an aggressive quad-exit exhaust all but confirms the BMW X7 rival will get a V8 range-topper. It’s not yet known whether it will use JLR’s 5.0-litre unit or BMW’s 4.4-litre one.