Earlier this year, Daimler announced that it is converting the Smart brand to all-electric in North America and discontinuing gas-powered Smart cars.
By September, Canadian and American dealerships will stop receiving gas-powered smart cars and the 2017 electric smart model year cars will become the only options.
Today, Daimler confirmed pricing of the 2017 smart fortwo electric drive and it received a small price reduction to a starting MSRP of $23,800.
It’s a $1,200 price cut for the coupe version, while the cabrio remains the same price – $28,000.
The 2017 models not only come with a price reduction but also with several performance increases like a faster onboard charger and 80 hp motor versus 74 hp.
The biggest difference is the increase in efficiency. While the battery pack is still 17. 6 kWh, they use new battery cells increasing the range to up to 80 miles – though the EPA has yet to rate the vehicle.
GreenCarCongress put together a comparison chart with the last generation:
| Previous Generation smart electric drive |
New Generation smart electric drive |
|
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $25,000 (coupe) $28,000 (cabrio) |
$23,800 (coupe) $28,000 (cabrio) |
| Battery | 93 cell lithium-ion high- voltage battery | 96 cell lithium-ion high- voltage battery |
| Battery capacity | 17.6 kWh | |
| Motor | liquid-cooled permanent- magnet synchronous electric motor | air-cooled three-phase synchronous electric motor |
| On-board Charger | 3.3 kW | 7 kW |
| Range in miles (approx.) | 68 | estimated 70-80 |
| Charging time, wallbox (240V) (approx.) | 0-80% = 4.5 hours 0-100% = 6 hours |
0-80% = estimated 2.5 hours 0-100% = estimated 3 hours |
| Performance | 74 hp 96 lb-ft |
80 hp 118 lb-ft |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph (sec) | 11.5 (cabrio: 11.5) | 11.4 (cabrio: 11.7) |
| Top speed (mph) | 78 | 81 |
| Transmission | single-stage | |
| Drive Config. | Rear-Wheel Drive | |
| Turning Radius (ft) | 28.7 | 22.8 |
| Curb weight (lbs) | 2,094 (cabrio: 2,138) | 2,363 (cabrio: 2,383) |
| Wheelbase (in) | 73.5 | 73.7 |
| Length (in) | 106.1 | 106.1 |
| Width (in) | 60.7 | 65.6 |
| Height (in) | 61.4 | 61.2 |
After the federal tax credit, it brings the price down to $16,300 and the vehicle can be eligible to state EV incentive bringing the price down even further.
While the relatively short range is not ideal, it can be a decent commuter car for city dwellers and at that price, it’s one of the cheapest EV ownership experience today.
The first 2017 models are expected in the US this summer.
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