Malaysia-bound Smart #1 EV gets the Brabus treatment

KUALA LUMPUR: At the ongoing Chengdu motor show in China, several big automakers have put their masterpieces on display. One of them is the all-new 2023 Smart #1 Brabus, yes the electric crossover from the German carmaker Smart benefits from a performance overhaul by the renowned Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus.

For those who are not aware, Smart is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz AG and Geely, which deals in manufacturing Smart-badged vehicles in China to be marketed globally. In Malaysia, Smart and Proton have signed a general distributorship agreement formalising the local automaker as the official distributor for smart electric cars in Malaysia and Thailand. And, the first model to launch under this association is none other than the Smart #1. It will hit the local roads next year.

Coming back to the Smart #1 Brabus, the performance EV gets the following modifications over the standard model - 

• The Brabus version comes equipped with a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that means an additional electric motor positioned at the front delivering 154 hp of maximum power and 200 Nm of torque
• The front motor operates alongside the standard 268 hp/343 Nm rear motor, resulting in a combined output of 422 hp and 543 Nm of torque

• In terms of performance, the Smart #1 Brabus can complete the 100 kmph sprint in just 3.9 seconds
• The standard 66-kWh battery pack continues to be the same with probably less range compared to the standard 440 km
• Styling-wise, it gets a special livery (combining red, matt-grey, and black hues), additional air intakes below the bonnet, unique front air curtains, red brake callipers, and larger 19-inch dual-tone (silver and black) rims

• Inside, the tuned Smart #1 confirms its identity with the Brabus branding on the seats’ headrests, a new three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara and leather, and red contrast stitching throughout

• It continues to feature the standard 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen and 10-inch digital instrument panel 

The Smart #1 Brabus price in China kicks off at 279,000 yuan (approximately equal to RM 181,189), a significant premium over the standard version base price of 190,000 yuan (RM 123,390).

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