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Smart #1 Brabus 2022.

Smart #1 Brabus revealed in official photos: all-wheel drive and more than 400 hp.

The company smart Automobile (a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely) has presented a sports version of the subcompact crossover #1, decorated in the style of the legendary German tuning studio Brabus.

Brand smart and studio Brabus cooperate for 20 years — it is gratifying that this cooperation continued in the era of electric cars that came to smart, when it is very difficult for tuners to offer any improvements on the technical part.

Recall that the smart brand, created in the mid-90s, failed to become truly successful under the wing of Mercedes-Benz and in 2019 was handed over to the Chinese Geely holding in the framework of the joint venture.

Now smart is exclusively an electric car assembled in China, with Geely overseeing its development and Mercedes-Benz handling the design, as smart is still interested in Western markets.

In April this year, the first model smart of a new era was presented — an electric subcompact crossover, designated by a simple index #1, it is based on Chinese modular platform SEA.

At the time of debut, smart #1 existed only in rear-wheel drive version with a single electric motor rated at 200 kW (272 hp), up to 100 km/h such crossover accelerates in 6.7 seconds.

The official press release does not tell anything about the technical characteristics of smart #1 Brabus, but many of them are already known to Chinese media from the certification documents.

Thus, according to Autohome magazine, a second electric motor (on the front axle) rated at 115 kW (156 hp) has been added to the Brabus version, so the crossover became all-wheel drive.

The total power of the power plant reached 315 kW (428 hp), curb weight increased by about a centner to 1900 kg.

The Brabus smart #1 will be able to reach the first «hundred» in less than four seconds.

About battery capacity smart #1 Brabus still no information, but it is known that the driving range will be about 500 km on Chinese driving cycle CLTC.

Rear-drive smart #1 is equipped with 66 kWh battery and can drive 535-560 kilometers on CLTC cycle depending on configuration or 420-440 kilometers on WLTP cycle.

Therefore, the Brabus smart #1 is unlikely to run more than 400 km on the WLTP cycle.

The visual difference between smart #1 Brabus and the simpler versions is the trademark red décor from the German studio outside and inside.

Also a spoiler at the bottom of the front bumper, two «extra» slots in front of the hood, relief pads on the sills, a larger spoiler on the tailgate.

There are also 19-inch wheels with special design, upholstery with microfiber and alcantara, red seat belts, and of course, a scattering of Brabus badges.

Aluminum plates on the pedals are available in other versions of the model.

In China sales of smart #1 Brabus will start in August, but prices haven’t been announced yet.

Rear-drive smart costs 194,200 yuan or 1.76 million rubles at current exchange rates in China.

The smart brand left the Russian market completely back in 2020 and is not going to come back.