Smart #1 Brabus, the ‘streamer’ car that means business

The first model since the brand falls under Geely has 428 hp in its most powerful version

Nicholas Hayek it is a name close to the messiah in the world of Swiss watchmaking. Thanks to him, and his simple, affordable and cute little watches, it was possible to keep alive an industry that dominated the world and was about to fall on its knees to a more accurate and cheaper supply from Japan.

The episode was called the Quartz Crisis, in which complicated Swiss watch mechanisms could be replaced by stunningly simpler systems that wouldn’t lag behind as long as there was a battery that could beat them at 32,768 hertz.

The brand that was born in 1983,
steel, was the first Swiss manufacturer to adopt the new technology, restoring prominence to an industry that had looked condescendingly at the competition that would eliminate them. Today it is the largest Swiss watch group in the world.

A decade later, Hayek decided to do something similar with the automotive world and create a simple, affordable and friendly vehicle. In the 1990s, the
Volkswagen Group experienced impressive success for being one of the first manufacturers to enter the lucrative Chinese market, something Mercedes-Benz refused.

For this reason, it was rejected when Hayek approached the Wolfsburg group with the bright business idea. Altogether they were already “the people’s car” and did not need another simple, affordable and beautiful model – the Beetle still had 20 years of production left. Daimler, chastised, seized the opportunity and had already taken over the brand in 1998.

Like watches, smart cars generated a cult following. Unlike watches,
they were not a resounding sales success. Various models were launched within the manufacturer, whether two- or four-door, convertible, sports or electric. However, it was not enough to ensure the brand’s survival.

Thus in 2019 the Chinese manufacturer
yellowish —which controls brands such as Volvo, Polestar, Lotus or Lynk&Co— adopted the Smart badge with the intention of making a complete “turnaround” and occupying the niche of city cars and the young audience.

The solution is the Smart #1, which in terms of finishing Brabus is the most powerful they have to offer after starting from scratch with an SUV silhouette. Here are the numbers: 428 electric horsepower. 1.9 tons. five doors.
Acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds. 400 km autonomy. 50,000 euros.

However, what stands out about this car is how the interior is designed to please the young crowd. Due to the number of RGB LED strips, the color of the interior can be changed steplessly, which is more reminiscent of an Ibai streaming room than a car. The screen is big and colorful, with a virtual assistant who is a fox for some reason.

The vehicle speaks in the first person in a female voice. “My battery is low, charge me,” he told me after trying the Brabus mode several times. The acceleration of something so powerful doesn’t fail and always manages to get a laugh from those who expect it and a shout from those who don’t.

The sound system is natural
Beats from Dr. Dre, which are also backlit to match the LEDs in the passenger compartment, neon green or fuchsia. Strangely enough, the lights of the speakers are also used to signal: they light up red when a vehicle is on the track that is about to invade. And better yet, it doesn’t stop them from rummaging in the bass – something millennials can’t live without.

The Smart #1 has many technological details that show how car design can be done by breaking away from traditional industrial design. As such, it sometimes feels more like a gadget than a car. But the price, finishes and power quickly remind you that this is a serious deal.

In the 1980s, Asian manufacturers nearly wiped out a European mechanical industry that was stuck in the past. Smart #1 underlines that this threat can become a reality again 40 years later.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.