"The smart forspeed is a completely new take on how much fun it is to drive electric: it boasts a superb design with a powerful drive system and, needless to say, locally emission-free. And if you put the smart forspeed next to our ebike, escooter and smart fortwo electric drive you'll see that smart has realized all kinds of variations of electric driving - demonstrating that smart is not just a practical city car, but a great idea," says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart.
The open-top two-seater is powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) electric motor that is installed in the rear. An extra 7 hp can be provided as a boost function for a short duration of time when a button on the central console is pushed. The motor is fed by a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged at any conventional 220 Volt socket.
According to the carmaker, a quick charge to 80 percent of battery capacity can be achieved in 45 minutes, while a fully charged battery offers a driving range of 84 miles or 134 kilometers.
Despite its name, the forspeed isn’t all that fast, as it accelerates from 0 to 37 mph (60 km/h) in 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h).
"The cult brand smart has always taken an unconventional approach with bold design. The forspeed now carries purist sportiness to extremes and in terms of form it is also a pioneer for a new paradigm of mobility," said Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at smart.
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