2017 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Gets its Price

The smart fortwo electric drive has quietly been around since 2013, but it will make its first big splash in 2017, thanks to a slew of improvements. And today, smart’s parent company, Mercedes-Benz, has announced pricing for the 2017 smart fortwo electric drive.

Despite its big improvements over the previous generation – we’ll get to these in a second – the 2017 smart fortwo electric drive starts $1,200 cheaper than the 2016 model at $23,800 for the coupe in the pure trim. As for the convertible model, it will start from $28,000 (no change from the previous model), but its trims will start from the midrange passion level.

For 2017, the smart fortwo electric drive takes on smart’s new design language. In addition to its new looks, it also gains a new 7-kW on-board charger that tops off its battery in just three hours – half the time of the previous generation – and gets it to 80% in just 2.5 hours instead of 4.5 hours like in 2016. On top of its faster charging, the 2017 fortwo electric drive will travel 70 to 80 miles on a charge, which is 2 to 12 miles farther than the 2016 model.

The new smart fortwo electric drive is also more powerful than before. Its electric motor produces 80 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque – improvements of 6 horsepower and 22 pound-feet of torque. This added power reduces this tiny EV’s 0-to-60 mph time to 11.4 seconds in the coupe (0.1-second quicker). The cabrio, however, is actually 0.2 seconds slower at 11.7 ticks. Top speed sees a 3-mph increase to 81 mph.

Also new for 2017 is standard cruise control and a battery warranty.

Stay tuned for updates.