smart Malaysia dengan bangganya meraikan 100 hari pelancaran smart #1 di pasaran hari ini. Sebagai tanda pengiktirafan kepada pencapaian penting ini, smart ingin berkongsi komitmen mereka untuk terus menyediakan produk dan perkhidmatan yang berkesan kepada pelanggannya yang dihargai.
Dalam tempoh 100 hari pertama, smart Malaysia telah menganjurkan smart Tech Insight Day, sebuah acara yang dirancang khas dengan tujuan mendalami pemahaman dan pengalaman mereka dalam memiliki smart #1. Acara ini merangkumi butiran jaminan kereta, ciri-ciri produk, ekosistem pengecasan yang mudah, dan pengalaman hidup sebenar pemilik, yang telah membina landasan yang kukuh bagi penglibatan masa depan dalam memperkuatkan komuniti smart. Selain itu, pelanggan boleh mendapatkan akses kepada kemudahan soalan lazim dan mendapatkan jawapan dengan cepat, mudah, dan cekap melalui platform Aplikasi Hello smart yang telah dikemas kini.
smart Malaysia akan memperkenalkan lebih banyak acara pada masa akan datang, termasuk pengalaman ujian memandu untuk pemilik dan peminat smart, yang membolehkan mereka merasai pemanduan dinamik smart #1. Inisiatif ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan penglibatan dan memperkukuh rangkaian smart.
Dengan pertumbuhan yang ketara dalam rangkaian pengedar dari 10 cawangan pada tahun 2023 kepada 13 cawangan pengedar smart, termasuk penubuhan pusat pertama di Malaysia Timur, smart Malaysia akan terus memperluas jangkauan mereka. Model smart #1 BRABUS terus kekal sebagai pilihan utama di kalangan pelanggan kami, menunjukkan daya tarikan yang konsisten dan prestasi yang unggul. Selain itu, pemilik model smart #1 Premium dan Pro menghargai kesederhanaan dan kecekapan pemanduan mereka di bandar.
smart Malaysia berkomitmen untuk memperluas infrastruktur pengecasan dan menjalin kerjasama dalam menangani permintaan yang semakin meningkat untuk kenderaan elektrik (EV) di seluruh negara. Dengan 70% data stesen pengecasan telah disepadukan ke dalam aplikasi Hello smart, pemilik EV boleh menjangkakan liputan yang lebih luas melalui kerjasama dengan pihak-pihak utama dalam ekosistem EV. Kerjasama ini akan memudahkan akses kepada kemudahan pengecasan di seluruh negara, seterusnya menyokong penggunaan kenderaan elektrik. Selain itu, aplikasi yang dikemaskini kini memudahkan pembayaran menggunakan kad debit atau kredit, membolehkan pemilik membayar dan mengecas kenderaan mereka atau membeli data internet dalam kenderaan secara langsung melalui aplikasi.
smart Malaysia is elated to commemorate its first 100 days in the market, coinciding with a rare leap-year occurrence. As the company marks this significant milestone, it reiterates its unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding products and services to its esteemed customers.
During its inaugural 100 days, smart Malaysia organised the smart Tech Insight Day, a tailored event designed to enrich the understanding of existing smart #1 customers regarding their ownership experience. Covering crucial topics such as warranty details, product features, the convenient charging ecosystem, and real-life owner anecdotes, this event set the stage for future engagements aimed at nurturing the smart community. Furthermore, customers benefitted from enhanced convenience through the Hello smart App platform, where they could readily access FAQs to swiftly address their queries.
Looking ahead, smart Malaysia will roll out more events, including driving experiences for smart owners and enthusiasts, providing them with the opportunity to explore the dynamic driving characteristics of the smart #1. This initiative seeks to deepen engagement and cultivate a robust network of smart enthusiasts.
With a notable expansion of its dealer network from 10 operational dealerships in 2023 to soon-to-be 13, including the forthcoming establishment of the first-ever centre in East Malaysia, smart Malaysia continues to broaden its footprint. The smart #1 BRABUS remains the preferred choice among the customer base, underscoring its enduring appeal and exceptional performance. Additionally, smart #1 Premium and Pro owners appreciate the simplicity and efficiency offered for city driving.
smart Malaysia is dedicated to expanding its charging infrastructure and forging partnerships in response to the growing demand for EVs nationwide. With 70% of charging station data already integrated into the Hello smart app, EV owners can anticipate even broader coverage as collaborative efforts with key stakeholders in the EV ecosystem progress. This collaboration aims to facilitate convenient access to charging facilities nationwide, further bolstering the adoption of electric vehicles. Additionally, the updated app now facilitates debit or credit card payments, enabling owners to conveniently pay for charging sessions or purchase in-car internet data directly through the app.
The post-pandemic automotive market has seen a significant stir in the electric vehicle (EV) industry with many automotive giants trying to make a mark in Malaysia. From affordable prices to eye-watering ones, but do any of them stand out from the crowd?
There are models from Europe and China, with the latter having made significant inroads with models that don’t only impress with their tech but also design.
In fact, we have had some opportunities to test drive a specific model and jumped at every chance we had. The model in topic is none other than the smart #1 (hashtag one). A collaboration between Geely and Mercedes-Benz that was launched in Malaysia by Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton.
We were in love from the moment we laid eyes on it. It has a funky-looking body that caters to every audience. No matter how old you may be, when you step inside it, you will feel a lot younger. Why do we say this? Because the smart #1 has many unique features and a very youthful personality. It has an amazing sound system with speakers by Beats, a grille that lights up which definitely stands out at night, a responsive voice command system and there is an array of body colours to choose from, including an outlandish yellow.
Apart from that, the smart #1 is also offered in a Brabus trim. Yes, the German high-performance automotive aftermarket tuning company. Besides that trim, there is the Pro and Premium variants for those who prefer to take things slow with minimal charging times. Not to say that the 286hp, 343Nm of torque Premium variant is slow, but for a more thrilling drive and heart-stopping 0-100km/h time, the 422hp, 543Nm of torque Brabus is the way to go.
Speaking of 0-100km/h time, we had the chance to test it out at the Pinnacle Kart USJ track. The Premium did it in 6.8 seconds but the Brabus on the other hand, did it in 3.9 seconds. The instant torque and launch are the best this writer has experienced in an EV (yet). We also got to test the handling, auto park feature, and evasive manoeuvre assist.
The handling was exceptional for the Brabus, we felt confident when tackling corners and launching out of corners thanks to its sportier suspension setting. The Premium, however, has a little oversteer to it, making it feel a little hesitant to take corners at high speeds.
The evasive manoeuvre assist on the other hand was responsive as it gave the driver an amplified push to the steering wheel when avoiding a collision.
The auto park feature, however, was a little challenging as it takes time for the car to detect an empty parking space, but we could speed this by manually choosing a spot by dragging a green box on the touchscreen. After this, the car attempts to park autonomously in that pre-specified green box, and we must say, is pretty impressive but can be time-consuming.
It would be faster to park the car on your own. However, we understand that this feature is still being improved and will take time to make it perfect.
Now, with all that power, what is the driving range like? The Premium has a range of 440km while the Brabus has a range of 400km. So, to test if the smart #1 is “Long Drive” worthy, we were invited to do so during a media drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.
After a short briefing, the smart team announced that there would be an optional challenge and the winner would get a prize. It was an energy efficiency challenge. The team that reaches Penang with the lowest battery consumption of kWh/100km will be crowned the winner. There were two categories, one for the Premium variant and one for the Brabus variant.
To start the journey, we were all put in teams of three and our team was given the Brabus variant. This variant was not meant to be driven slowly. So, we decided to have our little challenge instead, to see who would reach Penang the fastest, just for giggles.
Some teams made only one stop to recharge but because we were flooring it half the time, following speed limits of course, we had to charge up twice. The smart app and integrated navigation system played a huge role in this journey. It was easy to use, and it assisted us in planning routes that had charging stations.
We of course tried our best to choose the ones with a higher kW to reduce our charging time. We made our first stop at Behrang for a quick 25-minute charge with a 75kW which brought our car from 50% to 80%.
During the drive, we were entertained by the sound system and enjoyed the instant torque. The Brabus trim allows the driver to turn on the virtual engine sound. It was fun for a while, but it is not recommended for long drives as it gets a little annoying due to the fact that it has a constant note playing on loop, unlike the sound of an ICE engine where it changes according to the flex of the right foot.
We were messing around with the infotainment system and voice commands and learnt that if you are not tech savvy, it might take some time to figure out how things work. The infotainment system is a learning curve and as the saying goes, you learn something new every day.
Our second stop was at Sg Perak and we managed to charge the car from 14% to 80% in 30 minutes thanks to the 180kW charger. From there on, it was a straight road to Penang.
Now, we have also heard many people say that the battery percentage decreases when an EV is stuck in traffic and that the range might drop. We are here to deny that because we were stuck in Penang traffic, Georgetown to be exact, and we managed to reach our destination at Hotel Angsana with a remaining travel range of 111km. While we were stuck in a standstill jam, we noticed that the battery percentage and range did not reduce. The range only reduces when the car is moving.
We were the first ones to reach the destination with a 25kWh/100km energy usage. Not exactly energy efficient, but it managed to get us there just in time to take a quick nap and head down for dinner. The team with the lowest energy usage for the Brabus category had 16kWh/100km and for the Premium category, 14kWh/100km. They however, arrived just in time for dinner.
Before we headed back to Kuala Lumpur, we made a stop at the smart Penang showroom for lunch and the prize-giving ceremony for the winners.
We had the Brabus for the first day, and then hopped into the Premium for the drive back. We started off with only 127km of travel range because we were sightseeing and enjoying a drive around town with the car, which meant we had to make a stop at Gantang for a charge.
It took 25 minutes for the 50kW charger to charge up from 40% to 80%. Since there was no challenge, we decided to indulge in the performance of the Premium variant as well. The instant torque in this was not disappointing and it has more than enough power to get you from point A to point B fast. Just that the Brabus does it faster.
With all that fun we were having, the smart system actually notified us via a voice notification, that we had to charge up. Again, with the help of the Hello smart app, we were directed to the nearest charging station which was at Petronas Ulu Bernam which had a 150kW charger. In 25 minutes, we were at 80% and it was more than enough to bring us back to Kuala Lumpur with 110km remaining when we arrived at our final destination.
We stopped to charge the cars four times and each charging session only cost us RM70 to RM80. So, is the smart #1 a worthy car for long travelling distances? Yes, it is. The car is fun to drive, it notifies you when it needs to be charged, and it detects if the driver is fatigued, which is helpful during long drives. The Hello smart app is extremely useful for route planning, which reduces range anxiety.
The single-motor Premium variant goes for RM219,000 and the dual-motor Brabus variant goes for RM249,000. The pricing is decent when you consider everything that you get and we understand why it is as such. For a car that was styled by Mercedes and developed by Geely, and one that offers outstanding performance, we think the smart #1 is worth considering for those in the market for an EV.
Premium Variant Specifications
Motor: Single motor
Power: 268hp
Torque: 343Nm
Range: 440km
AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours
DC Charging: 150kW, 10-80% in 30 minutes
Brabus Variant Specifications
Motor: Dual motor
Power: 422hp
Torque: 543Nm
Range: 400km
AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours
DC Charging: 150kW, 10-80% in 30 minutes
We like: Voice command, performance, looks and ventilated front seats
We don’t like: Steep learning curve for the infotainment system
The world of electric vehicle has been thriving in the past couple of years, with new models being introduced every other month from well-known brands. Even all-new brands have been sprouting up like mushrooms after rain as well.
A lot of the all-new brands are from China, but some are also coming out of Europe and the good old USA as well. While that has been a common theme, some car makers are reviving well-known, legendary brands but as pure EV’s.
Take Lotus for example, the iconic British brand was bought over by the Zhejiang Geely group, and save for just one model, it makes only electric vehicles while once upon a time it made nothing but ultra-light high-performance cars. Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, may be rolling in his grave but the company is now making big bucks, which should stop his twirl.
And we also have Smart, which is usually stylised in lower case. Though not as iconic as Lotus, Smart has been around since the 80s and has made quite a name for itself over the years.
Many associate Smart with Mercedes-Benz and they are not wrong about that. However, Smart’s story goes further than that. Smart’s foundations lays with Swatch watches when the latter’s CEO wanted to create a car with the same manufacturing technologies and personalization options as the watches.
But rather than going at it alone, Swatch began looking for automotive partners. Volkswagen had initially agreed to support the brand but that changed when a new CEO took up the mantle.
Smart and Daimler-Benz AG then reached an agreement in 1994 and a number of eye-catching cars such as the ForTwo and ForFour soon came around, but sales were abysmal.
Mercedes-Benz and Geely then formed the Smart Automobile Co. Ltd in 2019 and began building Smart cars in China. The German brand handled design and marketing while Geely would focused on architecture and engineering.
Fast forward a couple of years and Smart is officially in Malaysia with Proton thanks to Geely, except that this time there is a new company that manages the brand.
Proton New Energy Technology (Pro-Net) was formed in 2022 and handles sales of Smart cars in Malaysia and in Thailand. The first point of business was to establish the Smart brand in Malaysia, and thus, after a series of teasers, Smart was officially launched in Malaysia in November of last year.
Rather awkwardly called the #1 (pronounced as the hashtag one), the first model comes in three variants – the entry level Pro model, Premium, and the flagship model seen here, the Brabus.
Priced at RM249,000, this is officially the cheapest Brabus model that has ever gone on sale. And those that know Brabus will understand that Brabus cars are not your regular run of the mill models. Any car that has the Brabus logo is something remarkably special, and the #1 Brabus is no different.
While the lesser variants can be described as regular EV’s, the Brabus adds performance and good looks to it, particularly in this matte grey colour with its contrasting radiant red roof.
True to the original plan, the #1 was designed by Mercedes-Benz while Geely focused on the engineering. It is built on Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform that also underpins other Geely brands like the Lotus Eletre, Zeekr 01 and Polestar models.
But the #1 runs on the SEA2 version to be exact, which is the same platform that is found on the Zeekr X and the Volvo EX30.
In terms of size, the #1 Brabus is 4270mm long, 1822mm wide and has a 2750mm wheelbase. At first glance, it looks similar in size to a MINI Countryman, but once you research the numbers, you will notice that it is in fact slightly longer than a Honda Civic. This should not come as a surprise though as the #1 is technically Smart’s first SUV.
Despite being quite large, which is something Smart cars were never meant to be, there is no mistaking its design. Somehow, Mercedes-Benz has managed to make it bigger, yet still retain its design DNA. The LED lights at the front and the back are connected by a light strip that runs across the length of the car. This looks good and accentuates the width of the car.
Take a seat in the captain’s chair and you are greeted by a minimalist interior. Directly ahead of you is a small 9.2-inch meter cluster that gives you all the essential readings such as the speed, battery charge and range of the car. Up ahead there is a 10-inch heads-up display that can be adjusted according to your height.
Dominating the interior though is a massive 12.8-inch infotainment screen that houses all the controls of the car. From here you adjust everything from the position of the side view mirrors to the safety systems, the entertainment, navigation and even look for the closest charging station.
One nifty feature that it has is a built-in navigation system with local info on charging stations. This shows you all the charging stations that are located near you, the status of the station (operational or not) and its charging performance.
The one feature we particularly like is that you can key in your destination into the map, let the car do the calculations for you and it will tell you whether you have enough juice to get there.
If you don’t, the car will show you where to charge and how long it will take you. It basically does all the hard work for you, and that is something that makes owning an EV more pleasant since there aren’t as many charging stations as petrol stations.
Once you have that out of the way, you can sit back and indulge in one of the finest sound systems found in an automobile. Entertainment is provided by Beats with 13-speakers placed all around the interior to ensure you don’t only hear your favourite music the way the artist intended you to, but also feel it deep in your organs.
But in case you are not an audiophile like us, you will be happy to know that the Brabus has its own augment engine sounds as well. There are two different engine sound options called the Smart original sounds and classic, which sounds too fake as compared to the former.
These sounds match the character of the Brabus, with 428PS and 543Nm at its disposal, this #1 is capable of some serious performance. The acceleration to 100km/h is seen off in 3.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 180kmh. This is blisteringly quick considering that it weighs in at a hefty 1900kg.
Even charging it up is quite impressive. The #1 is capable of 22kW AC charging which allows it to recharge from 10 to 80% in just three hours. That is seriously fast and rare. Most EV cars in Malaysia are only capable of 11kW or 7kW AC charging, and only expensive EV’s like Audi’s e-Tron’s or the Porsche Taycan are capable of 22kW AC charging.
But of course, it is also capable of some seriously fast DC charging. With 150kW capability, it can spruce up from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes. The only problem? There are not that many 150kW DC chargers available that allow you to do that. As for range, the #1 Brabus has a 400km range as compared to the 440km of the Premium variant, but that is still better than the 315km of the entry-level Pro variant.
Besides its obvious performance talents, there is much to love about the #1 Brabus, such as its spaciousness that allows a family of five to get fairly comfortable with luggage space for a weekend at the beach. Build quality is great too and features such as the vehicle to load function lets you power up appliances like a fan or a coffee machine if you like to spend time outdoors.
Even driving it is super fun as the suspension has been stiffened to match its performance, meaning you can throw it into corners and slingshot out in stitches of laughter. But when you want to take it slow, just press a button to open the full panoramic roof and turn off the radio, sink into the ultrasuede leather seats and bask in its silent ambiance.
But it is not all praises for the #1 Brabus. The Gunmetal trim around the centre console tends to glare in the afternoon sun and this blinds you when driving. There are no audio buttons so you are left with the steering buttons or have to dive into that centre screen to adjust simple things like the volume.
Then there is the annoying Lane Keep Assist function that forces you to fight the car which wants to stay in its lane when all you want to do is swerve out of the way of a suicidal motorcyclist. These are simple things that can be irritating, but they are not deal breakers as there is plenty to love about the #1 Brabus.
In fact, and at the risk of being crucified by Teslaholics, we would go so far as to say that it is perhaps a better buy than a Tesla. We dived into Tesla Malaysia’s website and specified our very own Model 3. We chose the Long-Range version with 19-inch wheels and full self-driving capability. And that would set us back RM262,500. But its glass roof does not have a shade, nor can a tint keep it cool enough for a bald man to drive comfortably, so that is out.
Then we chose the Model Y and opted for the Long-Range variant with 20-inch wheels with self-driving capabilities and that would set us back RM293,000, which is substantially more than the #1 Brabus.
And besides, the real flex is owning a Brabus, how many people can say that? Also, if you buy a Smart over a Tesla, the friendly salespeople will even help you apply for a loan, where else with a Tesla, you must do everything yourself, very much like assembling Ikea furniture.
Specifications
Motor: Dual Electric Motors
Power: 428PS
Torque: 543Nm
Range: 400km
AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours
DC Charging: 150kW; 10-80% in 30 mins
We like: Performance, Features, Handling
We don’t like: Simple controls can be hard to access
smart Malaysia mencatatkan pencapaian luar biasa dengan pengedaran sebanyak 100 unit kenderaan elektrik (EV) smart #1 dalam tempoh satu bulan, baru-baru ini.
Kejayaan penghantaran ini didorong oleh kerjasama 10 cawangan pengedar smart #1 yang terletak di lokasi strategik, memastikan majoriti pembeli menerima kereta mereka dalam masa yang singkat. Pencapaian ini terserlah melalui dedikasi smart untuk memberikan pengalaman memandu smart #1 yang menyeronokkan kepada para pelanggan mereka secara efisien melalui kemudahan mobiliti secara menyeluruh.
Pakar jualan smart yang terlatih dan berdedikasi memainkan peranan penting di dalam mengendalikan setiap aspek dan butiran termasuk penyelarasan proses penghantaran kereta. Kesediaan dan kepakaran mereka memastikan para pelanggan menikmati pengalaman pembelian yang lancar dari pemilihan sehinggalah kepada pemilikan kenderaan. Kemudahan aplikasi digital yang canggih dan komprehensif mengukuhkan lagi kejayaan ini, menjadikan proses pembelian kenderaan menjadi cepat dan efisien —dari tempahan hinggalah permohonan pinjaman sekaligus mengukuhkan keyakinan terhadap perkhidmatan jualan mereka.
In a groundbreaking achievement, smart Malaysia announced the delivery of 100 smart #1 electric vehicles (EVs) within an unprecedented one-month timeframe. This record-setting accomplishment reflects the culmination of efficient collaboration among the brand’s 10 strategically located outlets, emphasising a commitment to providing customers with a seamless and expedited ownership experience.
The success of this rapid delivery initiative is attributed to the holistic one-stop mobility solution offered by smart Malaysia. The brand’s dedicated sales specialists played a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for customers, managing all essential details from selection to ownership. The end-to-end digital app further contributed to the efficiency of the purchase journey, allowing customers to seamlessly navigate processes such as booking and loan applications.
In July, we had the chance to test two of the three smart #1 variants, primarily to assess their top speed on an open track. However, we didn’t have the opportunity to evaluate the ADAS system or conduct real-world driving tests, limiting our insights into the battery electric subcompact crossover SUV.
Recently, thanks to smart Malaysia, we got behind the wheel again, focusing on testing the ADAS and experiencing real-world driving.
Let’s begin by introducing the three available variants in the Malaysian market: Pro, Premium, and Brabus. The Pro variant serves as the entry-level option, while both Pro and Premium variants offer almost identical ADAS features, including:
The key difference lies in the Pro variant’s Automatic High Beam, while the Premium variant offers a higher-end Adaptive High Beam, Full Autonomous Parking (FAP), Parking Emergency Brake (PEB), and Autonomous Parking Assist.
Pro, Brabus and Premium variants
The Pro variant, with a smaller 49kWh LFP battery, provides a WLTP-rated range of 315km on a single charge. In contrast, the Premium variant is equipped with a larger 66kWh battery, offering a WLTP-rated range of 440km. Both variants utilise the same 268hp, 343Nm electric motor, taking 6.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h, and are configured with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup.
Additionally, certain features like automatic headlight levelling, lighted front grille or door handles, welcome light, luminous side logo, and a kick sensor for the motorised tailgate are available.
Inside, the Pro variant exhibits a few feature reductions, such as leatherette seats and the absence of ventilated seats for the front occupants. Moreover, the 10-inch head-up display is replaced by a more basic 5-speaker audio system instead of the 13-speaker Beats Audio System.
The third variant, the Brabus variant, offers all the features present in the other variants and an additional option: the ability to switch from RWD to all-wheel-drive (AWD). This variant prioritises high performance, boasting a rapid 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.9 seconds. It features a Dual-motor All-Wheel-Drive powertrain with 422hp and 543Nm of torque, providing excellent handling and traction and a practical WLTP range of 400km.
Our driving experience with the Premium and Brabus variants in real-world conditions was a delightful blend of a Mini and a Mercedes EQB, owing to the cars size and high-quality build. The car exudes a sense of quality, both in its interior and exterior design. Sitting inside gives you the impression of driving a Mercedes, with ambient lighting offering 64 available colours and different combinations for the top and bottom.
Despite its compact appearance, the smart #1 is surprisingly spacious, measuring 4,270mm in length and 1,822mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,750mm. Even individuals with broad shoulders and long legs can sit comfortably without any struggle. For added comfort, there’s dual-zone auto air conditioning with rear vents, an N95 air conditioning filter, and chilled center armrest storage.
Moving on from the specifications, our journey commenced at Menara Affin, heading to the Sungai Besi Expressway. Along the way, we extensively tested the reliability of the ADAS system. The lane change assist feature, in particular, made lane switching feel seamless and safe, especially in Kuala Lumpur traffic.
However, in the Brabus variant, switching lanes manually is exhilarating and fun, thanks to its ample power. Whenever possible, we took advantage of this power, ensuring to adhere to speed limits. Moreover, the cars design provides maximum visibility, enhancing the driving experience.
With the Brabus variant, you can activate a virtual exhaust sound through the Beats speakers, amplifying the excitement of acceleration and adding a touch of fun to the electric vehicle driving experience.
In terms of speed limits, the car detects speed limit signs and warns you if you exceed them. With the Brabus variant, expect frequent warnings due to its potential for quick overtaking, making it an enjoyable city car. You definitely won’t be bullied by Myvi’s anymore. As a matter of fact, we managed to get a few “King of the Malaysian roads” to get out of our way.
The technology incorporated is impressive and convenient, featuring Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and even a built-in navigation system. The heads-up display provides crucial information, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road.
During our testing at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, we tried the Autonomous Parking Assist. However, this system proved somewhat flawed, often prompting us to park manually as it struggled to detect available spaces efficiently. It seems more suitable for use in locations with minimal traffic, such as shopping malls.
Heading back on the highway, we switched from the Brabus to the Premium variant. Returning to Menara Affin during peak traffic hours, the ADAS system of the Premium variant proved effective in detecting potential dangers on the road. While the Premium variant is slightly slower than the Brabus, it offers comparable performance without compromising on speed.
Though no official pricing confirmation is available, smart Malaysia estimates a range of RM200,000 to RM250,000 for these variants. Bookings have been steadily coming in, although the exact number remains undisclosed.
If you’re keen to experience the smart #1 firsthand, you can do so at Menara Affin, TRX, from 12th to 14th October 2023, between 9am to 6pm, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
smart Malaysia recently made the formal announcement that reservations for the smart #1 were now available. It is available in the Malaysian market in three distinct models: Pro, Premium, and Brabus. These models are designed to cater to different preferences and needs of consumers in Malaysia.
The Brabus model stands out as the sporty variant within the lineup, showcasing distinctive design elements. These include an aero kit comprising a vented bonnet, an aggressive front bumper, and a rear spoiler.
It features 19-inch ‘Dynamo’ alloys, exclusive model badging, and eye-catching red brake callipers, further accentuating its sporty appeal and performance-focused design.
Step inside, and you’ll see that the centre infotainment screen, which is 12.8 inches in size regardless of version, controls practically everything. It has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 processor, a CPU and chipset built for the gaming sector, and its home screen is loaded with visuals and information.
Proton and smart Automobile inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) during the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), an annual trade show fostering economic collaboration between China and ASEAN nations. This agreement follows the signing of a comparable document in 2022, marking 20 months since the initial agreement that designated Proton as the official distributor of smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand.
The initial Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) focused on assessing the possibility of Proton selling smart’s electric vehicle (EV) range in ASEAN. The latest agreement delves deeper, aiming to investigate the viability of locally assembling smart vehicles at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant. This indicates a step towards potential local production and integration of smart cars within the ASEAN region.
smart Malaysia has made the official announcement of opening bookings for the smart #1. This announcement coincides with the signing of an enhanced Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between smart and Proton, which occurred in Nanning, China.
Prospective buyers can now reserve the smart #1 by placing a refundable RM1,000 booking fee through the Hello smartApp, marking the beginning of their smart car ownership journey. The first 501 pre-order customers will unlock exclusive #1 Early-Bird perks, including RM1,001 in charging credits via the Hello smart App upon delivery of their smart #1. These credits empower owners to enjoy a seamless charging experience, integrating with over 70% of available public charging locations.
