Mercedes-Benz's First EQ Model is From Smart
The Smart EQ Fortwo Coupe and Cabrio are making their debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
Serving as the first series-produced vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz EQ family, the Smart EQ Fortwo will be available in the U.S. market later this year. On display in Geneva is the special Nightsky Edition model, which celebrates the beginning of the EQ era. The special model features Brabus exterior styling, but won’t be offered in the U.S. along with the Forfour.
Currently Smart is the only automaker in the world that offers its model range with both combustion engine and all-electric variants, although in the U.S. it has stopped selling standard gasoline engine variants. In fact, the brand plans on converting to an all-electric strategy worldwide at some point in the future. For now, the U.S., Canada, and Norway only offer electric Smart cars, while from 2020 Smart will do the same in Germany and Western Europe.
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“Smart is electric, innovative, intelligent and totally unique, or in three words each: ‘Smart EQ Fortwo’ and ‘Smart EQ Forfour’,” said CEO of Smart Dr. Annette Winkler. “With the Smart EQ Fortwo/Forfour, we are putting the first products from the Mercedes-Benz Cars EQ family on urban roads and showing how much fun electric mobility can be. “The Smart EQ Fortwo and Smart EQ Forfour are accompanied by the launch of an optimized charging technology as well as a new app around electric mobility.”
Pricing information on the Smart EQ Fortwo will be announced closer to its launch in mid-2018.
As for Mercedes-Benz, its first EQ model will be the EQC, which is set to go into production at its Bremen plant starting next year.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Now, if they would open more dealers besides the 25 or 30 that's in Mexifornia compared to the 3 or 4 for the rest of the country ...COMBINED, they would have more customers. The ONLY reason I didn't get a Fortwo when they first came out was because I live in Mobile and the nearest dealers were in New Orleans and Birmingham. It's been 10 years, and those are STILL the nearest dealers. I would buy an older electric off of eBay if I didn't have to drive 300 miles to get it worked on.
I think that looks really nice, especially in black.