quirky and quiet smart fortwo cabrio electric drive zips through geneva

smart fortwo cabrio electric drive test: from weaving between bustling city streets to winding down swiss country roads, designboom test drove the smart ‘fortwo cabrio electric drive‘ around geneva, switzerland, and the surrounding area. in just 12 seconds ‘the roof opens.. and you can cruise almost silently through the city’, says dr annette winkler, head of smart. the folding soft top becomes a complete convertible with removable roof bars, combining an open-air element to smart’s already notoriously fun driving experience. the openness of the car’s design enables the driver to feel ‘the fantastic acceleration get right under your skin.’

along with this fresh air feeling and classic smartness, the car is said to combine three smart models in one, thanks as well to the zero emissions of its electric drive. its 82 hp (60 kw) electric motor delivers a range of 155 km and optimized maximum speed of 130 km/h. this, as well as its 160 nm of torque, ensures driving characteristics that are as agile and lively as you would expect from the city automobile. its re-energizing is ever improving, currently taking 2.5 hours to charge from 0 to 80% and expected to take 45 minutes from 2018 with an even more powerful 22 kw fast charger.

influenced by its electricity, the exterior design of the model showcases a dynamic body, which still stays true to the brand’s philosophy of FUN.ctional design and its focus on the heart and mind. although full of character, its design is clear, purist and very progressive with details of short overhangs, defined lines and smooth surfaces. this all significantly comes to fruition at the sculptural rear and front, where the latter is dominated by the fading honeycomb grille and rhombic headlamps. as well as the exclusive electric green design package, the car is available with an array of color combinations, ranging from berry red to black and red to titanic grey.

its customization possibilities and electro-focus has also helped shape the energetic and vibrant interior. for starters, the smart ‘fortwo cabrio electric drive’ has even more extensive standard equipment in comparison to previous models, including a shift lever knob in black leather, center console with drawer and double cup holder, and dashboard instrument with the power meter and battery status display. the small yet spaciously feeling cabin features a sweeping ‘loop’ structure that connects the dashboard with the doors. the former of which consists of two sections; a sensuous outer part, and a concave inner section that houses the functional controls.

the result of its energetic design, both on the exterior and interior, ensures the smart ‘fortwo cabrio electric drive’ is fun-filled and quirky yet stylishly typical of the brand. at a size of 2.69 meters in length, 1.66m in width and 1.55m in height, the model delivers agile functionality for city mobility, even turning circles in less than 7 meters. however this time, smart has provided all this whilst offering electric economy with accelerating power and a fresh, open-air driving experience.

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