The curious case... of the smart EQ Fortwo

The further you go, the more it "rejuvenates."

How often do you have the opportunity to drive a car that holds a Guinness World Record since 2016 for accommodating 20 cheerleaders from the Glendale Cheerleading Team inside and is exhibited at the MoMA in New York as a permanent installation symbolizing social and mobile change?

And above all, it seems to never age, despite having many "offspring"?

In recent years, cities around the world have witnessed an explosion of compact electric vehicles on the streets, the so-called light quadricycles, which share a winning formula that seems to attract more and more motorists: compact size, electric traction, and, in some cases, affordable prices. In 2022, registrations in this category grew by 74.1%, demonstrating that the transition to electric vehicles is progressing rapidly.

As in the case of languages, which all derive from a single primordial linguistic stock, these vehicles have a pioneer that paved the way for this family of vehicles and remains a step above the current offering of quadricycles: the smart EQ Fortwo. This car has a distinctive feature compared to other mentioned vehicles, and that is that it is a full-fledged automobile. Unlike quadricycles, the smart cannot be driven by fourteen or sixteen-year-olds, but it offers significant advantages: it can go on highways, ring roads, and fast-flowing roads and is approved according to stricter safety standards, a detail that cannot be underestimated.

In short, the smart EQ Fortwo is still the undisputed queen of city streets. Just in 2023, it blew out ten candles, and for three of them, it has been electric, having completely converted its models in 2020 "to the plug," surpassing the typical lifespan of a car, which is usually about 6-8 years. However, the design of the Fortwo continues to prove surprisingly current.

Its compact body, while being small, is anything but square, with a well-defined front hood and wheels positioned at the extremes. Over the years, updates have kept the design up to date, including LED headlights with 3D structure and transparent caps. In addition, the 16-inch wheels integrate perfectly with the body, giving the illusion of larger dimensions.

The interior of the smart EQ Fortwo maintains a young and fresh atmosphere. The perception of spaciousness is a strong point, thanks to the generous windows and the optimization of every centimeter of the cabin. Rigid materials predominate, but the refined design, such as the fabric on the top of the dashboard and customization options for the insert surrounding the infotainment screen, add a touch of sophistication. Ambient lighting completes the ensemble.

The compact size and 6.95-meter turning radius are the real strengths of this car. This is possible thanks to the rear placement of the engine, making the smart EQ Fortwo as agile as a bicycle. Despite its small size, the car is equipped with a rearview camera and parking sensors to simplify maneuvers. The 41 kW (approximately 56 hp) electric motor offers quick accelerations, taking the smart EQ Fortwo from 0 to 50 km/h in about 4 seconds. The 17.6 kWh battery provides a declared range of 125-135 km on a full charge. In real tests, an average consumption of 18.3 kWh per 100 km was recorded, translating to an actual range of about 97 km, using air conditioning and Eco driving mode.

It also offers flexible charging options, with a standard 4.6 kW onboard charger. Charging from 10% to 80% takes 3.5 to 6 hours, depending on the power of the charging network. An optional 22 kW charger allows faster charging using public AC networks, requiring less than an hour. Scheduled charging times and cabin conditioning during charging are appreciated features.

In short, a car that has always made its compactness an ace to play to remain essential for micro and macro-mobility, which continues to withstand time, becoming iconic without aging but rather proving increasingly contemporary, like the best Benjamin Button. Come to Edilfar Rent to secure a piece of recent mobility history, but above all, a car that will allow you to have no worries in city traffic or on your trips out of town! We wait for you in Milan, Modena, and Rome!