Smart returned to Argentina and came back almost unrecognizable
Smart has returned to Argentina with the #1 and #3 electric SUVs, up to 428 hp and prices from $49,900. Argentina is now the brand's 41st market.
About the only thing the old smart brought back to Argentina is the familiar badge. Everything else has changed almost beyond recognition: local buyers now get two five-door electric crossovers, the smart #1 and the coupe-like #3. And this is more than another launch — Argentina has become the brand's 41st market.
This is no longer a promise for the future. smart announced its return on May 27, and by early September it had already presented the cars to Argentine buyers and revealed the local range. Sales are handled by Prestige Auto S.A.U., the company representing Mercedes-Benz in Argentina.
That is where it becomes obvious just how far smart has moved from its tiny two-seat cars. The smart #1 comes in four versions — Pure, Pro, Pro+ and BRABUS. The rear-wheel-drive models make 272 hp, while the all-wheel-drive BRABUS jumps to 428 hp. WLTP range runs from 310 to 420 km depending on the version. The #3 is offered in Pro, Pro+ and BRABUS trims. Maximum range reaches 435 km WLTP, while the flagship BRABUS also packs 428 hp.
The prices make the transformation even clearer. According to Argentine automotive media, the smart #1 costs from $49,900 to $73,900, while the #3 ranges from $56,500 to $75,900.
So what has really returned? The old name, yes — but the cars underneath it are completely different. Instead of a miniature two-seater for the city, buyers now get full-fledged electric SUVs with as much as 428 hp. It is a loud comeback, and a perfect snapshot of how radically smart itself has changed.
It was previously reported that the new smart #3 Dynamic Racing Edition was shown in Chengdu.