The smart EQ fortwo coupe in cool silver gets just under 85 miles on a full charge.

With the introduction of the new generation smart car, the brand returns to its origins with the systematic switch to emission-free, battery-electric powertrains with progressive design and intelligent connectivity.

Daniel Lescow, head of Brand and Product Management for smart, explained the motivation behind the dawn of a new era for the brand in Europe.

“As a pioneer of urban mobility, it has always been part of smart’s credo to rethink things. The switching of the entire product range to all-electric powertrains marks the start of a new chapter in the story of the smart brand,” he said.

(As sales spiral down, Daimler kills Smart – in the U.S.)

“In concert with innovative sharing concepts and digital services, we are the first manufacturer to switch completely and systematically from combustion engines to solely electric powertrains.”

The smart EQ fortwo, coupe offers plenty of access for driver and passenger.

The smart’s short wheelbase and an immense track in combination with direct steering make the smart very agile. The all-electric driving experience opens up a completely new dimension in driving enjoyment. With 160 Newton meters of torque available instantly, the new electric models accelerate far better than the 60 kW/82 hp of the separately excited synchronous motor in the rear might suggest.

Sprinting from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds once the light turns green makes the smart EQ fortwo coupe quick enough to draw astonished looks and provide low-noise driving enjoyment.  The new smart models systematically continue to play to all the strengths of the battery-electric powertrain technology.

(Geely gets Smart with Daimler)

The new smart offers a compact high-voltage battery. The lithium-ion battery consists of three HV modules and a total of 96 HV cells, and has a capacity of 17.6 kWh, sufficient for a range of 159 kilometers, or just under 85 miles. While that’s less than most EVs on the road today, it’s still at least three times farther than the average American drives on a daily basis.

The smart EQ interior has plenty of space for two with the newest technology.

Radar-based recuperation in the city is a particularly convenient feature. It allows the smart to slow down automatically behind a vehicle ahead. Coasting and braking phases are coordinated to enable the maximum amount of kinetic energy to be returned to the battery.

To make recharging as easy as possible for drivers, smart offers a comprehensive charging concept for its new electric models. With its optional 22 kW on-board charger with rapid-charging function, the new models are charged from 10% to 80% range in under 40 minutes and without having to rely on rare direct-current charging stations if three-phase charging is possible, depending on local conditions.

(Smart looks to be on the chopping block at Daimler — again)

Owners, who only have a conventional household socket at home, will find the smart charges enough for the average daily driving distance in about 6 hours at a 230V socket.