Smart has announced further details about its upcoming #1 electric SUV, the model that is set to kickstart this brand’s reinvention.

The firm, which is now a joint venture between Mercedes and Chinese automotive giant Geely (which owns firms like Volvo and Lotus), has a reputation for building small city cars, and has sold purely EVs since 2019 in the Fortwo and Forfour.

But the arrival of the #1 signals the rebirth of Smart as it aims to head further upmarket. This electric SUV was unveiled last month, with the brand now confirming it will be available to order in December 2022 ahead of first deliveries in the middle of 2023.

Smart has also announced a new Launch Edition, which is limited to 1,000 cars across Europe and just 100 in the UK. Said to ‘mirror the concept car’, it comes painted in white with a gold roof with a unique pattern. Large 19-inch ‘Prism’ alloy wheels are fitted too, along with high-end equipment like a 13-speaker Beats sound system, matrix LED headlights and wireless smartphone charging.

Powering the Smart #1 is a 268bhp electric motor paired to a 66kWh battery, which allows for a claimed range of 273 miles. The battery can also be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in under 30 minutes.

David Browne, CEO of Smart UK, said: “The Smart #1 represents the start of a new era for our brand. Its comprehensive offering of outstanding design, exceptional space utilisation and connected solutions is confidence-inspiring to customers and is a strong signal of intent for our product portfolio moving forward.

“Our Launch Edition offers customers an exclusive opportunity to be the first to experience our vision for a new generation of fully electric urban mobility when it hits the road mid-next year.”

Pricing and full specifications are yet to be announced.