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Fighting Miami's urban chaos in the 2017 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

By combining an electric drivetrain capable of covering 70-80 miles on a single charge with a new platform, the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive may be an ideal urban commuter.

Jon Wong
Jon Wong was a reviews editor for CNET Cars. He test drove and wrote about new cars and oversaw coverage of automotive accessories and garage gear. In his spare time, he enjoys track days, caring for his fleet of old Japanese cars and searching for the next one to add to his garage.
Jon Wong
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The 2017 Fortwo Electric Drive represents Smart's fourth-generation all-electric drivetrain.

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Smart will offer two different variations of the Electric Drive in the US -- the fixed roof Fortwo Electric Drive, and the convertible Cabrio Electric Drive.

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Smart says the Fortwo Cabrio is the only electric convertible on the market.

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The Fortwo Electric Drive's three-phase motor delivers 80 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque.

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The Fortwo Electric Drive reaches 60 mph in 11.4 seconds, while the Cabrio does it in 11.7 seconds.

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Smart says a fully charged battery is good for roughly 70-80 miles of range, which should be sufficient for most towns and cities.

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A totally drained battery will take 13 hours to charge up to 80 percent using a regular 120-volt home socket. But with a 240-volt charger it only takes 2.5 hours to reach 80 percent.

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With compact dimensions, the Fortwo Electric Drive is ideal for urban commuting with a turning circle of just 22.8 feet.

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Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but the previous Smart Fortwo Electric Drive started at $25,000 before government rebates.

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The Fortwo Electric Drive's 17.6 kilowatt battery pack is housed in the floor of the car. Compared to the gas-powered model, no interior space is lost. Click through for a bunch more photos from Miami.

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