Mercedes-Benz?s urban-focused Smart minicar brand is about to go cold-turkey on internal-combustion engines in the U.S. And it?s easing that transition by lowering prices on its remaining offering: the redesigned-for-2017 Fortwo Electric Drive.
Before the $7500 federal EV tax credit, or any state incentives such as California?s $2500 Clean Vehicle Rebate on EVs, the Smart Electric Drive coupe starts at $24,550. That’s $1200 less than last year’s model in its base Pure trim. The Electric Drive cabrio, which isn?t quite a convertible but a model that has a large sliding canvas roof, bottom-lines at a significantly higher $28,750?partly because it skips the base trim.

Even with the price drop, the Electric Drive coupe is considerably more expensive than the $15,400 base price for last year?s gasoline Fortwo. That has to have dealers worried, especially given the fact that the gasoline version has been the stronger seller. Looking back at 2015, the last year both models were in their previous-generation form, Smart sold about four times as many gasoline Fortwos as it did Electric Drives. The new-generation Electric Drive?s range has increased slightly, to an estimated 70 to 80 miles versus the outgoing model?s 68 miles. Although the Fortwo?gas or electric?is unlikely to be purchased for long highway drives, that range still isn?t going to cut it for some American commuters. The electrified Smart also is missing the DC fast-charging hardware that would make the occ...