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Vehicle imprint Spruce has re-launched in Australia, however not as we as soon as knew it.
Well-liked for its metropolis-friendly ForTwo micro autos and its lovely, minute Roadster, Spruce is now an EV-handiest imprint fashioned as a joint-mission between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.
Chinese company Geely owns and manages a wide possibility of car producers, alongside side Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr.
Spruce autos were supplied via Mercedes-Benz Australia dealers up till 2013, then on-line handiest till 2015, when slack sales brought down the shutters.
Almost a decade later Spruce is again, with the #1 and #3 little SUV crossovers now on sale, and a medium SUV #5 due within the 2nd half of of 2025.
And, sorry of us, you would prefer screech ‘hashtag’ when announcing the names of these autos.
Where will Spruce autos be supplied in Australia?
Unlike sooner than, you obtained’t be in a region to buy a Spruce at actual any Australian Mercedes-Benz showroom.
As a replace, supplier neighborhood LSH Auto Global will import and retail the autos from its dealerships in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
LSH is a world conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong. It’s the sphere’s largest Mercedes-Benz operation, with roughly one-in eight Mercedes’ constructed supplied via the neighborhood, and operates in over 340 cities globally.
LSH also says it is the sphere’s largest supplier for Spruce autos, selling actual over 10,000 objects globally remaining three hundred and sixty five days.
Reassuringly, right here’s no little-fry startup importing alternate, however a huge world operation.
When requested if there became as soon as any connection to Mercedes-Benz Australia, an LSH Auto spokesman simply acknowledged: “Zero.”
Usually, which implies rival Mercedes-Benz outlets obtained’t be selling Spruce autos, so in case you would savor one, you’ll collect to talk over with Spruce Sydney in Alexandria, Spruce Melbourne on the Kings Map, or Spruce Brisbane in Newstead.
Would possibly well collect to you’re in other cities or states, things are more sophisticated. “The score location very clearly signifies where the level of buy is, and where to head to gaze recordsdata,” the LSH spokesman acknowledged.
“Within the states where (Spruce dealerships) aren’t display hide, it’s a case of first re-establishing the imprint completely as a brand contemporary EV-handiest proposition within the pinnacle rate segment, and then understanding what the demand is seemingly to be in other locations.
“We’d then produce a resolution as to what’s how to display hide the product in these locations, and if the demand is at a level that makes it sustainable.”
When requested how a doable purchaser from, remark, Adelaide or Perth would roam about procuring a Spruce, the spokesman acknowledged: “You might possibly well possibly certainly produce all of the enquiries on-line and arrangements can even additionally be made.”
What’s a Spruce showroom savor?
We visited Spruce’s flagship facility at LSH’s Mercedes-Benz dealership in Brisbane.
The Spruce autos collect their very have separate condominium of impressive dimension, away from the Benz merchandise.
First impressions were very depart, with workers friendly and a educated, the showroom beautifully presented and a right possibility of #1s and #3s on say in a unfold of grades and colours.
Being internal a huge ‘glass-in all locations’ Mercedes-Benz building does masses for the pinnacle rate trip. And for these not fascinated by the studio / browsing centre form showrooms licensed by emerging EV producers, there’s a level of familiarity to the Spruce procuring trip.
The significance of this would maybe’t be understated. Feedback from many doable EV buyers (particularly these from an older demographic) is they’re not delighted ordering a vehicle on-line. Especially if they’ve not poked, prodded and take a look at pushed the vehicle at a frail-form dealership.
The Brisbane showroom has an condominium showing wheel selections, physique colours and internal colours, plus a ‘Spruce conception’ merch wall, showcasing vibrant clothing, baggage and skateboard to repeat this metropolis cool imprint.
But look for, there’s a minor reminder you’re procuring Spruce and not the pudgy-pudgy Benz product. There’s a Spruce café with an automatic espresso machine, while upstairs at Mercedes there’s a pudgy-time barista ready to take your say.
We all know such things are properly crucial to you Melbourne lot.
What are the crucial aspects on the Spruce #1 and Spruce #3?
The #1 and #3 are already on sale in China, Germany and the UK. The #1 is a more conventionally-styled SUV shape with high again conclude, while the #3 has a sportier crooked and more coupe-savor rear styling.
Both these EVs are German designed and made in China, sharing a 66kWh battery pack, with differ from 400km to 455km searching on grade and physique model.
The #1 and #3 are accessible in in three grades – Pro+, Top class and Brabus. The first two exercise a single rear motor actual for 200kW and 343Nm, while the contemporary Brabus versions are twin motor and all-wheel-force, delivering 315kW and 543Nm and 0-100km/h time in 3.7-seconds (#1) or 3.9 seconds (#3).
If these figures sound acquainted, these Smarts allotment hardware with a replacement of different Geely-sourced autos, alongside side the not too prolonged ago arrived Volvo EX30.
The #1 starts from $54,900, with the mid-grade at $58,900 and Brabus $67,900.
The #3 is the pricier model, costing $57,900, $61,900 and $70,900 respectively. All costs are sooner than on-avenue costs.
Our overview of the Spruce #1 and Spruce #3 will be dwell on the positioning from next week.
Source credit : chasingcars.com.au
