The new Smeg range cooker, the SY4110s, marks a new visual direction but retains the company’s signature quality of design.

The Smeg SY4110s represents a flagship moment in the history of the famous white goods and domestic appliances manufacturer. Its modern looks and severe finish herald a departure from the familiar 1950s retro cool look we all know and love from the Italian style masters.

That said, the new Smeg range cooker is made with the high build quality we have come to expect.

The only difference is in the cooker’s appearance, which ought to open up a new market for the appliance manufacturer as well as satisfying plenty of its original fan base. The Smeg SY4110s was tested exhaustively for 2 years prior to its official release – a process to which all Smeg products are subjected – and is rated for a minimum of 15 years’ use from the day it is first turned on.

Smeg (which is an acronym, actually, signifying the location of the smelting factory in Emiliane where the appliances are made) has given its new range cooker an outstanding combination of excellent energy ratings and a choice of fuel types. The dual fuel SY4110s holds an energy rating of A for both its main ovens, and consumes 0.79 kilowatt hours in each one.

In addition to the two large ovens (57 litres and 51 litres capacity respectively) the dual fuel Smeg SY4110s is equipped with cast iron pan supports, a dedicated wok burner and a warming zone. The warming zone is designed to keep already cooked dishes perfectly warm without burning, curdling or drying them out: ideal, Smeg says, for dinner parties.

The main oven on the new Smeg range cooker has a total of 8 programmable functions: including a fan oven; defrost setting; fan assisted variable grill; combination fan and grill roasting. Both ovens are lined with removable casings that have been designed to repel common cooking grease and effluents: making the SY4110s one of Smeg’s easiest cleaning appliances.

The new look for Smeg is successful from the start. The company has hired a top Italian design house to produce what it describes as "chunky shoulder panels": in other words, a broad smooth face to the range cooker that gives it a very contemporary feel. The black and brushed steel colour scheme allows the Smeg SY4110s to sit in most modern kitchen decor schemes with ease: and even to add a touch of the new to more "classical" kitchen surroundings.

There is a touch of the old design palette in the new Smeg range cooker. The knobs and dials arrange along the top of the cooker’s front look like go switches from an old fighter plane. It is a nice touch indeed – a little reminder of the classic looks of Smeg’s fridges and freezers.

The gas hob on the Smeg is adaptable for LPG as well as a standard natural gas supply. The oven doors are triple glazed, with the interior panel being thermo reflective. This allows for doors that are safe to touch from the outside even when the ovens are going full blast.

Overall the Smeg SY4110s marks both a new direction for the company and a solid continuation of its commitment to quality design and good functionality. Perfect for larger kitchens.