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Smart is reinventing itself and to do that it will start something about as far from its current lineup as possible: an SUV.
The company today revealed the first teaser of the electric crossover. The new pictures reveal a more serious demeanor with flowing lines, soft curves, and a floating roof. Speaking to AutoExpress, Gorden Wagener, the man leading the new design, said this model will have little in common with the ForTwo.
“We have taken the opportunity to reinvent the brand,” Wagener said. He added that the new design is intended to be “cool, sexy and grown-up instead of cute and playful.”
Although it will be considerably larger than the minuscule city cars that have defined the brand until now, the Smart SUV is still expected to be on the small side. Tipped to compete against the likes of the MINI Countryman, it will be big enough for five, but by no means a Hummer competitor.
Like the upcoming Hummer, it will be electric, though. Daimler will reportedly look to its partner Geely for the crossover’s underpinnings. That will mean that the Smart will share its platform with Volvo’s upcoming tiny electric SUV, the XC20.
Like most electric platforms, SEA is flexible and can support one, two, or three electric motors. In its biggest configuration, the platform can return up to 430 miles of range per charge (on China’s NEDC test cycle), though this upcoming crossover may have to be satisfied with less, given its size.
The platform does support 800 volts, though, which could mean that the Smart crossover supports fast charging. Regardless, Smart promises that the brand will remain “accessible.” That would suggest that prices won’t be quite as high as they are on something like the EQS.
A concept version of the SUV is expected to make its debut this fall. A production version is expected to go on sale in 2023.
At this year's Munich Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz's budget brand, Smart, has revealed a concept that shows the future of its electric cars. And with four doors and borderline conventional design, it hardly seems like a Smart. It's called the Concept #1 (real original, we know), and it even seems like something that could find buyers in America.
In actuality, a Smart four-door isn't all that strange. Its first four-door was the first-generation ForFour, which shared its underpinnings and powertrain with the Mitsubishi Colt and launched in 2004. Then there was the Renault Twingo-based second-generation ForFour, which was more like a stretched ForTwo.
Unlike the Concept #1, those past ForFour models still featured Smart's trademark design features such as funky shapes and a contrast-colored passenger cell. The Concept #1 on the other hand looks positively mainstream. It has a typical two-box profile synonymous with crossovers, and it has a floating, contrast-colored roof; design cues we've seen many times before, and will see many times again. It certainly doesn't look bad, though, and it is quite smooth and sleek. It's also reasonably sized, measuring just a bit longer, taller and wider than a Kia Soul, but not quite as big as a Seltos.
The interior is where it stands out more. It looks almost like a budget Mercedes-Benz, and the company says it wants to become more of a premium brand. Particularly eye-catching is the use of polished-gold-colored trim on the dash and the high floating center console. Paired with the white interior and copious ambient lighting, it's reminiscent of Maybach concepts. But the Concept #1 has just one screen sitting dead center, and it seems to take on the functions of infotainment, climate and instrumentation.
Though the Concept #1 is, well, a concept, Smart says it previews a production model. Development is being headed by Geely, parent company of both Volvo and Lotus, and Mercedes will handle exterior and interior design. And in keeping with the brand's switch to selling only electric models, it will of course be electric. Specifications are unknown, though. With conventionally good looks and practical size, it will probably be a sales success. And if Mercedes wanted to try to relaunch the brand in the U.S., perhaps as a Mini alternative, this would probably be a good way to do so.
The Smart #1 (yes, with the hashtag) is the name of the first product from the reorganized brand. The company is now a 50-50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, and they're kicking off the partnership with this electric crossover. The vehicle launches later this year.
The Smart #1 in these teaser images wears a body wrap to camouflage the appearance. In general, there are significant similarities to the earlier #1 Concept. The grille is now flush with the body, rather than the concave sculpting from the version at the IAA show in Munich. The nose also gains small inlets ahead of the wheels. The rear hatch's lip has a softer shape here than the earlier iteration.
The #1 has a drag coefficient of 0.29. To achieve this low number, the body has elements like active grille shutters. Also, the door handles are flush with the body, and an ice-breaking function makes it hard for them to get stuck in freezing temperatures.
The Smart #1 Concept measures 168.9 inches (4.29 meters) long, which puts is comparable to a Mini Countryman at 169.7 inches (4.31 meters). Based on these images, the production version appears to have very similar proportions, so it should be around the same size.
Smart's new teaser images don't let us see inside the #1. The general interior design of the concept is minimalist with a steering wheel and a rectangular 12.8-inch screen on the center stack. The metallic-gold finish throughout the show car's cabin doesn't seem as likely to make it to the production version because of the ostentatious appearance.
The #1 also introduces Smart's new naming scheme for its future models. The company's press release explains the reasoning for this moniker as: "Now often used to indicate the hottest topics in social media, the "#" symbol is evocative of trendsetting in the digital era."
Smart plans to add a larger crossover to its lineup later. The company doesn't plan to offer either model in the United States. Instead, the focus is on Europe and Chine.
Mobility nowadays: it brings people together, connects ideas and cultures, and sparks a variety of shared experiences. At this moment in time, technology has finally become an enabler for people, adapting to their lifestyles rather than vice versa. As a result, the development of the automobile away from simple means of transportation has reached new heights. It becomes a close companion. This is the core of smart #1.
Tong Xiangbei, Global CEO of smart Automobile Co., Ltd. says: "The world premiere of the smart #1 in Berlin marks another milestone on the incredible road of development we began with the brand's renewal. As the first of the new generation all-electric product family, the all-new smart #1 is the perfect embodiment of this renewal. Now, smart has entered a new phase of full speed development, further spurred on by our Europe and China "dual-home" business strategy. Our team, working between Europe and China, are making fantastic progress, and we are extremely confident that the global market will embrace the unique, premium all-electric urban mobility experience offering from smart."
Design that redefines space and breaks boundaries
The form of the smart #1 is shaped by new design, new technology and a new approach to create an urban companion. Just like the smart brand itself, the values of the design are an invitation to connect with the car on a purely personal level. The exterior is forward-thinking and progressive with elements such as concealed electric door handles, frameless doors, and the floating halo roof that users would not expect on a car in this category. At every angle there is always a new detail to explore. The space to footprint ratio is pushed to the maximum: The all-new smart #1 with its 4270 mm length, wheelbase of 2750mm and the max. 19" inch rims are creating an impressive interior space with an enhanced 360° view.
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes-Benz AG: "The new smart #1 stands for the re-start of the smart brand and showcases our new design DNA of Sensual Producty", says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "It is grown up, cool and embodies beauty with smart solutions. Therefore, it is new, fresh, and enchanting. Our new smart #1 has the potential to make smart a leading design brand."
Connectivity and user-centricity as standard for today's mobility
smart #1 is putting the customer at the center. With a dedicated app environment and customizable infotainment user interface, the car embraces purposeful and human-centric technology to connect people, places, and experiences both virtually and in real life. The all-new smart will feature an avatar as intelligent companion with AI based voice control within its user interface. This seamlessly ties into the interconnected ecosystem of the car, the smart app, and data clouds - all linked with personal smart ID and protected by highest cyber security encryption standards.
To meet the needs of users in terms of ever-changing mobility, the all-new smart #1 and all connected products and services form one coherent, intuitive, and adapting ecosystem. A centralized, high-performance computing architecture ensures dynamic over the air updates so that more than 75 % of all ECUs in the car can be continuously iterated and updated remotely (OTA). In combination with full integration of the customizable ambient lighting and operating menus, driving and interacting with the car becomes a natural and immersive experience.
smart sees the advanced technologies in the car as enablers for an authentic and worry-free electric mobility experience. The smart #1 launch specification provides a 200kW peak performance and will be capable of AC charging from 10-80 % with 22kW in 3 hours. With DC super-fast charging this can be accomplished in under 30 minutes. The compact SUV allows users to connect the smart #1 with friends via app and includes a digital key with a peer-2-peer-system. As a matter of course, the smart #1 is also designed to ensure passenger safety as best by a range of driver assistant systems.
The smart business model of the future
Since smart is committed to uncompromising quality of experience and interactions, the company creates a progressive and intuitive digital ecosystem for its customers that puts experience first and redefines the concept of commerce and daily mobility. Together with a network of experienced partners, smart will provide a real and customer-oriented omni-channel experience along the entire customer journey: The user decides when and where to gather information, create experiences, make the purchase, or just stay in dialog with smart - while ensuring a seamless switch from online to offline and back. For that reason, a full embedded physical retail will remain a key success factor of the business model.
Dirk Adelmann, CEO smart Europe GmbH: "We are very proud to finally present the production version of our smart #1. It is not only a symbol for our new smart approach, but it is also the nucleus of all things to come. With the re-branding we will put an even greater focus on a seamless mobility experience.
In Europe, smart works closely together with long-trusted strategic partners to set up the most suitable and right-sized network. With their new design, the smart showrooms will reflect the new design DNA and the premium appearance of the smart brand, welcoming customers to experience the all-new smart vehicles.
05-19-2021, 02:33 PM
