An oversized 'Smart' that winks at SUVs.
What seems like a paradox (smart has always been synonymous with compactness and manageability) is about to become reality.
The preview of the smart Concept # 1 at the IAA Mobility in Munich offers a preview of the first model of the new generation.
The SUV concept introduces the Smart brand into the booming segment of small and compact cars.
The close-to-production Smart Concept # 1 transfers the very compact exterior dimensions and traditional Smart design into a new vehicle concept, with an even more pronounced premium and high-tech positioning, underlined by numerous elements, interior and exterior.
See the photos
Smart Concept # 1, the electric urban suv at IAA Munich
Concept # 1 stands out for its front and rear LED strips, which offer a dynamic play of lights, ambient lighting, which extends to the foot space and under the dashboard and a UI / UX concept of new development, with artificial intelligence. In perfect Smart style, the interior is spacious compared to the compact external dimensions.
Since 1997, the Smart brand has played a pioneering role in urban mobility. It is synonymous with a metropolitan, sustainable and connected lifestyle. A trendsetter image underlined again in 2019, when Smart is the first carmaker in the world to abandon the internal combustion engine to switch to pure electric propulsion.
With the creation of the Smart Automobile joint venture at the end of 2019, Mercedes-Benz AG and Geely Automobile embarked on a new chapter in the company's history. The two equal partners intend to transform Smart into a leading global manufacturer of premium electric vehicles.
Geely's global network will take care of the development of the new smart generation, while the interior and exterior styling will be taken care of by the Mercedes-Benz global design network.
"With the debut of Smart Concept # 1, which represents the anticipation of the new Smart generation, we are celebrating an important historic moment," said Daniel Lescow, vice president global sales, marketing & after-sales of smart Automobile Co, Ltd. "This concept is an electrifying preview of what our customers can expect from the smart brand. The new smart Concept # 1 represents the first sign of our vision of a new sustainable mobility. It features modern design, premium equipment and advanced technology".
With its glossy white livery, the smart Concept # 1 is instantly recognizable from the very first glance. At the same time, its progressive design is an extraordinary sign of the brand's transformation. "The new, sporty Concept # 1 represents a redefinition of the smart brand in a very mature sense," said Gorden Wagener, chief design officer of the Daimler Group. We have created a completely new stylistic DNA, which has the potential to establish smart as a leading design brand ".
