Smart is thinking bigger and the smooth-looking Concept #1 four-door SUV on display at the IAA in Munich shows the maker intends to renew itself with much larger cars than the tiny ForTwo and the only slightly bigger ForFour.
So how much larger is it? Well, the pure-electric Concept #1 measures 4.29 metres in length, is 1.91 metres wide and stands 1.70 metres high. This makes the five-seater roughly the size of a MINI Countryman.
The Concept #1 sits on huge 21-inch wheels and has distinctive LED light bars front and rear. It looks completely different from any of the pint-sized Smarts that went before and is designed to project a "cool, grown-up image", say the makers.
Stand-out features include short overhangs at both ends, a glass panoramic roof for an airy interior, frameless rear-hinged doors and contrasting dark grey protective lower body elements.
Whether all the fancy styling effects on the concept make it to the production stage, is anyone's guess. The production version is set to debut in 2023.
Inside, a huge 12.8-inch touchscreen dominates the minimalist cabin and the new partners have promised a big leap forward in infotainment too, with over-the-air updates and a digital key as standard.
The technical specs of this electric remains under wraps but reports indicate that the new car will have much more power than previous electron-sipping Smarts along with rapid charging, a higher top speed and extended range.
