The German premium car manufacturer In 2019, Daimler and the Chinese high-volume manufacturer Geely signed an agreement to jointly operate Smart in a 50/50 joint venture and in the same year switched the brand completely to electric vehicles. At the International Motor Show they are now showing the first result of this cooperation – the Smart Concept # 1.
Optics: Mercedes, technology and production: Geely
The division of labor becomes clear. Mercedes is responsible for the visual design of the vehicle, Geely will build the new Smarts in China. To this end, a new factory is being built in Xian, central China, with an annual capacity of around 150,000 vehicles.
The inner workings are dominated by Geely technology. The Smart will be based on the Chinese manufacturer’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). The modular platform for electric vehicles is also used in the vehicles of other Geely subsidiaries such as Volvo and Lynk.
Geely promises that the architecture will have a range of up to 700 kilometers and greatly reduced loading times thanks to its 800 Volt technology will provide. In addition to the possibility of installing batteries with a long range, the platform also scores with a new generation of vehicle software that should be able to update 75 percent of the vehicle’s electronic control units via OTA updates, i.e. radio-based. A central computer controls the infotainment, the driver assistance functions and the E / E architecture (Electric / Electronic Architecture).
Smart promises to equip the production vehicle with a variety of driver assistance functions – including self-parking and automatic evasive steering .
Smart Concept # 1. (Image: Smart)
This is what the Smart Concept # 1 looks like
The study presented at the IAA called Smart Concept # 1 shows where the journey go there. This turns the Smart into a premium vehicle in the compact SUV segment.
The concept shows “a completely new design DNA” for Smart, says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at the Mercedes parent company Daimler and adds: “The new sporty Concept # 1 is a redefinition of the Smart brand in a very cool, adult way.” What he means by that is obvious at first glance: The new Smart no longer looks at all like its predecessor. All reminiscences of earlier smart design have disappeared if we ignore the logo and lettering.
Instead, the new four-seater study is reminiscent of vehicles like the Mini from BMW or the Swift from Suzuki. In the rapidly growing small SUV segment, he will also have to deal with the Renault Captur and the Peugeot 2008.
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Smart Concept # 1 almost 80 Centimeters longer than the predecessor
When designing the Concept # 1 contrasts a so-called “floating roof” with a robust body. The roof was optically set off by the frameless doors and the absence of a B-pillar. According to Smart, the rear-hinged doors should allow better access to the rear.
A small-scale LED lighting should highlight elements of the exterior, such as the bar above the grille, the headlights, the grille surround and the edge of the Panoramic sunroof connects. The LED headlights are part of a “light show” around the vehicle that should be able to dance to the beat of the music. LED lights are also used in the interior, including in the floor. The dashboard is dominated by a 12.8-inch touchscreen, which is said to have a 3D display.
At 4,290 millimeters in length, the concept is significantly longer than the 3,495 millimeter long Smart Forfour that it is replacing target. The Forfour is based on the Renault Twingo and is built in the factory of the French car manufacturer in Slovenia.
