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LOVE IT
New Smart compact electric SUV will roll off new Chinese production line next year – the first Smart to be born of new Daimler-Geely tie-up
Smart has confirmed that it plans to launch its first SUV in 2022, using a new electric platform developed by Chinese giant Geely.
It’s the first major Smart product announcement since Mercedes parent company Daimer and Volvo owner Geely established a new global joint venture for the Smart brand in early 2020.
According to a blog post on networking site Linkedin from Smart Vice President of Global Sales, Daniel Lescow, the new model won’t see the firm abandon its compact principles – it will be “instantly recognisable” as a Smart, with “super-compact” exterior dimensions combining with clever use of interior space.
It will be designed by Mercedes-Benz with the engineering and development work taken care of by Geely. It will be built in China with the Chinese market in mind, but Lescow promises that the car will be coming to European markets too, with five-star Euro NCAP safety scores targeted.
While it will remain a compact vehicle it’s likely to move up a size from the city-car footprints the brand is known for, becoming the Smart brand’s first B-segment vehicle since the first-generation ForFour supermini. Last January, the new Daimler-Geely joint venture Smart marque confirmed that it would look to move into the B-segment market with a focus on “ premium electric vehicles.” As such, the new Smart electric SUV would shape up as a rival for the Peugeot e-2008 and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense.
It will be built on a brand new Geely developed platform called Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which will underpin all next-generation Smarts and numerous models from Geely’s eight other road car brands. It shares elements of its design with the well known CMA platform underpinning the Volvo XC40 and Polestar 2.
Geely describes the SEA platform as being highly-scalable and claims that it is suitable for vehicles ranging from A-segment city cars to large E-segment saloons. A light commercial vehicle variant of the platform with all-wheel-drive is also being developed.
Key specifications have not been revealed, but in its largest and most advanced form the SEA platform will support electric cars capable of over 435 miles on a single charge, with over-the-air updates and next-generation autonomous driver assistance technologies promised.
Given the likely B-segment footprint of the Smart, the underfloor battery capacity will be limited, so a range anywhere near the 435 mile maximum touted for the platform seems unlikely. Instead, range around the 200 mile ballpark would keep it competitive with PSA’s e-CMP platformed compact EVs. If Smart was to target the technical capability of the Hyundai Kona Electric, a range nearer 300 miles would be necessary.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
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Cant beat a bit of cut and paste lol.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.It has a face ?
Currently driving Seat Ateca 2.0 FR Sport TDI 190 DSG 4drive
Mokka E ultimate on order
Cant beat a bit of cut and paste lol.
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Not sure how comfy the seats are.
But i like the look of this!
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.Thanks for your support ajn, appreciated.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.WB @Brydo
The Chinese are making some excellent cars.
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.Thanks for your support ajn, appreciated.
No prrrrobs mate, love the front of that smart car too
Don’t know, I borrowed a Smart from work to get us all takeaway one day, I had the thing up on 2 wheel around the corners, boss said treat it like a motorbike.
I’m looking forward to there simply being much more choice of EVs over the next few years, but fossil manufacturers keep concentrating on poorly efficient EVs that look like fossils & it’s time they threw the 100 year plus rulebook away & built proper EVs.
Look at the EVs that are around today, so many have a fake radiator intake & they even have a massive fossil car radiator to match.
It’s a very modern thing, isn’t it. At least someone’s trying to do something new. Very bright too; one might also say “loud”.
I do agree with Julie about radiator stuff on EVs. Moreover, those without grilles have just blocked them off anyway. Don’t see why an EV needs a bonnet bit at all. Messerschmitt and Heinkel did away with them for rear-engined “bubble” cars. The VW microbus, similarly, dumped the stick-out front. I suppose there will have to be some structure there to act as safety crush/crash zone.
@joss yes they are, don’t know too much about the quality yet but would be great to see them coming here soon.
The proof as they say is in the pudding, or, in Chinese, The fortune cookie
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.The introduction of EV’s has allowed the industry to think “outside the box”as cars are now no more than batteries on wheels. However when looking at most of the cars being offered not much has changed.
It would be good to see some radically different designs and innovations, prototype on steroids if you like, being brought to the market.
You’re right there. Brydo. About time we had an EV designed and conceived from ground up as an EV, Not a load of batteries bunged into the frame of an ICE car. Moreover, aside from the ID3 and some Teslas, why are they all hulking great SUVs? Surely a vehicle with the footprint and lower weight of a saloon or Mini could be made to go further on a set of batteries? Where’s Issigionis when you need him?
And why has Smart’s new psychedelic offering detailed here got a bonnet stuck out the front. The company avoided it in their ICE motors with engine under the floor. So why bring it in on the EV?
The bonnet allows for frontal crumple zones and possibly some extra storage, while the previous Smart had a minimal front end I wouldn’t have liked to have had a head on shunt even tho they had a very rigid safety shell they had virtually no crumple zone so the “G” would have been huge.
Yup. Take your point, vinalspin. One would need some crumple-zone up front. Especially if one starts going round corners on two wheels! No names, no pack drill etc.
I think I quite like that. Have to go find some pics of the rear when it’s all closed up before I decide fully.
Never thought I’s say this of an SUV-ish thing. But I do like it. Is an original set of design ideas and looks different without being offensively modern – Citroen should take a close look and apply some stuff to the DS range.
I think it looks Smart as i have had three for twos in the past i would consider if it could at least go over 300 miles or better a shame it is not ready now on Motability as they are taking orders for it now.
the interior is just a bit much, for me but exterior is quite good.. different
Current Car: Hyundai Kona Premium EV...2 way 40kg hoist
Last Car: Toyota C-HR Excel Hybrid...4 way 80kg hoistits been toned down a bit smart #1 launch edition
The guestimates for the launch price are around £35,000, which seems an awful lot for a small car, but this is the new reality.
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