The world is changing rapidly. Climate change is a very real threat to the way we live, so we are all having to make changes to help stem the tide. Nowhere is that more evident than in the automotive industry, as car manufacturers look to try and make big changes to ensure the future of automobiles. The internal combustion engine is slowly being phased out, as electric vehicles, for now at least, seem to be the way forward. The Frankfurt Motor Show is giving us a glimpse at some of these new electric machines, and Smart have just unveiled one of their own.
Smart isn’t exactly a brand that is well known for anything electric. The company is most famous for producing some very small machines designed to be practical and ideal for inner-city and urban usage. But as the world around us changes rapidly, Smart has realized they need to move with the times. So, enter the Smart Concept #1, or Smart Crossover. An electric concept from the company that could be the future of its own electric cars was revealed at the 2021 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it is unlike any Smart car that we have seen before it.
The Basics Of The Smart Crossover
Smart are a very different brand to what they were some years ago. Smart is now a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler and Geely, and it seems to have revitalized a company that was struggling somewhat. The Concept #1 is significant as it marks a clear change of director for Smart, as they seek to produce cars much bigger than the likes of the ForFour. The car is to be built on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture or SEA for short and will ride on 21-inch wheels with LED light bars at the front and rear.
The design is totally unlike any Smart we have seen previously. It’s a mainstream-looking car, and doesn’t feature any of the trademark design features that Smart’s small cars had. It has a much more crossover-like styling to it, with quite sleek lines, and whilst it is bigger than previous Smart models, it isn’t obnoxiously so. This is a welcome change from some of the bloated beasts that we have seen from many manufacturers in recent years. It is actually quite an impressive-looking vehicle, especially given it is so different from the company’s traditional design language.
A Production-Ready Example
Something interesting to note is the company’s definition of a concept. Because whilst Smart says that the Concept #1 is indeed a concept, they also say what we see now previews a production model. Thus, if it enters production, we are unlikely to see major design changes from this concept prototype to the actual production version. Much of the development of the car is being handled by Geely, whilst in terms of the interior and exterior of the Concept #1, that is all going to be handled by the Mercedes side of operations. Perhaps, though, the interior is where the car really stands out.
A Radical Looking Interior Space
Whilst it is somewhat contemporary on the outside, the same can’t be said of the Concept #1 on the inside. Smart has certainly created something unique, with the cabin having more of a lounge space feel to it than a passenger vehicle. The doors of the crossover are hinged at the back, opening in the opposite direction to the front. These are designed to make it easier for passengers to climb in and out, whilst it also takes away the necessity for the Concept #1 to have a B-pillar.
The lack of a B-pillar also allows for a much more spacious cabin that lets in a lot more light than in a traditional crossover. The styling very much oozes of Mercedes-Benz influence, with plenty of polished gold-colored trim adorning the dash and the center console. The white interior gives an almost Maybach feel to the Smart Concept #1, which is perhaps something no one ever expected to say. The wheels have also been positioned as far out towards the corners of the car as possible to maximize as much space inside the Concept #1 as can be humanly possible.
A Glimpse Into Smart’s Future
Whilst the company has not revealed any technical specifications for the Concept #1, we know that it is going to be electric, and it very much points towards an electric future for the Smart brand. We already know that its new ForTwo and FourFour are the future of the Smart brand, so this is very much in line with those cars and offers something not yet seen from the name. A larger and more spacious and practical car. The Smart name has been through a really rough time as of late, but the tie-in with Geely and Daimler may well help to put the brand firmly back on the map.
Source: Smart