Smart is about to enter a new era. Now, the brand is a joint venture between Mercedes and the Chinese Geely. To symbolize this change, Smart will adopt a new nomenclature, inaugurated by the first model resulting from the joint venture.
It is an urban SUV, which will be called Smart #1. That is simple! In the words of the brand, “the # symbol that often precedes hot topics on social media, evokes the pioneering spirit of smart in the digital age”. So that’s the end of puns with “for”.
The announcement of the name is accompanied by photos of development prototypes, with fairly light camouflage. We can thus guess the lines of the production model, which will be close to those of the concept unveiled at the end of 2021. We can see the new light signature, with a band that crosses the front face and is extended by two “clips” in the optics. We can also guess the fall of the roof on the rear quarter panel, with a cap-like effect.
If this model is an SUV, Smart emphasizes having taken care of the aerodynamics. The model benefits, for example, from an air intake with active shutters and receives retractable door handles. Attentions that will improve autonomy, this vehicle being 100% electric. The technique was put to the test during a very cold test in northern China, with temperatures of -40°C.
Smart says the vehicle will be unveiled later this year.