After several years of doubt, Smart finally shows iron ambitions. Previously known for its small two-seater Fortwo, which was then assembled in France, the German brand has radically changed its philosophy. Since the Chinese automobile concern Geely increased its stake in the company to 50%, Smart became a joint Sino-German enterprise, shared between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. Result: transfer of production to China, liquidation of Forfour and range converted to 100% electric. Thus, the company benefits from Geely’s know-how and development in this technology, which has already implemented the same strategy, for example, at Volvo and Lotus.
Smart #1 and #3: Heading Electric
The very first model that embodies this spiritual shift (and technological) nom Smart #1 (pronounced “Hashtag one”). It city crossover (segment B) with styling very different from the first Smarts we know. Same observation under the hood where the engines are 272 and 428 horsepower offered light years from minicars of yesteryear. Its autonomy reaches its peak 440 kilometers. Because news never comes by itself, This year, Smart gave him an older brother: #3 ! This is a compact model (segment C) that accepts a coupe look that is very popular in this niche. It is based on the same SEA (Geely) platform as its younger brother and offers the same engines and levels of autonomy…
Mind #2 and #4: Back to the roots
Smart is already preparing a sequel! The manufacturer strives to bring a new model to the market every year. By 2025, the next ones will be called #2 and #4. #2 will be a “real” Smart as it replaces the current Fortwo upgrade it to a much more modern electric two-seater (current since 2014). His style could heavily inspired by the Vision EQ Fortwo concept presented in 2017. Like its counterparts, it will be based on Geely mechanics, and could borrow several components from the current Geely Panda Mini EV. Its older sister #4 will be positioned in the C segment not as a crossover, but as a “traditional” 5-door sedan. In fact, she could take a Mercedes A Class light, which the manufacturer plans to remove from the catalog. We should learn about these two new features very soon, Smart has been experiencing rapid development in recent months…
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Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.