The Munich IAA is the stage where Smart presents a preview of a completely new compact SUV. The new electric Smart is the car that will be carried under the wings of the partnership between Daimler and Geely.
Two years ago it was announced that Smart was 50 percent owned by the Chinese Geely. The partnership between Geely and Daimler is now working hard on the development of completely new electric models. It is equally known that Smart will soon get more models than just the Fortwo and Forfour. For example, an ‘electric B-segmenter’ is planned for 2022 and Smart even comes with an SUV-like one. Thanks to our English colleagues at AutoExpress, we can now show you the first design sketches of that compact electric SUV.
Daimler is responsible for the design of the new Smart models, while Geely is responsible for the technical development of the new Smarts. The electric SUV-like that will soon debut in concept form at the IAA in Munich, will be a bit bigger than you are used to from Smart cars. Under the skin, the car will probably use Geely’s SEA platform, a modular platform specially designed for electric cars that Geely will also use at brands such as Geometry, Lotus, Lynk and Co and even Volvo. The Zeekr 001, in fact a Lynk & Co, is the first car on that platform.
According to AutoExpress, several Smart-signature design elements return to the new model. For example, the still nameless electric SUV from Smart would be carried out in a two-tone color scheme with a wink to the ‘safety cage’ of the original Smart models.
The Munich IAA will take place in September this year. Undoubtedly, Smart will release more information about its new concept car in the run-up to that car fair. The new Smart models will soon all see the light of day in China. The former Smart factory in Hambach, France, has now been sold to Ineos, which will build the Grenadier there.