Lots and lots of colorful Smarties on wheels: Nicolas Hayek, co-founder of the Swatch Group, dreamed of colorful miniature vehicles with electric drives as early as the early 1990s. The little plastic bombers should solve the traffic and environmental problems of congested cities. But the masses didn’t even think about being squeezed into such a parking lot miracle: no space, no prestige, and the price was beyond good and bad compared to the cheap vehicles of the competitors.
The battery drive made things even worse: The E-Smart had the range of a moped for the leasing fee of a top-equipped Mercedes E-Class. The almost silent stroll through the metropolitan areas cost 833 euros rent per month – if the first Smart Fortwo electric drive was even available for private customers.
It has been almost a quarter of a century since Daimler put the Fortwo Thumbnail into series production. Two seats, behind them space for two soda boxes, there was no space for suspension comfort. But the small car, which only needs half as much traffic space as a “big one”, never noticeably exceeded a market share of one percent in Germany. Variants such as the Smart Roadster flopped and emission control remained a problem even with the gasoline engine until the end. Not to mention the high consumption and corresponding CO2 values.
So the move to the electric model was logical, but money could not be made with such a mini-Stromer. Because the development (crash safety, directional stability, battery) was just as expensive as with a Mercedes. And with 100,000 units a year, an S-Class is worthwhile, but not a miniature car with a micro-margin. So the smart mother Daimler pulled the plug in 2019 – but only a little.
It doesn’t work without gold paint: the IAA Smart Study 2021 wants to look classy.
(Photo: Smart)
While the Smart EQ Fortwo will continue to be built in Hambach, the next Smart generation will be created exclusively in China from 2022 together with cooperation partner Geely. The Forfour becomes a small SUV in Golf format. With an exterior length of 4.29 meters, the XXL-Smart looks huge – but only from a small car perspective. In fact, it draws level with the Mini Countryman, but at 1.91 meters it is a full ten centimeters wider. No problem for parking spaces, but the “extremely generously dimensioned interior”, as the manufacturer advertises, is definitely suitable for families.
However, the question of price should be decisive. A Smart was never really cheap
Goodbye small cars with little children and googly eyes: The new smart generation is only available as a four-door model with grim, cool elegance and a shark’s mouth. The knobbly city shopper becomes a gelled beauty that has absolutely nothing to do with the rustic look of an SUV.
Is that a modern Mercedes? Smart should be significantly higher quality in the interior.
(Photo: Smart)
Smart studies with a fashionable design attitude and lots of (rose) gold or copper lacquer could be seen at trade fairs. But the series reality together with Renault (Forfour) looked more like hard plastic and cheap mobility. The new near-series study again plays with fashionable set pieces: Narrow LED light strip at the front, large panoramic glass roof with integrated (artificial light) halo, frameless doors and a shimmering meteorite tail in the taillights. In addition, a wrinkle-free body that is somewhat reminiscent of the Mercedes GLA in its chubby character. The Smart Fortwo has always had wheels close to the body corners, but now the slippers are 21 inches because there is no longer a combustion engine stuck between the wheel arches. This changes the proportions, the car no longer looks like a rolling telephone booth, but smart, flowing and sporty.
What a torture it was in the Smart Forfour with rear engine, which drove on eggs in the smallest bit of cross wind. So now a newly developed e-platform, whose “distinctive driving dynamics qualities” are advertised by Smart. The range of 430 kilometers and the ability to charge quickly should also meet a new premium requirement. So you will see the new Smart more often on motorways. A central computer not only controls the infotainment including the 12.8-inch touchscreen, but also the driver assistance systems and all functions related to electric driving. This makes future updates over the air with new functions possible.
The small car dullness was yesterday, the new Smart finally wants to be what the name promises: Smart, practical and fashionable. The decisive factor, however, is the question of price: will the crossover model developed in China remain at a significant discount under the Mercedes range? A Smart was never really cheap. It is also clear that the shopping cart is not dying out. Small e-cars from China for less than 10,000 euros are announcing their arrival in Europe at the IAA.