Originally operated under the Mercedes-Benz Cars division of Daimler AG, Smart was relaunched in 2019 as a 50/50 partnership with Chinese auto group Geely. The debut car from this joint venture is aptly named Concept #1, a prototype of which was unveiled at the 2021 International Motor Show Germany in Munich.
While not much has been revealed just yet about the specs of the #1, it will feature Geely's own Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), a modular, “open-source” electric-vehicle platform. According to Geely, the platform has a potential range of over 400 miles and can be adapted to subcompact, mid-size, SUV, and light commercial body styles. This is Geely’s first dedicated EV platform, and they seem eager to supply it to other manufacturers.
Concept #1 also has a drag coefficient of .29 Cd. Keeping drag coefficient low and optimizing aerodynamics is essential to the design of electric cars, as any added weight or extraneous design elements can cut into the vehicle’s range and top speed. The #1 utilizes concealed door handles and active grille shutters to achieve this relatively low number.
In terms of size and appearance, the new Smart car is closer to a sedan in length than Smart’s traditional minicars. A production version may even offer an option of third-row seats. At 168.9 inches, it’s a far cry from the 106.1 inch Fortwo, as Smart hopes to reach a more mainstream audience with the relaunch.
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