Smart e-SUV shows up on teaser pics

A few days ago, designer Gordon Wagener shared a few images of what now turns to be Smart’s newest model, an all-electric crossover SUV scheduled for premiere at the 2021 IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Germany in September.

The information is official now. The compact ride barely exceeds four meters (13.1 feet) long and comes based on the PMA-2/Geely SEA chassis and tech. As such, it could very well ship with a single rear-mounted electric engine worth 250 PS (247 hp / 184 kW) at first, while a dual-motor/AWD setup could arrive a bit later. The platform used envisions a 70-kWh traction battery rated for 500 kilometers (310 miles) according to the NEDC standard.

Sales should begin in late 2022 or early 2023, and the next-gen Volvo XC20 shapes up to be the main market rival.

It is probably worth pointing out that Smart first voiced its intentions to produce a compact SUV in mid-2000s, and even gave it a provisional name of ‘ForMore’. In 2013, before the current Fortwo and Forfour models came out, the company wanted to team up with Renault to produce the ForMore. However, such a thing never happened until Daimler signed a cooperation agreement with Geely.