Smart SUV concept revealed in Munich closer to becoming production model – UPDATE

UPDATE, October 6: New images have surfaced showing the Smart SUV concept first seen at last month's Munich Motor Show is not far from becoming the production model.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office has posted images online of the crossover, showing off what the production car may look like.

Rather than the smooth front of the concept, the SUV now has two fake intakes on either side of the main grille as well as a skid plate under the front bumper.

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Rather than the concept's A-pillar mounted side mirrors, the pictures show they have moved to the car's doors, with flush-mounted door handles also visible – while the concept's floating roof design remains.

As with the front of the car, the rear has received minor revisions, with the single mid-mounted reflector now split into two on the bumper's edges – itself a revised design which now features a small diffuser.

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The story to here

September 7: Smart, the brand known for its eeny-weeny city cars, is going through a revitalisation.

It's been quite some time since the Mercedes-Benz-owned Smart brand was last seen in Australia, and we've missed out on a number of its newer, more compelling offerings – but with new part-owner Geely in the picture, the brand is making some smart moves.

Part of that is an all-new SUV, previewed here by this: the Smart Concept #1.

And it is, for a Smart: 4290mm long, 1910mm wide and 1698mm tall. While those numbers are relatively meaningless in isolation, it essentially highlights that the Concept #1 is around the same size of a B-segment SUV (like the Peugeot 2008, Ford Puma, Vauxhall Mokka etc.).

That's positively massive for a Smart; it's around half a metre longer than both generations of the ForFour and even the long-but-low Roadster from the early 2000s, for example

That looks big...

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But Smart says that's intentional, as the brand wants to get into that segment as it makes other car makers so much money.

Given the Smart brand is now part-owned by Geely, it's expected that the production version will go on sale in China – a region that also doesn't tend to favour very small cars.

Still, the brand says the space inside is where it counts; that value of maximum interior space for as small a footprint as possible still holds some sway here. And it's mainly due to the use of a new, purpose-built battery-electric platform.

Specs aren't known yet, but Smart promises long battery life and fast charging.

So, what's special about the interior?

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Well, there's no centre pillar and the rear doors have rear-mounted hinges for excellent entry (though we're not sure this'll make production) and a completely flat floor gives a sense of space.

The centre console is mounted in such a way it looks like it's floating, and comes complete with a '3D' touch panel and 12.8-inch display.

It's also got Daimler Group's chief design officer, Gorden Wagener's fingerprints all over it: a sweeping dashboard, massive central screen and a light blue/gold/white colour scheme throughout.

Even the seats have piping that lights up. "The new sporty Concept #1 is a redefinition of the smart brand in a very cool grown-up way," says Wagener, "we have created a completely new design DNA that has the potential to establish smart as the leading design brand."

When will we see the real version?

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Daniel Lescow, Smart's global sales and marketing director, told our UK friends at Car to expect a production version of the Concept 1 in the first half of 2022.

We wouldn't expect to see it in Australia, given the Smart brand was axed here in 2015 – but the automotive landscape is ever evolving and, as we've seen with the Volkswagen Group's Cupra, brands we don't always expect to see here do occasionally turn up.

A version of this article was first published at Carmagazine.co.uk