Smart will launch the #3, a coupe-style compact full-electric crossover, in Europe early next year, joining the #1 as part of the brand’s revamped lineup under joint Mercedes-Geely control.
Like the #1, a small crossover SUV, the #3 uses Geely’s SEA architecture. It was revealed on Monday during the Shanghai auto show, and will be shown to the public at the Munich auto show in September. Though the cars are similar, the #3 is considered a compact model, and reports from China suggest that it will be similar in length to the Volkswagen ID4, at about 4,600 mm long.
Smart, a 50-50 JV between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, says the #1 is a “sports-utility coupe” with premium and sporty look. Like the #1, it will be built in China and exported to Europe.
The brand is transitioning from very small city cars developed by Mercedes such as the two-seat ForTwo, which will continue to be available as an EV in Europe.
Smart plans to launch other models after the #3, Europe CEO Dirk Adelmann said. “Our goal has always been to address the multifaceted and changing needs for mobility,” he said in a release. “Therefore, Smart will keep on expanding its product family to offer a variety of cars that optimally suit different customer groups and lifestyles.”
Adelmann told Automotive News Europe last month that it will launch a new model a year until 2027, when it will have a range of five or six models.
He added that Smart is reserving the #2 designation for a future minicar that could eventually replace the ForTwo. The two-seat city car will continue to be built until spring 2024 in Hambach, eastern France, in a factory that Mercedes-Benz sold to the UK off-road startup Ineos Automotive in December 2022.
The interior of the #3 features a high central console that flows into the dashboard, with three large, circular air vents and a 12.8-inch central touch screen front and center. The small horizontal instrument panel is set low in the dashboard to improve visibility.
Smart did not release any other details on the #3.
The #1 is available in two versions, a standard single-motor model and a Brabus performance version with two motors and all-wheel drive. Range for the #1 is up to 440 km (273 miles). The base model is priced at about 40,000 euros in Europe, with Brabus models about 48,000 euros.