Smart is adding its first hatchback, #6, to join its three-model SUV range. Replacements for the ForTwo (#2) and ForFour (#4) models are still some way off. And that’s because it is harder to meet crash test requirements for small cars and still make them profitable.
The new #6 model is a hatchback in all likelihood. That will not be confirmed until it is revealed later on next year. However, Smart’s European CEO, Dirk Adelmann told Auto Express that it would not be another SUV or SUV Coupe.
He added that “We are investing heavily in a time when there is a lot of uncertainty in and around electric cars, particularly in Europe.
“And that shows you that Smart…is here to stay, is here to make an impact. And it is here to be a force to drive sustainable mobility – not only urban, but also extra-urban.”
Smart #6 is expected to be a Golf-sized hatchback taking cues from the existing 1 and 3 models. This would be a good time to build a hatchback, Adelmann explained, since Mercedes-Benz is ending production of the A-Class in the next couple of years.
“Smart is the natural bridge for those customers who will not get a Mercedes in that segment anymore” he said.
The new #6 will likely use the battery and motor from the #3 and #1, with 47kWh and 62kWh battery options. Power output will be 200kW or, in the Brabus variant, 315kW.
It will almost certainly use Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) that underpins models #1 and #3.
Meantime the small car issue is a dilemma for the firm because the technology and safety requirements are the same as for bigger cars. There is demand for a two-seater city car but it is unlikely to arrive before 2027. The #5 is due next year and the #6 hatchback in 2026.
Smart is likely to collaborate with another brand on a small car, as it has previously with Mitsubishi (Colt-based ForFour) and Renault (Twingo-based ForTwo).
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