Smart’s second electric SUV has broken cover thanks to a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing.
The Smart #3 is larger than the Smart #1, with a sportier look thanks to a sleeker, more coupe-like roofline.
The full-width light bars front and rear resemble those of the smaller model, while the #3 similarly features flush door handles.
Geely provided its dedicated electric Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) for the Smart #1, and it’s likely the #3 will share these underpinnings.
Full powertrain details haven’t been released, but according to CarNewsChina, the #3 will feature the same electric powertrains used in the #1.
The #3 will reportedly be offered with single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive specifications, producing 200kW and 315kW, respectively.
The new crossover is said to be 4400mm long, 1844mm wide and 1556mm tall on a 2785mm wheelbase, weighing between 1740-1890kg.
That makes it 130mm longer, 22mm wider and 80mm lower than the #1 on a 35mm longer wheelbase, and makes it roughly the same size as a Mercedes-Benz EQA.
Battery specifications and range figures are unknown at this stage, but the smaller #1 uses a 66kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery and offers between 420km and 440km of range under the WLTP cycle.
The Smart #1 also supports AC charging at up 22kW and DC charging at up to 150kW.
It’s unclear if a hot Brabus edition will be offered as on the #1. The dual-motor performance model produces 315kW of power and 543Nm of torque, enough to propel the small SUV to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
Originally a city car specialist well-known for its ForTwo city model, Smart is now owned 50:50 by Chinese automaker Geely and Mercedes-Benz.
Smart #1 Brabus 
Smart #1
As part of this deal, announced in 2019, Mercedes-Benz is responsible for the design of Smart’s next-generation vehicles while Geely takes care of engineering and production.
The brand now also exclusively produces EVs.
It’s trying to reposition itself in the market, with Smart Vice President Daniel Lescow saying, “Vehicle length alone is no longer a decisive factor for us … we have redefined the requirements for Smart…We want to radiate even more premium and not appear quite so playful.”
At this point, Mercedes-Benz and Geely have not given any indication that the Smart brand will make a return to Australia. It departed the Australian market in 2015.
