2024 Smart #3 design sketches revealed

The first official teaser of the 2024 Smart #3 has been released ahead of the all-new coupe-style SUV’s debut at the Shanghai motor show on April 18.

Closely related to the smaller Smart #1, the Smart #3 is the second model to emerge after Geely snapped up a 50 per cent stake in the Mercedes-Benz-owned brand.

Mercedes-Benz design chief, Gorden Wagener, who oversaw its design, described the Smart #3 as “muscular, yet elegantly sensual”.

The 3 has already been a victim of a leak and the official design sketches confirm what we’ve already seen.

It carries over the ‘shark nose’ and slim LED headlights of the 1, but features more rakish rear styling.

Measuring 4400mm long, 1844mm wide and standing 1556mm tall, the Smart #3 is 130mm longer, 22mm wider and 80mm lower than the #1, occupying a similar footprint to the Mercedes-Benz GLA – although the German brand would prefer you bought it over a BMW iX3, Audi Q4 e-tron or Volkswagen ID.4.

We already know that as well as sharing its looks, beneath the skin the latest Smart SUV will ride on the same architecture as the #1 – Geely’s latest SEA platform.

Inside, it’s expected to use the Smart #1’s large 12.8-inch infotainment screen that is both customisable and includes a 3D avatar that acts as an on-board assistant.

Ahead of the driver will be a smaller 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a generous 10.0-inch head-up display.

Set to weigh in at 1740-1890kg, the entry-level Smart #3 is primed to use a 200kW single-motor powertrain driving the rear wheels, while the most powerful version will get two electric motors that pump out 315kW/543Nm combined.

The most powerful Smart #3 is tipped to carry the Brabus badge and should return a 0-100km/h sprint of just 3.7 seconds.

It’s not been confirmed what battery will feed current to the electric motors, but it’s a safe bet that the 66kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery from the Smart #1 will be employed. If so, expect the bigger Smart #3 to have a driving range of 420-440km.

Right-hand drive variants of the Smart #1 are set to go on sale by the middle of 2023 in markets like the UK, followed by the bigger Smart #3 just months later.

However, it’s still not known if there’s any plans set in motion to launch both EVs Down Under.

Interestingly, in the UK both Smart cars will be sold via the Mercedes-Benz dealer network which could be replicated in Australia, marking a return of the premium brand that left our shores in 2015.

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