[jwight]

Thanks to darren on Club Smart Car for this find:

This won’t be just any SUV. This will be a true smart SUV that embodies all we believe in – progressive design, innovation, high-tech and, of course, battery-electric driving. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this vehicle. It will be exceptional – instantly recognizable as smart, ultra-modern, sophisticated and advanced in connectivity solutions. Most importantly, it will possess the “smartest” of all characteristics – super-compact on the outside and big on the inside.

smart goes eSUV - a compact giant for a new urban spirit

 

[MB DNA]

And Jalopnik says...

Smart Is Building An Electric SUV Because Everything Is An SUV Now

Smart has had a rough existence as an automaker. The company spent its first years making weird and trendy cars but burning cash. It then entered the U.S. with the wrong kind of car and pulled out after years of slow sales. Now with the help of Geely, Smart has just the right idea to potentially...

jalopnik.com

smart goes eSUV - a compact giant for a new urban spirit

The future is electric! I have absolutely no doubt about that. And this conviction is something that motivates and inspires our team every day in the work we’re doing at smart.

www.linkedin.com

Sadly we will have to follow it from across the pond.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Of all people, I want to be incredibly excited about this...

Except I’ll just be putting this on the top of the list of cool European cars we can’t have.

Sadz.

 

[Ety Bity]

And Jalopnik says...

Smart Is Building An Electric SUV Because Everything Is An SUV Now

Smart has had a rough existence as an automaker. The company spent its first years making weird and trendy cars but burning cash. It then entered the U.S. with the wrong kind of car and pulled out after years of slow sales. Now with the help of Geely, Smart has just the right idea to potentially...

jalopnik.com

smart goes eSUV - a compact giant for a new urban spirit

The future is electric! I have absolutely no doubt about that. And this conviction is something that motivates and inspires our team every day in the work we’re doing at smart.

www.linkedin.com

Sadly we will have to follow it from across the pond.

I have to disagree with you. Smart should never have been sold or serviced through Mercedes! They were poorly marketed. Mercedes treated the Smart cars as ugly, unwanted step children. I feel Smart wasn't given a fair shake because of it. Then they went electric with, what? 67 miles per charge? That was dumb as well. It wasn't the car that failed. It was the dumb azzez at the top.

 

[smark]

I totally disagree with the above comment. Aristocrat motors where I purchase my smart car from. Was a fantastic Mercedes dealership. Excellent sales and service. I might’ve been driving $14,000 car. I was still treated like any of the Mercedes-Benz products that went through that service department.

They cared about smart owners, across the country. They went out of their way and hosted the 2010 small car nationals. The smart car died here. There is no interest, in a small niche to small car. In fact all the automotive manufacturers, are dropping their small cars. For trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.

Smart car owner, 2010 nationals. aristocrat motors, MB dealership below....

The issue with smart. Penske, and Mercedes-Benz never advertised the little car. The consumer couldn’t warm up to smart cars semi automatic transmission. The 2008 year sales were around 27K. Dropped like a log after that. There were other vehicles on the market priced the same as a smart car. That achieved better fuel economy. Hondas dropped it fit model, Fiats drop the 500. Chevrolets drop it small car models so has Toyota with the Yaris. Previous Diehard smart owners, didn’t warm up to the 453‘s styling. No repeat ownership. The 453 is a superior vehicle, over the 451. Still no advertising, from Mercedes-Benz.

I would have bought a ICE Brabus for four. Wasn’t offered here.

 

[Ety Bity]

I totally disagree with the above comment. Aristocrat motors where I purchase my smart car from. Was a fantastic Mercedes dealership. Excellent sales and service. I might’ve been driving $14,000 car. I was still treated like any of the Mercedes-Benz products that went through that service department.

They cared about smart owners, across the country. They went out of their way and hosted the 2010 small car nationals. The smart car died here. There is no interest, in a small niche to small car. In fact all the automotive manufacturers, are dropping their small cars. For trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.

Smart car owner, 2010 nationals. aristocrat motors, MB dealership below....

View attachment 65189

The issue with smart. Penske, and Mercedes-Benz never advertised the little car. The consumer couldn’t warm up to smart cars semi automatic transmission. The 2008 year sales were around 27K. Dropped like a log after that. There were other vehicles on the market priced the same as a smart car. That achieved better fuel economy. Hondas dropped it fit model, Fiats drop the 500. Chevrolets drop it small car models so has Toyota with the Yaris. Previous Diehard smart owners, didn’t warm up to the 453‘s styling. No repeat ownership. The 453 is a superior vehicle, over the 451. Still no advertising, from Mercedes-Benz.

I would have bought a ICE Brabus for four. Wasn’t offered here.
View attachment 65188

 

[Ety Bity]

Whoops! Anyway, you are entitled to your opinion of your Mercedes dealer, but the ones I went to sucked! Over priced service, etc. No advertising. How was Smart going to be a good seller without advertising? Oh a few commercials, but not enough to really educate the people about them. The commercials didn't draw enough curiosity to them. Some people were intimidated to go to a Mercedes dealer to check out the Smarts or even think about buying one. People still ask me how I could drive such a small car, until I let them sit in it. Then they were flabbergasted to see how it really was to be in one. They all loved it. I blame Daimler and Mercedes for the lack of sales.

 

[OliverB]

My 2013 lease and 2016 purchase at Germantown, Maryland Mercedes went very well. When I leased they had a separate smart showroom and sales force. They were excellent, even switched panels to give me the model I wanted in the color I wanted. Never had to go back for warranty service during the 3 year lease. I did the service myself and documented it. When I turned in the 2013 and purchased my 2016 the separate showroom and sales force had been discontinued. Sales were then handled by the regular Mercedes sales force. Our salesman was patient and courteous and I received $2k off the purchase price. No issues when I turned in the leased 2013. I returned once for a warranty part replacement and that experience was also excellent.

I have to agree that Daimler U.S.A. did not properly advertise the smart for the American market. While the end result may still have been discontinuing distribution in the U.S., I believe sales numbers could have been greater and perhaps smart would have been here a year or so longer. Yes, the American market in general doesn’t support small cars and has changed dramatically over the past couple years but I also believe more folks would have purchased one with advertising proper for the American market. The smart isn’t just a good city car, it is great for the suburbs and the country. It’s great for long distance commuters too, comfortable, easy to drive and effortless at Interstate speeds. I don’t believe Daimler U.S.A. was ever really serious about the smart.