It has to be one of the most unusual concepts due to make an appearance at this year’s North American International Auto Show; a pick-up truck smaller than most hatchbacks and propelled by an electric powertrain.
The Smart For-us concept measures 3 547 mm in length, 1 506 mm in width and 1 701mm in height, roughly 852 mm longer than the company’s For-two model, and features a 900 mm electrically powered load tray that extends by 280mm at the rear to aid loading. The load bay also features a docking point for two electrically powered Smart E-bikes.
Power is provided by a plug-in electric set-up comprising a rear-mounted brushless electric motor that develops 55 kW fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. The battery can be charged via domestic mains and topped up via an energy recuperation system during braking and trailing throttle driving conditions.
Although the For-us has been conceived to showcase the possible direction that future Smart model offerings could take, company officials have stated that the electric pick-up has not been given the green light for production. There are, however, elements of this concept that will find their way onto the next-generation Smart For-four including the new platform and certain styling cues.