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Automotive

Smart special edition series bids adieu to gas engines and welcomes the electric era

By Aaron Turpen
May 15, 2019
Smart special edition series bids adieu to gas engines and welcomes the electric era
The Final Collector’s Edition, called the #21 series, is meant to be a "contemporary work of art for the road"
The Final Collector’s Edition, called the #21 series, is meant to be a "contemporary work of art for the road"
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"For us, the Final Collector’s Edition marks both the end of an era and a new beginning as a significant milestone in the history of Smart," said Daniel Lescow, head of the Smart brand
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"For us, the Final Collector’s Edition marks both the end of an era and a new beginning as a significant milestone in the history of Smart," said Daniel Lescow, head of the Smart brand
The Final Collector’s Edition, called the #21 series, is meant to be a "contemporary work of art for the road"
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The Final Collector’s Edition, called the #21 series, is meant to be a "contemporary work of art for the road"
Swiss artist Roman Signer created a yellow-to-black rendition of the Smart by simulating paint being dumped on the car as it drove through a tunnel
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Swiss artist Roman Signer created a yellow-to-black rendition of the Smart by simulating paint being dumped on the car as it drove through a tunnel
The "21" encapsulates the 21 years of Smart, 21 vehicle models, and the concept of looking forward to a future starting in 2021
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The "21" encapsulates the 21 years of Smart, 21 vehicle models, and the concept of looking forward to a future starting in 2021
The yellow and black paint scheme honors the first edition of the Smart car
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The yellow and black paint scheme honors the first edition of the Smart car
The special Final Collector’s Edition Smart cars will leave the factory in August of 2019
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The special Final Collector’s Edition Smart cars will leave the factory in August of 2019
Plates note the artist who designed the final #21 series for the Smart combustion cars
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Plates note the artist who designed the final #21 series for the Smart combustion cars
The interior of the Smart #21 series matches the exterior's paint scheme
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The interior of the Smart #21 series matches the exterior's paint scheme
Yellow on black is the motif with the #21 stitched into the headrests above the mismatched stitching of the upholstery
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Yellow on black is the motif with the #21 stitched into the headrests above the mismatched stitching of the upholstery
"One of 21" marks the Smart #21's exclusivity as a special model
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"One of 21" marks the Smart #21's exclusivity as a special model
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Smart plans to become the first automotive manufacturer to switch its entire lineup from combustion to electric drive. The company will do so next year, but is giving the internal combustion engine a final hurrah with special edition cars created by German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic.

The Final Collector's Edition – called the #21 series – is meant to be a "contemporary work of art for the road," saluting the past and heralding in the future. The "21" encapsulates the 21 years of Smart, the limited run of 21 vehicles in this special edition, and the concept of looking forward to a future starting in 2021. The special Final Collector's Edition Smart cars will leave the factory this August before the assembly line begins retooling for its all-EV future.

"#21 commemorates something special, celebrating 21 years of Smart. For me, it also symbolizes much of what being 21 is about: being free, breaking boundaries, breaking out, showing your rebellious side," said Grcic. "The Final Collector's Edition brings this essential idea to life as we take our leave of a piece of automotive history."

The interior of the Smart #21 series matches the exterior's paint scheme
The interior of the Smart #21 series matches the exterior's paint scheme

The yellow and black paint scheme honors the first edition of the Smart car, which was designed with a "hello yellow" color under the company's "Reduce to the max" mission statement at the time. Swiss artist Roman Signer created a yellow-to-black rendition of the Smart by simulating paint being dumped on the car as it drove through a tunnel – hence the look of the Final Collector's Edition models by Grcic.

"For us, the Final Collector's Edition marks both the end of an era and a new beginning as a significant milestone in the history of Smart," said Daniel Lescow, head of the Smart brand.

Source: Smart

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AutomotiveSmartDaimlerElectric Vehicles
5 comments
Aaron Turpen
Aaron Turpen
Aaron is a Wyoming-based automotive journalist with interests in electronic and engineering technology. Outside of New Atlas, Aaron is a prolific writer, father of two, and would-be chicken farmer.

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5 comments
TomLeeM
I think that is really neat.
I think Smart missed a lot of opportunities in selling their cars in the USA and Canada. I think it was a mistake not to sell the Forfour here.
I think they would (or could have?) done better if they made their concepts and sold them here.
guzmanchinky
SUCH a great little city car, but unfortunately it's diminutive mass makes it a death trap in most normal driving, where vehicles twice its size (or much more in the US) are the norm. Remember, just because it can keep the passenger cell from collapsing doesn't mean the deceleration forces it imparts on its passengers aren't much more than the brain can handle, and this is purely a matter of mass and delta v...
minivini
guzmanchinky - that’s part of the poor marketing of the Smart brand. With a passenger cell built in the same manner and to the same standards as Formula 1 and LeMans prototype cars, the safety of these things is pretty remarkable. The carbon fiber tub was drain for Smart by McLaren. You can die in any vehicle, and these are as safe as most in typical crash scenarios.
Daishi
@minivini even if the passenger cell is protected there is less room for crumple zones than other cars. They are also in the losing side of physics in an accident with a heavier vehicle. There have been studies that small vehicles do poorer in crashes than larger ones and there is real world data supporting those results. This article came out today talking about how small cars like Kia Forte and Chevy Spark had a high rate of fatalities in Seattle: https://komonews.com/news/local/kia-forte-chevy-spark-involved-in-most-fatal-crashes-around-seattle-study-says
Lamar Havard
I sent my $100 deposit in 2008 for a yellow and black 4two and after nearly 6 months of waiting, I got it refunded because smart wouldn't get off it's a$$ and deliver them. That and the nearest dealer being almost 400 miles away turned me against the company for good!