This is Smart's Send-off for the Internal Combustion Engine
Before Smart goes all-electric next year, Daimler plans to offer “an exclusive and strictly limited special edition” model as a farewell to its combustion-engine vehicles. Designed by Konstantin Grcic, a man known for designing mass-manufactured minimalist furniture, the automaker says these limited-edition cars are for the “most ardent collectors only.”
Presumably, Daimler is referring to collectors in the general sense, as we’ve never heard of anyone with a devoted throng of Smart cars.
While it may sound like a bit of a turd, the company also said Brabus’ involvement was essential in developing the 21 models slated to roll off the assembly line in August of this year. That means more grunt and improved noises coming out of the back end — something we can all appreciate, be it in the bedroom or out on the open road.
Brabus already builds the Ultimate 125 Cabrio, which is essentially a Smart ForTwo on steroids. However, the thing about steroids is that they can only take you so far from where you started. The 125 uses the standard 900cc Renault-sourced three-cylinder turbo, resulting in 123 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 9.2 seconds. Not exactly blistering, but quicker than the base car and probably fun enough to enjoy on a nice day thanks to its open top. Unfortunately, it’s too expensive to rationalize at the European equivalent of $65,000.
That could be the story with the #21 Final Collector’s Edition, too. We imagine affixing Grcic’s name to the project cost Daimler something (and already know that Brabus’ work doesn’t come cheap). However, there’s no word as to what will power the last 21 Smart cars equipped with an internal-combustion engine. Daimler devoted most of its announcement to praising Smart as a forward-looking green brand.
“In 2020 smart will become the first automotive manufacturer in the world to have uncompromisingly switched its entire portfolio over from combustion engines to electric drives,” Daimler said in the official announcement.
We suppose that’s worth mentioning, even though there are now countless automotive startups across the globe with electrification being their primary goal. Yet it doesn’t help give us a real sense of what this car is actually all about. The trendy designer, who decided that a miniaturized Fast and Furious theme was the way to go with the car, was similarly unhelpful.
“[The number] 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.”
Whimsical.
[Images: Daimler AG]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Send-off? I'd rather see tons of them going off a cliff, like that Roadkill episode they shot in Alaska. But then these probably wouldn't be as entertaining as an old BOF GM B-Body going off a cliff.
That paint scheme wouldn't appeal to me if it were free. But it doesn't look like the car was assembled from junkyard parts like the Volkswagen Harlequin series awhile back. The first time I saw one I was convinced it had a salvage title. Corey, there's a Rare Rides candidate if you run out of more worthy iron to write about.