Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Smart concept car does away with doors, adds in skateboards

Marcus Amick
By
door less smart ev paints a clear picture of future urban mobility fourjoy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Could a door-less compact EV equipped with an electric skateboard be the next big thing in urban mobility?

It seems that the carmaker Smart thinks so along with no rear window and an open roof.

Recommended Videos

Gearing up for the Frankfurt International Motor Show, which opens Sept. 12, the Daimler AG company has released details about its Smart fourjoy, a concept designed around the idea, which is set to debut at the show.

Related

The “free spirit” EV (my words, not theirs), which hints at some of the plans for Smart’s four-door production vehicle that launches next year,  is being touted as the future of Smart cars with an emphasis on families.

“The Smart fourjoy is the perfect icon of our Smart design philosophy that is being carried into a new era. For the first time we are showing the future sporty four-seater character of the new Smart family,” said  Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG, in the company’s official press release. “The typical Smart silhouette, the clear lines and styling and also the further development of the Smart face make this study a modern design icon.”

Personally, I’ll hold off on crowing the car as a “design icon”, but the Smart fourjoy is a pretty interesting concept when it comes to what the future of urban mobility might look like.

smart four joy rear
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Taking design cues from the first smart model series, much of Smart fourjoy’s styling elements are centered on the idea of unlimited open space. Without doors, a rear window or roof panel, the car gives both the driver and passengers a unique experience when traveling in the city. And possibly a dirty and damp experience at times as well.

The most distinctive elements of the vehicle are the two futuristic-looking front seats and the rear seat bench, which features a similar design. The interior also features two smartphones mounted on the dashboard and on the centre tunnel at the rear to keep all four passengers entertained and likely recharged.

Powered by a 55 kW magneto-electric motor, the Smart fourjoy’s drivetrain is based on the current Smart fortwo electric car, according to an official Daimler press release. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 17.6 kWh.

When completely empty, Daimler AG says it’ll take a maximum of seven hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries, or in other words, overnight or all day at work.  Charging time at a wallbox or public charging station can be shortened to less than one hour with the 22 kW on-board charger and a rapid charging cable, likely on the Level II 240-volt system.

The Smart fourjoy is also equipped with two electric longboards fastened on the roof when there’s a need to cover short distances in the city. Helmets for the boards are stowed under the rear seats.  The helmets are also equipped with a high-def camera for filming when riding the skateboards to share the experience with friends on social networks.

Exactly how many elements of the car will make it into Smart’s fourseat production car remains to be seen, but I think the electric skateboards would definitely be a nice feature. 

Ultimate open-air city car or rolling safety hazard? Tell us how smart you think the Smart concept is in comments.

Editors' Recommendations

Marcus Amick
Marcus Amick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marcus Amick has been writing about the world of cars for more than ten years and has covered everything from new automobiles…
Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more