smart #1 Nets Red Dot & iF Design Awards

smart #1 awarded the prestigious Red Dot & iF Design Award

The smart #1 has netted two important design awards, those being the Red Dot Award and the iF Design Award, recently. This is perhaps testament to the efforts of both the Mercedes-Benz global design team and the smart Research & Development team.

To be precise, the compact electric SUV garnered the The Red Dot Award in the Product Design category, whilst its IF Design Award was won from the institution’s Product – Automobiles/Vehicles category.

Much of this stems from the success of both sides in managing to incorporate an ideal balance between interior and exterior design excellence, coupled with its overall performance.

The objective from the start, according to smart, was to deliver the #1 as a vehicle that is small on the outside but large on the inside. Having said that, it also needs to carry a perfect combination of both aesthetics and aerodynamics.

The latter was achieved thanks to the 'Sensual Product' design concept applied. Hallmarks of which include concealed door handles, floating halo ceiling, as well as frameless doors, to name a few.

Xuan-Zheng Goh, Head of Product Management at smart Europe, “To receive the Red Dot Award and the iF Design Award is a wonderful recognition of the work of our talented design team. Their development of the smart #1 design concept into production has resulted in a characterful vehicle with a distinctive on-road presence.”

Meanwhile, Kai Sieber, Head of Design, smart, Mercedes-Benz AG also adds that the development of the ‘Sensual Product’ approach “underlines the premium aspect of smart.” He continued by saying, “We are very proud that our #1 has now received two of the world's most recognized design awards.”

The smart #1 is set for launch in Malaysia this year through appointed distributors Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET). The firm recently appointed Hap Seng Smart Sdn Bhd as its very first dealer, and it’s poised to set up two flagship smart showrooms in its Balakong and Jalan Sultan Ismail facilities this year.