Add Smart to the growing list of automakers giving the bench seat another look.
The Smart Concept #2 made its official European debut in Rome this week, showcasing the brand’s new interior design direction — one that includes an old-school bench seat.
The cabin, designed by Mercedes-Benz, is intended to maximize roominess, Smart said in a news release.
“Central elements of the interior concept of the upcoming smart #2 include a continuous bench seat, a cockpit design with an S-shape principle as well as a consistently efficient use of space,” Smart explained. “The focus is on an open, clearly structured cabin that creates generous roominess and an elevated feel from compact exterior dimensions.”
“The continuous bench seat is therefore more than a design element: it dissolves the conventional divide between driver and passenger and creates a sense of shared space and practicality — generous, open, and inviting, even within an ultra-compact footprint.”
That’s certainly one way to describe it.
Corporate design language aside, it’s genuinely interesting to see the bench seat making another appearance. In fact, we’ve seen hints of a comeback in recent years from Chevrolet, Land Rover, Hyundai and Kia. Most have been concept vehicles or limited options rather than mainstream offerings, but it’s still a surprising trend.
Some automotive designers believe that as vehicles evolve into rolling lounges — and become less focused on the driving experience itself — bench seats and other unconventional seating arrangements, such as recliners, could become increasingly common.
So much for the bench seat being extinct.
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