The Italian automaker began the process of developing a new vehicle aimed at transporting large families, using a technological base already consolidated in the Stellantis group. The project aims to meet the growing demand for more spacious cars, without compromising operational efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs on the assembly line.
The company’s engineering focuses its efforts on adapting the global smart car platform, known internally as Smart Car, to support an extended body. Essa modular structure allows the creation of a car capable of accommodating up to seven occupants in comfort, maintaining external proportions suitable for urban traffic and narrow roads.
The main objective of this initiative is to offer a viable alternative for consumers who need more seats, but who do not have the budget to purchase luxury models. The strategy involves standardizing parts and simplifying processes at the factory, ensuring a competitive final price at dealerships in different countries.
Vehicle architecture and space optimization
The design of the new sports utility vehicle moves away from traditional rounded lines, adopting a more square and robust shape, inspired by recent concepts presented by the brand. Essa escolha estética não tem apenas finalidade visual, mas atua diretamente na maximização do volume interno da cabine e no aproveitamento do teto.
With an estimated length of around 4.40 meters, the designers managed to allocate three rows of seats in an ergonomic way. The seating arrangement was calculated to allow easy access to the last row, a critical factor for the acceptance of vehicles in this category by families with children and teenagers.
The use of ultra-high-strength steels in the main structure contributes to passenger safety and helps keep the vehicle’s overall weight under control. Essa relationship between torsional rigidity and lightness is fundamental to guarantee stable dynamic behavior, even when the car operates at its maximum load and capacity capacity.
Market positioning and purchasing power
The decision to focus on a low-cost model reflects changes in the global economic scenario and the decreasing investment capacity of middle-class families. In emerging markets, where the current minimum wage is R$1,621, purchasing a new vehicle requires rigorous financial planning, forcing automakers to rethink their profit margins and production costs.
To overcome this financial barrier, the manufacturer relies on a standard equipment package focused on the essentials, eliminating superfluous items that make the final product more expensive. The multimedia center, driving assistance systems and interior finishing were designed to offer functionality and durability, prioritizing cost-benefit over excessive luxury.
Engine options and energy efficiency
The versatility of the adopted platform allows the new model to be equipped with different types of propulsion, adapting to the emissions requirements of each sales region. The assembly line is prepared to receive everything from traditional combustion engines to fully electric sets, including intermediate hybridization solutions.
One of the main engineering bets is the integration of the mild hybrid system, known by the acronym MHEV, which uses a 48 volt electrical network to assist the thermal engine. Esse technical arrangement provides additional torque during acceleration and restart, relieving the effort of the main engine and significantly reducing fuel consumption on urban routes.
For markets with more developed charging infrastructure, the all-electric variant will offer high energy density batteries, designed to guarantee sufficient autonomy for family trips. The platform’s flat floor makes it easy to accommodate the battery modules without compromising legroom for second and third row occupants.
The calibration of the suspension and steering system also underwent specific adjustments to deal with the variation in weight between the different engine versions. The driving tests seek to find a setting that effectively filters asphalt imperfections, guaranteeing the acoustic and vibrational comfort expected in a family vehicle for daily use.
Production strategy at the Kenitra unit
The manufacturing of the new seven-seater SUV will be concentrated in the Kenitra industrial complex, located at Marrocos, a facility that has received massive investments to modernize its assembly lines. The choice of this manufacturing plant follows a logic of logistical optimization and reduction of operational costs, taking advantage of the geographical proximity to the European continent and current commercial agreements. The unit already has extensive experience in producing vehicles based on the same modular platform, which accelerates the process of adapting heavy machinery and the continuous training of the local workforce for new quality standards.
In addition to final assembly, the supply chain was restructured to ensure that the majority of components are supplied by companies located in the Moroccan industrial hub itself or in strictly adjacent regions. Essa nacionalização de peças reduz a dependência de importações de longa distância, minimiza os riscos de interrupção na linha de produção devido a gargalos logísticos globais e diminui a pegada de carbono associada ao transporte de autopeças pesadas. The efficiency of this industrial ecosystem is a central pillar for the vehicle’s sales price to reach the levels stipulated by the brand’s management for automotive retail.
Competition in the family utility vehicle segment
The launch of this new model places the automaker in a direct dispute for a market share that has gained relevance in recent years, currently dominated by brands that have built their reputation by offering space at affordable prices. The commercial strategy aims to attract consumers who would traditionally opt for used minivans or compact sports utility vehicles, offering the guarantee and reliability of a new car with real capacity for seven people. The marketing team works on building a strong visual identity, which conveys robustness and versatility, characteristics highly valued by buyers who use the vehicle both for daily commuting in dense urban areas and for leisure trips on weekends. Competitor analysis indicates that the success of the product will depend not only on the sticker price set in stores, but also on the total cost of ownership, which includes expenses with automobile insurance, periodic maintenance in authorized workshops and the depreciation rate over the first years of continuous use.
Component integration and weight reduction
Materials engineering played a crucial role in the design of the doors, hood and trunk lid, using thinner metal alloys, but with heat treatment to maintain resistance to frontal and side impacts. Essa systematic approach to weight relief compensates for the additional mass generated by the extra seats and structural reinforcements required in a long-wheelbase car.
The internal cladding panels were designed with recyclable engineering plastics, molded in single pieces to avoid frictional noise and facilitate quick assembly in the factory. The adoption of modular components, such as the central console and door panels, allows the same base to be used in different finishing versions with minimal changes to the daily production process.
Expected launch on the European market
The manufacturer’s official planning points to the formal presentation of the vehicle in the second half of the year, with the first units arriving in the windows of European dealerships soon after for the start of sales to the general public.