Always one to wow the public with its daring concept cars, the 2012 NAIS Detroit show is no exception for city car maker smart. Its latest exhibit, the for-us pickup, may not be as big as some of its traditional rivals, but what it loses out in size it makes up for with innovation.

Small enough to fit in the load bed of many full-size pickups, it also ditches the conventional internal combustion engine for an electric motor. It doesn't have the grunt of a big V8, but the 55kW unit can propel the tiny utility vehicle onto a top speed in excess of 75mph.

Short overhangs, a widened track (by 50mm each side over the regular smart) and chunky off-road protection ensures it looks tougher in the flesh than it does on paper. Inside it follows on from the smart forvision concept with sleek white surfaces and a smartphone dock acting as the rear view camera.

It's this car's cargo that really makes it stand out though, a pair of smart ebikes nestling neatly on built-in charging docks. So even when the smart is no longer suitable for the rest of the journey, you can drop the electric tailgate and take a bike to your destination.

Only a show car for now, expect some of the styling and of course that electric powerplant to make an appearance on production models in the future.