smart releases first sketches of production #5

smart, the company jointly owned by Mercedes-Benz and the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (since 2019), will add a third model to its new generation of ‘hashtag’ fully electric models. Following the #1 (launched in 2022) and #3 (launched in 2023) is the #5 which was first revealed as a concept model in April this year.

World premiere in Australia
The world premiere of the #5 will take place in Australia on August 28, 2024 and the new model, to be made in China, will be exported to Europe next year. No doubt, with Malaysia being one of smart’s priority markets, it will also make its entry in due course.

Aimed at new segment
As the number indicates, this model sits higher up in the range and is a larger multi-purpose, mid-size SUV. It is aimed at a new segment for smart, catering to new target groups and customers with an active lifestyle.

As with the #1 and #3, Mercedes-Benz Design was largely responsible for the design while the Geely side provided the technical elements. The latter would include the platform and almost certainly the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by the Geely Group.

Ideas from Concept #5
As the first sketches of the #5 show, the production version will incorporate many of the ideas of the Concept #5 which was shown at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024).

The technical details are not revealed yet but the Concept #5 was proposed with a drive system using 800V technology and a battery pack with a nominal capacity of 100+ kWh. This allows for super-fast charging, with the ability to regain up to 70% (10% – 80%) of energy in 15 minutes. The range is projected to be over 550 kms.

Extensive real-world tests
Over the past few months, the #5 has been put through final real-world testing in tough off-road and winter conditions. In particular, the performance of the fully electric powertrain was validated, along with the charging capability of the batteries in very cold conditions.

The driving dynamics, together with the assistance and safety systems, were also extensively evaluated in challenging off-road environments.

Expansion of portfolio
“With the smart #5, we have created our most spacious and versatile vehicle to date. The #5 is a great expansion of our existing portfolio and will make the smart brand an attractive choice for more and more customers in Europe,” said Dirk Adelmann, CEO of smart Europe GmbH.

Click here to know more about the smart range in Malaysia

Concept #5 previews third model for smart EV range