Smart teased the production version of the #5 SUV, highlighting the off-road credentials of what will be the largest, most spacious, and most capable model in its lineup. The company also announced that the Smart #5 will debut on August 28, choosing Australia for the global unveiling. The official teasers depict lightly camouflaged prototypes being driven on rough terrains. The first gallery, uploaded on Chinese social media Weibo, shows muddy landscapes, river crossings, and gravel roads. The second batch, shared on Facebook, includes snapshots from winter testing on ice and snow.
The world has already seen the
production-spec model thanks to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information
Technology (MIIT), which published photos and specifications of the Smart #5,
leaving little to the imagination. Smart’s latest SUV model adopts a boxy
silhouette, setting it apart from the smaller and sportier #1 and #3
crossovers. Elements like the extra LEDs inspired by “identification lamps”,
the aluminum-style skid plates, and the plastic cladding, make the #5 look like
an off-roader, even though the production version doesn’t have the all-terrain
tires and the massive ground clearance of the concept.
The largest model to ever bear the Smart
badge will measure 4,705 mm long, 1,920 mm wide,
and 1,705 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm.
This footprint is similar to the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes GLC SUVs. We
already know that the Smart #5 will ride on an 800-Volt architecture from
Geely. According to documents from China, the lineup will comprise 4 electric
powertrain options, with single (RWD) or dual electric motors (AWD), producing
from 335 hp to 637 hp. Range figures are
expected to be similar to the concept, exceeding 549 km in its most
efficient form with the largest available battery pack.
The Smart #5 is expected to be a global
model, offered in China, Europe, the UK, and Australia, where the company is
poised to make a return before the end of 2024. The global launch will take
place in Australia on August 28.
