As you're probably aware by now, smart Automobile is a completely different company from smart GmbH. The easiest way to explain it comes in the form of Chinese automaker Geely, which established a joint venture with Mercedes in 2019.
Otherwise put, Mercedes-Benz Group AG is providing the design while Geely handles both engineering and series production. This rule of thumb applies to the subcompact #1 and the compact #3, models that will be joined by the largest series-production smart yet sometime in late 2024.
Previewed at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show by the smart Concept #5, the newcomer measures 4,700 millimeters (185 inches) from the front bumper to the rear bumper as opposed to 4,440 for the #3 and 4,270 for the #1. Described by its maker as being a premium mid-size utility vehicle, said concept appears to be loosely inspired by the EQB SUV.
Slightly longer than Merc's three-row crossover, the smart Concept #5 features a four-seat layout. Given its wheelbase, a three-row option for the production model is theoretically possible. Gifted with all-wheel drive and pictured with chunky off-road tires, the concept further stands out from the #3 and #1 with a new design language for the smart brand.
Outdoorsy might be the best word to describe this fellow, a zero-emission crossover with a boxy silhouette, an outlandish roof rack, and a roof rack-mounted light bar for good measure. Front and rear skid plates are joined by a folding rear step for roof access, and – believe it or not – smart also made a case for an electric winch. Ambitious for sure, but you should not mistake this concept for a true off-road vehicle. Think Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Xtreme Recon or the Ford Bronco Outlands Sasquatch.
Photo: smart
The cockpit is dominated by three screens, with all of them powered by a Ryzen V2000-series microprocessor from AMD. Zero-gravity seats for the driver and front passenger also need to be mentioned, with said front seats boasting new airbag solutions for improved occupant safety.
LCD screens integrated into the wheel arch cladding are featured as well, displaying tire pressures. There are also small screens integrated in the front fenders, which display the lock/unlock status. A portable speaker integrated into the center console, light strips fore and aft, and ultra-fast charging pretty much round off the list of highlights. The 800-volt electrical architecture is built around a large high-voltage battery (over 100 kilowatt hours) that can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, smart did not say how many ponies and pound-feet the dual-motor setup makes.
On the other hand, smart did promise over 550 kilometers in the WLTP or 700 kilometers in the CLTC. Both standards are far more optimistic than the EPA's way of estimating an electric vehicle's driving range. However, that large of a battery in a 4.7-meter-long electric vehicle should offer plenty of driving range under the EPA testing protocol as well.
The problem is, the 2025 smart #5 won't be sold in the United States of America. Geely has no plans to bring smart to the US of A, and Merc doesn't appear to be as invested in the microcar brand as the German automaker was in 1990s and 2000s.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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