Revealed in the form of a concept car, at the end of April, at the Beijing Motor Show, the large electric Smart #5 SUV has just been introduced in China. With a length of 4.70 meters, which has nothing to do with the original Smart Fortwo philosophy (two meters shorter), this rugged-looking machine ventures into the territory of the Tesla Model Y. With a powerful output of 638 horsepower on its high-end dual-motor versions detailed below, it is not afraid to compete with top electric vehicles, starting with the Porsche Macan Turbo (639 hp), without the need for the Brabus label.
This family vehicle, based on a generous wheelbase of 2.90 meters, will remain a 5-seater model, with no plans for a 7-seater version. In China, its main market, 4.70 meters are not enough to accommodate as many passengers. It would require a length of 4.90 meters or even 5 meters.
The Smart #5 range will offer a variety of options, starting with a basic single-motor rear-wheel drive variant with 335 hp and 358 hp. Above that, the all-wheel-drive versions will combine a front motor producing 221 hp with a rear electric motor of 358 hp, totaling 579 hp, or 638 hp in some cases. The electric architecture of 800 V will allow for fast charging, with Smart claiming that it only takes 15 minutes to fully charge the battery.
As for the battery, the largest 100 kWh configuration is approved for a range of 700 km locally and around 600 km with the WLTP protocol in Europe. The Smart #5 is scheduled to make its way to Europe, with its technical base set to be used for the upcoming electric SUV Volvo EX60, succeeding the current XC60 launched in 2017 and restyled in 2021.