Production-Ready smart #5 EV Unveiled Ahead of Official Debut

The production version of the smart #5 EV crossover has been unveiled in China ahead of its official debut.
(Photo credit: China's MIIT via CarNewsChina)

Just a few weeks after its concept twin debuted at the Auto China 2024 show, the production version of the smart #5 EV crossover has been unveiled in China well ahead of its planned debut. Revealed via China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), it appears the #5 retains some of its concept twin’s rugged aesthetics while featuring four powertrain options.

Starting with its dimensions, the smart #5 measures 4,705 MM long, 1,920 MM wide, 1,705 MM tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,900 MM. This makes the #5 significantly larger than both the #1 and #3, with the new EV crossover measuring 265 MM longer than the latter.

Comparably, this also puts the #5 in the same category as other SUV crossovers like the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Honda CR-V, while being within touching distance of the Tesla Model Y, its soon-to-be segment rival.

Production-ready smart #5 EV (left) & smart Concept #5 (right)

In terms of design, the smart #5 maintains the same rugged aesthetics shown by its pre-production twin, the smart Concept #5, albeit being predictably more subtle. For starters, the production-ready #5 boasts a noticeably lower ground clearance while riding on a more conventional set of tyres compared to the concept’s all-terrain rubbers.

Production-ready smart #5 EV (left) & smart Concept #5 (right)

The #5 also loses some key equipment, such as the roof rack, the suicide rear doors, and the fender-mounted screens for its suspension. However, this production-ready EV crossover does retain its concept’s overall body style, with several design elements like both the fancy LED headlights and taillights and flushed door handles still present.

This smart #5 EV appears to boast some sporty red accents and trims, possibly indicating a flagship Brabus variant.
(Photo credit: China's MIIT via CarNewsChina)

Meanwhile, both the front and rear bumpers now appear to be more subtle yet still rugged-looking compared to other smart EV models. And just like its fellow siblings, we can also expect the #5 to arrive with a sporty Brabus flagship variant, as indicated by one of the published images here.

Unfortunately, the MIIT did not publish any interior photos of the #5. Given that the Concept #5 comes with a triple-screen layout on its front dash, we can expect the production version of the #5 to boast similar setups, thus making it more screen-laden than existing smart EV models.

On the powertrain front, the smart #5 is anticipated to get four powertrain options, featuring both single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. Starting with the former, the RWD smart #5 will come in two different state-of-tunes, both of which are juiced by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. The baseline RWD model is rated at 335 HP (250 kW), while the higher-spec RWD model is rated higher at 358 HP (267 kW). 

As for the dual-motor AWD variants, both of them are paired with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack instead, with the baseline AWD model outputting 579 HP (432 kW). Meanwhile, the range-topping AWD model, possibly being badged as a Brabus just like other flagship smart EVs, will get a higher total system output of 637 HP (475 kW).

Regardless of powertrain variants, all smart #5 models will get an 800-volt battery architecture courtesy of Geely’s SEA platform—the same one used on both the #1 and #3, albeit with a 400-volt setup. We can expect the #5 to boast battery capacities well exceeding the 100-kWh mark, thus providing the EV crossover with up to 549 KM of WLTP range.

As of now, smart Automobiles has yet to reveal the tentative date for the #5’s official global debut. But given that it has been unveiled by China’s MIIT, we can expect that to happen any time soon.

Photo credit: China's MIIT via CarNewsChina