smart #6 EHD Completes Winter Testing Ahead of Debut

The upcoming smart #6 EHD sedan has just completed its winter testing in China ahead of its much-anticipated debut.

The smart #6 EHD has just completed its winter testing in China ahead of its much-awaited debut. Dubbed as smart’s first sedan model, this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) fastback is slated to make its debut sometime later this year, where it will also become the brand’s largest model to date.

Although the full image of the #6 EHD was already unveiled online, this exact unit used during this winter test in Heilongjiang Province is still wrapped in camouflage. The automaker did say that the PHEV fastback has been put under extreme temperatures as low as -30°C, with over 30,000 km recorded, and more than 100 individual tests were conducted.

Among the tests being conducted for the #6 is a quick acceleration test, where even in the extreme cold of -12℃, this fastback PHEV can still accelerate from 0 to 60 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, capable of maintaining ample power even in low temperatures.

The core for the new #6 EHD is in its PHEV powertrain system, which is based on Geely’s NordThor Hybrid 2.0 system. This setup combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 3-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) that features an integrated e-motor to deliver a total system output of 429 hp (320 kW).

Juice is provided by an LFP battery pack with an undisclosed capacity, but smart claims the pack is good for up to 285 km of pure electric range and up to 1,810 km of combined range—mind you, both figures are based on the more lenient CLTC standards.

The extreme cold conditions also allow smart to test out the #6’s intelligent battery pre-heating technology. In one of the tests conducted, the battery management system is able to heat up the battery pack from -10°C to 20°C in an outdoor environment of -20°C, thus allowing the battery to be charged from 30% to 80% in just 28 minutes.

Not to mention, the icy surfaces also allow smart to demonstrate the #6 EHD’s dynamic handling performance and controllability. Even with its relatively large size of nearly five metres in length, smart says this fastback saloon is still able to deliver agile and stable performance like any other smaller car, thanks to its sublime mechanical qualities and good calibration level of its electronic control system.

The automaker also attributed this performance to the #6’s new generation of variable-damping shock absorbers, which can automatically adjust the damping level in milliseconds based on the frequency of bumps. This enables the car to absorb any minor bumps and provides a more comfortable and smooth ride.

As for its steering, the smart #6 EHD is also said to be the first Chinese car to feature ZF’s close-loop control steering system that is used in many popular performance models like the Porsche 911 and BMW M series. This system features millisecond-level response speed and precise control capabilities to ensure stable and reliable steering handling even under extreme conditions such as low-traction surfaces.