A medium-sized SUV with a wheelbase of 2900mm. Is it still smart? For Tong Xiangbei, CEO of the smart brand, the answer is “Yes.”
The new smart #5 car started pre-sales on September 20 at a price of 245,000 yuan (34950$). After the launch event, Zhang Mingxia, Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing, and After-sales for the smart brand, addressed doubts about the car. She said, “We don’t want to be defined by size or technology.” She added, “Smart’s mission is to open your mind, but we must evolve.” She emphasized, “Smart needs a larger market share.”
The new smart #5 is a luxury five-seat SUV. It targets the mid-size electric SUV market. This segment is new for the smart brand.
The new car follows Mercedes-Benz’s global design philosophy of “Sensual Purity.” It differs from previous smart products. The design adds sharp lines to the usual rounded shape. Features like the roof platform, small backpack, side ladder, chassis safety armor, and side steps enhance its ruggedness.
The interior features zero-gravity seats. It offers a one-button “first-class” mode. The seats have electric adjustment and heating functions. All aspects keep up with the times.
In terms of intelligence, it features a 10.3-inch ultra-HD LCD instrument screen, a 13-inch AMOLED dual-screen, and a 25.6-inch AR-HUD. These six screens work together smartly. The vehicle uses an AMD V2000 desktop chip. Its computing power nearly doubles that of the Snapdragon 8295. This allows for Unreal 3A game-level rendering with top effects. For power, the Spirit #5 has an 800V pure electric high-voltage platform and 4C ultra-fast charging technology. It can achieve 500 km of range in just 15 minutes. The new car also offers a maximum CLTC range of 740 km, easing range anxiety for users.
The biggest change for the smart #5 is its transformation into a rugged-looking SUV. It also boasts strong performance. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version delivers a peak power of 475 kW and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Thanks to the air suspension, the smart #5 can handle a maximum wading depth of 500 mm and tackle a 45° incline.