The smart Concept #5 made its world debut at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 25, 2024, representing the most ambitious vehicle Smart Europe GmbH has ever revealed. This is not an evolution of the tiny city car the brand built its reputation on. It is a full-size mid-SUV with an 800-volt drivetrain, a battery of over 100 kWh, a WLTP range exceeding 550 kilometres, and 4C ultra-fast charging that restores 70% battery in 15 minutes. The Concept #5 signals a complete repositioning of the smart brand toward premium, adventure-capable electric mobility.
From City Car to Mid-Size SUV: Smart's Brand Transformation
Smart was founded as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch to create ultra-compact urban cars. For decades, that identity was absolute: two seats, a tiny footprint, and city-only ambitions. The brand was relaunched as Smart Europe GmbH, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, with a mandate to expand upmarket. The #1 and #3 crossovers were the first steps. The Concept #5 is the destination: a genuine mid-size SUV designed to compete with premium electric models from established brands, while bringing Smart's engineering partnership with Geely's R&D infrastructure. Motor1's coverage of the smart Concept #5 debut captures the scale of the brand shift this vehicle represents.
Powertrain and Range: 800V Architecture and 550 km WLTP
The Concept #5 is built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform, placing it in the company of vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Porsche Taycan in terms of charging infrastructure compatibility. The battery capacity exceeds 100 kWh. WLTP range is rated at over 550 kilometres; under the CLTC cycle used in China, the figure rises to approximately 700 km. The 4C ultra-fast charging standard allows a 20% to 70% charge in 15 minutes, addressing one of the primary friction points for long-distance electric driving. The drivetrain is dual-motor all-wheel drive, with multiple drive modes including off-road, sand, snow, mud, and rock, a list that would have been unthinkable for any previous smart vehicle. The DrivingElectric analysis of the Concept #5 breaks down the charging and range credentials in detail.
Design: Sharp Lines, Integrated Winch, and a Folding Roof Step
The exterior of the Concept #5 makes no attempt to reference the rounded, friendly proportions of the classic smart fortwo. It is defined by sharp square lines, a protective skid plate, integrated off-road tires, and a functional winch at the front. A folding rear step provides access to the roof, a feature that connects the vehicle's design to adventure and expedition use rather than urban commuting. The Interstellar Blue paint shown at the Beijing reveal deepens this impression. This is a vehicle designed to communicate capability as clearly as it communicates electric refinement.
Interior: Triple OLED Screens, NVIDIA DRIVE Orin, and an AI Voice Assistant
Inside, the Concept #5 runs a triple-screen interface powered by an AMD V2000 chip. Ambient cabin lighting, a portable high-fidelity speaker, and a Cerence-developed AI voice assistant give the interior a level of technology density that rivals vehicles costing significantly more. The vehicle is expected to run NVIDIA DRIVE Orin for the smart Pilot Assist 3.0 advanced driving assistance system when it reaches production. Smart confirmed the final production version would debut in the second half of 2024 in Europe as the brand's largest model to date.
The smart Concept #5 is one thread in a broader electric SUV narrative that is reshaping the premium car market. Explore TheArsenale's curated selection of electric and high-performance cars in the TheArsenale Cars collection, including the RAESR Tachyon Speed electric hypercar and the Nitid Trinity electric hypercar. For those drawn to the Italian side of exceptional automotive engineering, the Frangivento Sorpasso GT65 offers a different but equally compelling proposition.
Photo: Smart
