In China, the first official pictures have emerged of Smart’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV), a version of its latest and largest model, the #5 SUV—a significant shift for a brand that was initially committed to being BEV-only.
The Smart #5 EHD (Electric Hybrid Drive) was confirmed by Smart on Thursday, for the Chinese market only, with specifications including an EV range of 250 km and a total range of 1,600 km (CLTC).
First official pictures
The pictures appeared in the MIIT’s vehicle catalog, officially listing new vehicles approved for sale or production in China. The Chinese MIIT stands for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. They must approve every new model before it is introduced to the market.
These pictures show a blue-painted exterior similar to that of BEV #5, but with a roof-mounted LiDAR, which suggests that advanced autonomous driving systems will be offered in the future.
The Smart #5 EHD features a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers 120 kW (161 hp) and is assisted by an electromotor. Full performance specifications aren’t yet available.
What’s known is a 40 kWh LFP battery from CATL, offering a pure electric driving range of 250 km. That is according to the Chinese CLTC standard, which tends to be 20 to 25% more lenient than the European WLTP.
With this, a combined range of 1,600 km should be possible on a single refueling stop, with an average fuel consumption of 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers. The car is said to get the same dimensions as the BEV (l4705/1920/1710 mm), but with a 5 mm longer wheelbase and a curb weight of 2,190 kg.
With the Smart #5 BEV arriving in European showrooms these days, Smart offers a car that is almost twice the size of the original Smart ForTwo, which debuted in 1998.
Mercedes’ little brother, somewhat like the MINI is to BMW, has grown up to become the biggest Smart ever, a fully electric mid-size D-segment crossover SUV.
BEV base version with 465 km range
The base version, #5 Pro, available from €46,700 in Belgium, remains based on the 400 V platform and offers the most economical package. It features a 250 kW (335 hp) rear-wheel drive and a 76 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a range of 465 km.
The Brabus top version features four-wheel drive, 475 kW (636 horsepower), and both front and rear engines. It has 710 Nm of torque immediately available at your foot, without needing to rev high or overcome turbo lag, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds.
We drove it for the first time on Portuguese roads in May, and our initial impressions were impressive, as we wrote. “It is overpowered, yes. It is not cheap, no, indeed. You need to charge it, but that tends to be faster than expected. Still, it’s a great deal of fun for the money. Try to beat that in an ICE car for the same budget, which is €61.700 for the most expensive version.”
No PHEV for Europe?
The prices of the plugin-hybrid for China aren’t yet known. Smart continues to maintain its position that, in Europe, the brand remains a BEV-only brand.
However, with the possibility of circumventing the EU’s import taxes on Chinese EVs with a PHEV, it must be attractive for them. After all, most of their Chinese competitors have rolled out PHEV versions in a blink to capitalize on a wave of plug-in demand in several European countries.
However, it is possible that a competitor like that would not be well-received by Mercedes-Benz’s own brand? Mercedes remains an equal co-owner with Geely, selling Smart from the same showrooms in Europe.
