2025 Smart #5 electric SUV revealed
A new breed of vehicle is going to change the way people approach life exploring the outdoors.
The electric four-wheel-drive of the future will transform weekend getaways with a built-in movie projector, climate controlled cabin and enough power to run appliances.
It arrives next year in the form of the Smart #5.
Designed by Mercedes and built by Geely – Volvo’s parent company – in China, the new “hashtag five” is designed to revolutionise camping.
A huge 100kWh battery promises more than 700 kilometres of driving range, or enough grunt to power a fridge, cinema, hi-fi stereo and other elements that will change the way people approach the weekend.
Similar in size to a Subaru Forester, the Smart has all-wheel-drive traction and enough ground clearance to tackle mild off-roading tasks.
An optional off-road pack takes inspiration from the Land Rover Defender with a fold-down ladder, rooftop cargo tray and an external storage box for wet and muddy gear such as hiking boots.
The interior is properly posh, with a digital dashboard, oversized augmented reality head-up display and twin high-resolution AMOLED displays powered by a water-cooled computer processor capable of running movies or video games.
The heated seats have a massage function and can fold flat to create what Smart describes as a “king size” sleeping space – though we expect it isn’t quite as accommodating as a conventional king size mattress.
Other toys include Sennheiser surround sound and a cute electronic avatar that serves as a digital assistant similar to Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri.
Full specifications for the car have not been revealed. Not has its price, which could exceed that of the smaller Smart #1 and #3 by approaching $100,000 plus on-road costs.
But the brand is serious about bringing the car to Australia, as evidenced by its decision to host the model’s global debut in Byron Bay.
Journalists travelled from Europe and Asia to see the new model in the metal. It will reach showrooms in China this year before going into production for Australia in 2025.
EV that doesn’t care what you think of it
Few car brands or models are as sure of their identity as this new headturning EV.
What happens to a Tesla during flooding
US authorities call out EV makers over “threats of their cars” following footage of a Tesla bursting into flames after a flood.
Why the rush to EVs poses risks
As automakers rush to introduce new electric vehicles to the market in response to Australia’s FBT face risks to safety and reliability.