Clever made a name for itself with tiny city cars, most of which were between 2.7m and 3.5m long. But since Mercedes-Benz sold half of the brand to Geely, the brand’s range has grown in both size and quantity.
The latest model in Smart’s product offensive is the #6his first limousine ever. With its black alloy wheels and a pop-up boot lid spoiler, the number 6 is likely to be touted as the brand’s sportiest offering.
Its curved body features headlights and taillights housed in full-width clear plastic housings. With what appears to be a LIDAR unit on the roof as well as cameras mounted behind the front wheel wells, the #6 will be available with advanced driver assistance features.
No images of the sedan’s interior have been released yet, but if Smart’s current offerings are anything to go by, you can expect a plethora of screens and, at least for the Chinese market, an AI voice assistant.
Measuring 4906mm long, 1922mm wide, 1508mm high and 2926mm wheelbase, it’s sure to be the largest Smart vehicle ever, overtaking the 4.7m No.5 SUV.
For reference, the latest Toyota Camry is 4920mm long, 1840mm wide, 1455mm high and has a wheelbase of 2825mm.
At launch, the #6 will only be available as a plug-in hybrid with Geely’s NordThor Hybrid 2.0 setup and a total system output of 320 kW.
The No. 6’s powertrain appears to be the same as that of the No. 5 EHD, which features a 120kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet, a rear-mounted 200kW electric motor and a three-speed hybrid transmission (DHT).
The electric range of the plug-in hybrid No. 6 is said to be 285 km with the generous CLTC standard, while the total range is said to be 1810 km.
Although Smart is yet to provide details on the #6’s battery pack, the #5 plug-in hybrid with similar range figures uses a 41 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
For a brand that has only ever sold hatchbacks, SUVs and the odd convertible, introducing a sedan seems an odd move, but there is still a huge appetite for sedans in China, Smart’s core market.
MORE: Discover the Smart Showroom
