Smart #5 is spied with an engine
A new version of the Smart #5 has been spotted testing. What’s special about this car is that it sports a petrol engine. It is not immediately clear whether the new version is a PHEV or an extended-range EV.
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The new car may well serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it would be a way around EU tariffs on EVs imported from China. Secondly, it would likely also lift sales in China. The Smart brand does not sell particularly well in China and a PHEV or EREV version might help – monthly sales are generally around 3000.
Externally, the car seems to be largely the same as the EV. The most obvious change is an additional flap on the right side of the body for filling the petrol tank. There is, however, considerable camouflage around the front and the rear of the car, which could hide some additional changes.
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Another noticeable change is that the five-spoke wheels from the Smart #5 have also been replaced. A spy shot of the interior shows that this is also largely unchanged. Inside, there is a dual screen with a center entertainment screen, which runs into a passenger entertainment screen. Additionally, there is a three-spoke Smart steering wheel.
Chinese sources are confused about the powertrain. The most likely engine is the 1.5T hybrid system from Geely. However, pictures of the engine bay show that although the layout is similar, there are equally some differences that put the 1.5T unit in doubt.
According to Autohome in the Smart #5 the engine the turbine intercooler is on the right side of the engine compared with in front of the engine on the current Geely 1.5T PHEV system. Autohome also says that the turbocharger is missing.
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This has led to some speculation that the car is just a mule for the development of another car. Another possibility is that if Autohome is correct about the turbocharger, then it might be a non-turbocharged version of the new NordThor EM-i PHEV system. BYD, after all, has both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of its DM 5.0 system.
The Smart #5 went on sale in China in October 2024. It is available with a 76 kWh or 100 kWh battery pack. Versions equipped with the 76 kWh have 400V architecture and use a rear-mounted 250 kW electric motor.
100 kWh battery versions have 800V architecture. The single-motor version has a rear-mounted 267 kW electric motor. The dual-motor version has a 165 kW motor in front and 310 kW behind.
Smart Automobile is now a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. Currently, it only produces fully electric cars in China, and despite the supposed 50:50 nature of the JV, Geely is very much in charge.
Editor’s note:
If this is really meant for production, it is far more likely to be a PHEV than an EREV, as to date, Geely has only produced PHEVs.
Source: Autohome
