The new Smart #6 hybrid sedan revealed

Smart, the brand once synonymous with tiny, two-seat runabouts, is no longer playing in the small end of the sandbox. With every new model being larger than the one before it, the new Smart #6 EHD follows this trend as well. Revealed through China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the newest Smart looks serious about competing in the growing class of electrified family sedans.

For a brand once famous for cars that barely took up a parking spot, seeing the Smart #6 EHD roll out looking ready to host a small party inside is certainly a new experience. The vehicle stretches out to 16.1 ft, making it a proper large sedan. It is also 6.3 ft wide and 4.95 ft tall. The wheelbase measures a generous 9.58 ft, promising a comfortable cabin.

The designers gave the new #6 a sleek, modern look. The front end sports a continuous light strip that spans the width of the car, giving it an unmistakable presence on the road. Below this strip, you find small air intake grilles on the sides and a larger grille in the center bottom.

Moving to the side, the car features hidden door handles and stylish multi-spoke rims. At the back, the vehicle looks wide and muscular with a full-width taillight and a slightly concave trunk lid, adding depth to the design.

The Smart #6 EHD is the first sedan for the company, but it is not the first hybrid. The power comes from Geely’s sophisticated NordThor Hybrid 2.0 system, which uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine coupled with an electric motor for a total output of 320 kW (429 horsepower). This is the same setup found in the brand’s first plug-in model, the Smart #5 EHD.

The EV part of the system stores the energy in an LFP battery, with suppliers being either SVOLT or CATL. Official data states the battery can go from a 10 percent charge up to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes, but there is no information on capacity yet, so it’s hard to say whether that’s impressive or not. Depending on the chosen trim level, the car will have different curb weights: a base model at 4,387 lb and a heavier version tipping the scales at 4,627 lb.

The pure electric range is quoted by Smart at 177 miles, with the total range extending to an impressive 1,125 miles on the somewhat optimistic Chinese CLTC testing cycle. The engine is mated to a three-speed DHT gearbox and promises to use less than 0.14 ft³ of gasoline per 62 miles.

The roof-mounted LiDAR unit points to advanced driver assistance capabilities, suggesting that the Smart #6 EHD will come with some of the best self-driving aids available. Along with this tech, the car offers plenty of opportunities for owners to personalize their vehicle, including different optional headlight and taillight designs, as well as various brake calipers and a choice of either 19” or 20” wheels.

The official market launch is expected early next year, when the Smart #6 EHD will join the existing EVs in the lineup - the Smart #1, #3, and #5 - as the brand continues its rapid expansion. The surprising arrival of this large family sedan shows that Smart is serious about moving beyond its niche and challenging established automakers.

Via