Smart #5 gets Brabus treatment

ALTHOUGH we have yet to see the Smart #5 Medium segment SUV here, the Chinese all-electric manufacturer has this week launched a performance enhanced Brabus AWD variant onto the international stage.

The top model has not been confirmed for Australia but the Smart #5 is due Down Under late in 2025 with price and specification to be announced in Q3 this year.

Brabus is a German engineering company that has been in existence for decades specialising in performance enhanced mainly Mercedes-Benz models offering power, dynamic and luxury upgrades… at a premium price.

It has Brabus-ified smart vehicles in the past and now continues that with the latest #5 Brabus model.

There are currently six smart models available in Australia in three versions of the Smart #1 Small SUV (hatch): RWD Pro, Premium and AWD Brabus grades and the same in the Smart #3 Small SUV (coupe) model.

The Brabus variants of the #1 and #3 go for $67,900 and $70,900 excluding on-road costs respectively meaning a #5 Brabus will be more than that maybe up around or over the $100k mark.

In Germany, the Smart #5 Brabus will be pitched from €60,900, ($A110,532) and be available to order starting April 24 in Germany, with rollouts across further European markets throughout the second and third quarters of 2025.

The #5 including the Brabus variant – if it makes it here – will compete with the likes of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, Kia’s EV5, Tesla Model Y, and likely versions of Audi’s Q4 E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz’s EQB and BMW’s iX3 with the Brabus variant taking on the higher spec, higher priced models.

But Smart is confident it has the goods in its new #5 Brabus stating it is “made to stand out” and marks the highlight of the all-electric smart product portfolio, “embodying confident performance and unmistakable Brabus design”.

The arrival of the Smart #5 Brabus completes the line-up and is the most powerful model in the #5 range.

Billed as its new top-end product the #5 Brabus is “the peak performer in the model range that combines Smart’s space-efficient versatility, modern usability and seamless connectivity with a signature Brabus aesthetic that is defined by bold individuality and high-performance engineering.”

Power comes from state-of-the-art electric drive technology that delivers peak power of up to 475 kW and a “flexible” all-wheel drive system.

In launch mode, the model dispatches a 0 to 100 km/h pass in 3.8 seconds thanks in part to its 800-volt platform that allows fast DC charging with up to 400 kW, recharging the 100-kWh battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 18 minutes and providing a range of up to 540km (WLTP).

In Brabus mode, simulated engine sounds accompany maximum performance.

The car rolls on 21-inch Brabus Monoblock Z wheels covering red brake callipers highlighting the sporty exterior while Brabus badges round off the design.

The #5 Brabus is equipped to luxury car standards exemplified in its Dinamica upholstery and a window shattering 2000-watt Sennheiser 20-speaker premium audio.

TIt also offers sophisticated technology, including an infotainment system with two 13-inch OLED displays, one of them is dedicated to the front passenger, ensuring intuitive operation and comfort.

“As the new flagship of our all-electric product portfolio, the Smart #5 Brabus not only embodies our vision for electric performance but also redefines the benchmarks that customers can anticipate from an electric SUV,” said Smart global chief executive officer Mandy Zhang.

“It showcases robust dynamic capabilities, state-of-the-art connectivity features, and exquisitely crafted interiors, thereby delivering an unrivalled driving experience.

“Moreover, it symbolises the brand's unwavering commitment to its collaboration with Brabus, a partnership that has endured for over two decades.”