Smart, once synonymous with tiny European runabouts, has officially outgrown its city-car roots. The newly unveiled Smart #6 is not only the brand’s first-ever saloon, it’s also the largest vehicle Smart has ever built—a striking plug-in hybrid targeting the same turf as the BMW 3-series and BYD Seal.
And with global EV demand wobbling, Smart appears ready to rethink its all-electric identity—starting with horsepower, range, and a serious shot of ambition.
A Saloon Built for a New Smart
The #6 marks Smart’s second attempt at a plug-in hybrid after the #5 SUV launched in China earlier this year. This one is badged EHD (Electric Hybrid Drive), and although it bows first as a PHEV, insiders say it was primarily engineered as a full EV. A purely electric #6 is coming—it’s just a matter of when.
China will get it first. UK and European sales remain unconfirmed, though Smart officials have made it clear that exports are part of a broader push to expand outside China.
Design: Clean, Lean, and Sharply Upscaled
Smart says the #6 carries “design DNA” from its earlier years—mainly the short overhangs and aero-focused surfaces—but this is a long way from the cutesy Fortwo. With a length of 4906 mm, width of 1922 mm, and a wheelbase just shy of 3 meters (2926 mm), this four-door channels the same long-roofed sleekness as its close relative, the Zeekr 07.
This also places the #6 squarely inside one of China’s hottest battlegrounds, where it’ll go nose-to-nose with the BYD Seal DM-i and Xiaomi SU7.
Smart hasn’t revealed the cabin yet, but expect a layout similar to the #5 SUV—a minimalist dash anchored by a 13-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver cluster.
Hybrid Performance: NordThor Power
Under the sheetmetal, Smart taps deep into Geely’s parts bin. The #6 uses the NordThor Hybrid 2.0 setup:
- 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (161 hp)
- Single electric motor
- Three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT)
- Combined output: up to 429 hp
Those figures put it in the same neighborhood as a performance-spec luxury hybrid—but Smart’s targeting efficiency as much as speed.
A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery—from major suppliers SVOLT and CATL—delivers a claimed 177 miles of electric-only range on China’s forgiving CLTC test and an eye-watering 1125 miles total range with fuel, alongside a quoted 72.4 mpg.
The PMA2 platform also supports both 400V and 800V architectures and ultra-fast DC charging up to 400 kW, although real-world charging rates for the PHEV version have not been detailed.
Brabus and the Full EV Are Coming
Smart’s long-time performance partner Brabus is already lined up for a hotter #6 variant. The fully electric version will offer:
- RWD or AWD
- Up to 638 hp (Brabus)
- Range competitive with Tesla Model 3 Long Range (approx. 436 miles)
That would put Smart in the rarefied company of high-output electric sports sedans—something unimaginable for the brand a decade ago.
Smart’s Reinvention Continues
Smart’s evolution from quirky European microcar maker to global EV-PHEV saloon brand has been swift. After Mercedes founded the company in 1994, Smart is now headquartered in Hangzhou, China, jointly operated by Mercedes-Benz, Geely, and Tianqi Lithium.
Next up in the product pipeline? The successor to the iconic Fortwo, arriving in 2027 and expected to carry the #2 badge. A #4 may follow.
But for now, the Smart #6 stands as the boldest symbol yet of a brand that’s no longer small, no longer predictable—and maybe no longer niche.
Source: Smart