Smart is preparing for one of the most radical steps in its history. The brand will officially unveil its first production sedan — the Smart #6 EHD — on June 11 in China. For many, this seems almost surreal. Until recently, Smart was exclusively associated with tiny city cars like the Fortwo — compact two-seater vehicles for European megacities. Now, the brand is releasing a large, technologically advanced sedan, created as part of a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.
According to CarNewsChina, the Smart #6 EHD is built on a Geely platform and uses the new EHD hybrid system. The car is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and an electric motor, and its combined range can reach almost 2000 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. The starting price is expected to be around 200,000 yuan (approximately 2.1 million rubles).
When the brand was created in the late 1990s, its idea was maximum compactness. Smart was meant to be a symbol of urban mobility, an alternative to large cars, and a solution to the problems of megacities. But the market has changed.
After coming under Geely's control, the brand effectively underwent a complete rebirth. Instead of microcars, the company began producing electric crossovers Smart #1 and #3, and is now entering the full-size sedan segment. Moreover, China, not Europe, is becoming the brand's primary market.
Smart simultaneously reflects several global trends in the automotive industry: firstly, the Chinese market is increasingly determining the direction of development even for European brands. Secondly, the boundaries between traditional car types are gradually blurring. And thirdly, hybrid technologies are unexpectedly experiencing a new surge, particularly in China.
Amidst infrastructure limitations and price competition, many manufacturers are once again betting on ultra-long-range PHEV systems. This is why the claimed 2000 km range is becoming almost the main marketing argument for the new Smart.
The brand, which once built its identity around minimalism and compactness, is now releasing one of the longest-range sedans on the market, and this clearly shows how much the modern automotive industry is changing even the most recognizable car brands.