The #5 will be smart's latest SUV

The smart #5 has yet to make its official debut in Europe, but people are already looking to the future and the next models that will complete the range. Will there be a new fortwo? The company's top management has been asked time and time again, and the answer has always been the same: we are discussing it. Nothing has been decided or even announced yet. We shall see.

But we do know what will arrive in 2026, according to the schedule set by smart, which has committed itself to presenting one new model a year. Or rather, we know what will not arrive. After #1, #3 and #5, the brand's hunger for SUVs will subside and make way for something different. This is what Dirk Adelmann, CEO of smart Europe, told us at a press conference. So what is coming? Good question!

Please wait

Adelman did not mince his words, limiting himself to saying, "It's going to be something different. Nothing has been decided yet." Apparently there are a lot of options on the table. What is certain is that - we repeat - there will not be a new Smart branded SUV and the dimensions will be smaller than those of the #5. And no, as already mentioned, there will be no new fortwo. So the answer is that there are no answers. At least those that can be given to the press.

smart #5, the version for China

Photo by: smart

Coming back to the fortwo for a moment, a long time ago someone suggested the possibility of a new partnership with Renault to use the technical basis of the new Twingo. It is no secret that the French manufacturer is looking for possible partners, and after the 'no' from Volkswagen, the smart could be just the thing for the Lausanne-based company. On the other hand, Geely (Mercedes' majority shareholder and 50% owner of the smart brand) is Renault's partner in Horse, a joint venture dedicated to the production of full hybrid and plug-in engines. But even in this case, Adelmann said there were no such talks.

Just as a plug-in smart does not and will not exist, at least for Europe. After the rumours of the last few weeks, the German manager reaffirmed the company's commitment to selling only electric cars on the Old Continent. End of story.

smart #5, the prototype for Europe

Photos by: smart

sart #5, boot capacity exceeds 1,500 litres

The papers in order   

Nothing new under the sun, then, with a range that is growing in number, size and ambition, and increasingly aiming at the premium end of the market. The smart #5, which I saw live in pre-production and still camouflaged versions, is a prime example. The materials and design are of a high standard, as are the technical specifications: there is talk of a 100 kWh battery at 800 volts, with a maximum charge of around 400 kW. Not bad.

smart #5, the interior

Photo by: smart

The German brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes also have premium ambitions and, as Adelmann points out, are increasingly turning to luxury. It remains to be seen what the price of the smart #5 will be - certainly higher than the £33,950 of the #3 - which will have to cope with the tariffs on electric cars produced in China. Is this a stumbling block that could lead to the opening of a smart factory in Europe? Adelmann reiterated that such a discussion had been launched long before the European Commission's decision, but that nothing had been decided yet.

More from Smart:

Smart 2025: All the upcoming models

Smart #5 (2024): Dimensions and boot space of the new SUV

Smart brand isn’t what it used to be: Will it work?

Smart #5 revealed as a premium mid-range SUV