Smart Builds a Sedan Longer Than a Mercedes E-Class
The Smart #6, internally designated EHD, is a fastback sedan that stretches 4,906 mm from nose to tail. For a brand that built its reputation on two-seat city pods, this is an extraordinary pivot. The #6 now occupies dimensional territory held by the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series, vehicles that cost two or three times as much.
Platform and Hybrid Architecture
Geely's PMA2+ platform underpins the #6, the same modular architecture used across several Geely Group brands. Smart has paired it with the NordThor 2.0 hybrid system: a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine working alongside an electric motor for a combined output of 429 hp. Total CLTC-rated range reaches 1,810 km when running on both fuel and electricity. Electric-only capability covers 285 km, enough for daily commuting without touching the combustion engine.
The hybrid approach marks a departure from the brand's recent trajectory. Smart's #1 and #3 models launched as pure EVs. With the #6, the company acknowledges that many buyers still want the flexibility of a fuel tank alongside their battery pack.
Design Language Borrowed from Marine Biology 🦈
Smart describes the #6's exterior as "shark-inspired," a claim that might sound like marketing excess until you examine the details. The hood features what the company calls "Bionic Shark-Gills," a set of channeled vents designed to echo gill slits. The roofline slopes into a fastback tail, creating a silhouette more athletic than the typical three-box sedan.
The 2,926 mm wheelbase is the longest in Smart's history by a considerable margin. Interior space should benefit directly from that measurement. Rear passengers in particular will find legroom that would have been unimaginable in a Smart vehicle five years ago.
The Mercedes Connection
Mercedes-Benz retains a 50% stake in Smart and contributed to the #6's design process. The German influence shows in the sedan's proportions and surface treatment, which carry a restraint absent from many Chinese-market competitors. Whether Mercedes involvement extends to interior material selection and quality control processes has not been detailed, though the partnership's track record on the #1 and #3 suggests meaningful input beyond surface styling.
Brabus and Future Variants
A Brabus performance variant is planned, following the template established by the Smart #1 Brabus and #3 Brabus. Power figures for the Brabus #6 have not been released. Given the base model's 429 hp output, a Brabus version pushing past 500 hp seems plausible.
Smart has also confirmed that full-electric versions of the #6 will arrive in the future, likely sharing battery and motor hardware with the existing Smart EV lineup. The hybrid launches first, presumably because Smart sees stronger initial demand for the extended-range capability.
What the #6 Means for Smart's Identity
A brand that once sold nothing larger than a fortwo is now competing in the midsize sedan segment with a 4.9-meter, 429 hp fastback. The transformation has taken less than four years. Smart's 2,926 mm wheelbase on the #6 exceeds the current Mercedes C-Class by over 60 mm, a fact that captures the scale of reinvention underway.
