Smart embraces bold art

Smart has showcased its expanded premium vehicle line-up at the 21st Shanghai Auto Show.

The event featured the global debut of the smart #3 Keith Haring Art Car, pictured, and the China launch of the all-new smart #5 Brabus and smart #5 Premium+ AWD. 

The art car “brings bold imagination and artistic expression to the forefront” to align with the brand’s “open your mind” ethos, apparently.

This #3’s exterior showcases Haring's distinctive motifs, while the cabin features numerous artistic elements that turn the vehicles into a “moving canvas”.

As for the smart #5 Brabus, it has a striking design with its 21-inch Brabus Monoblock Z wheels, red brake calipers and performance-inspired styling.

Inside, the cabin features Dinamica seats,alcantara steering wheel with illuminated variant lettering and a Sennheiser Signature sound system. 

The electric drive delivers 475kW, accelerating the vehicle from 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds. Its 800-volt platform allows ultra-fast DC charging from 10-80 per cent in 15 minutes. The 100kWh battery offers a maximum range of 660km on the CLTC.

The smart #5 Premium+ AWD, meanwhile, is engineered for all-terrain performance. Air suspension offers 95mm of height adjustability across six settings with a maximum ground clearance of 231mm.

It features continuous controlled damping system to ensure real-time ride optimisation. Dual motors deliver rapid acceleration of 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds with a 45-degree climbing capability. 

The intelligent all-wheel-drive system can switch between two and four-wheel drive, and there are adaptive, sand, snow, mud and rock off-road driving modes. Reinforced sealing technology enables water fording up to 500mm.

In 2025, smart plans to enter more than 10 new markets. Its global footprint currently stands at 37 markets.