New Smart #5 Brabus is a 637bhp far cry from the brand’s city car past

• High-performance Smart #5 Brabus with 637bhp
• Can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds
• 100kWh battery with up to 335 miles of range

The all-electric Smart #5 is already the brand’s biggest and heaviest car ever, but it’s now also the most powerful, thanks to the new flagship #5 Brabus. The souped-up family SUV can sprint from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, propelled by a pair of electric motors with 637bhp. Yes, we really are living in a world where a Smart car has more power than the iconic McLaren F1 supercar.

Brabus is a German tuning brand that has long been associated with Mercedes, setting various speed records throughout the 2000s with its turbocharged, high-performance saloons. More recently, it’s lent its name to the flagship versions of the electric Smart #1 and Smart #3, bringing sportier styling and a lot more oomph. The same is true for the #5, although performance has been turned up another notch.

What are the important specs for the Smart #5 Brabus?

Under the skin, the Smart #5 Brabus uses the same 800-volt electric architecture as the regular car, along with its 100kWh battery. Here, range has taken a 30-mile hit due to the energy-sapping, dual-motor layout, but you’ve still got 335 miles to play with.

Also carried over from the standard #5 is the 400kW maximum charging speed – the fastest you’ll find in an electric car in the UK today. If you can find a compatible charger – and only if the conditions are “optimal” – Smart says the #5 Brabus should complete a 10 to 80% top up in just 18 minutes.

That’s undoubtedly quick, but we reckon Brabus customers are more interested in the kind of speed that pins you back in your seat when you floor the accelerator. Thankfully, the #5 Brabus should do just that. With all-wheel drive and 637bhp, it’s the quickest car that Smart has built to date, despite the fact that it weighs almost 2.5 tonnes. That’s nearly three times heavier than the old Smart ForTwo, for those wondering.

Smart hasn’t provided details about any chassis changes or upgrades, but the brand’s European head of product management, Xuan-Zheng Goh, confirmed that the Brabus version gets its own “unique suspension tune”.

What about the looks?

Like other Brabus models, the #5 gets a sporty visual makeover, albeit not quite as extreme as you’ll find in the tuning marque’s backcatalogue. There are new side skirts and bumpers, helping to provide a bit more flair, plus unique 20-inch ‘monoblock’ alloy wheels and red brake calipers. The red theme is carried across the entire exterior of the car, with splashes on the bumpers and wing mirrors, as well as the contrasting red roof.

Inside, you’ll find more red accents throughout. The heated and cooled microfibre front seats highlight that this is the flagship model, as does the contrast stitching, Alcantara steering wheel and Brabus badges.

How much does the Smart #5 Brabus cost?

Smart is yet to reveal UK pricing for the #5 Brabus – or the rest of the #5 range for that matter – but we do know it will cost from €60,900 in Germany. That equates to roughly £52,000, which would significantly undercut key rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT. We’ll find out official pricing before the Smart #5 Brabus goes on sale before the end of the year.

Smart #5 Brabus exterior and interior images

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