The automotive industry has long been characterised by a trend of increasing vehicle sizes with each new generation, and Smart, the brand once renowned for its diminutive city cars, appears to be embracing this philosophy wholeheartedly. In a bold move that signals a significant departure from its roots, Smart has unveiled a new five-passenger electric crossover in Australia, positioning itself to compete directly with Tesla's highly popular Model Y.

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Smart's journey in the automotive world began as an innovative collaboration between the eccentric watch manufacturer Swatch and the prestigious German automaker Mercedes-Benz. Their initial vision was to create ultra-compact urban vehicles featuring interchangeable plastic body panels, a concept aimed at appealing to young city dwellers by offering unprecedented customization options.

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Despite the fact that Smart's early offerings were widely regarded as subpar in terms of performance and comfort (with gear shifts so jarring they threatened to propel occupants through the windshield), the brand has managed to persevere. Its latest creation, the Smart #5, available in Summit Edition and Premium+ variants, made its global debut in the picturesque setting of Byron Bay, Australia. This new model represents a complete abandonment of the quirky micro-car concept that originally defined the brand, instead adopting a more mainstream aesthetic, incorporating advanced interior technology, and clearly setting its sights on broader market appeal.

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The Smart #5 boasts a spacious interior capable of accommodating five adults comfortably, along with ample cargo space. Its design language embraces a robust, off-road-inspired look that, while not revolutionary, is likely to resonate with a wide audience. The company's executives seem particularly proud of this new direction, as evidenced by the statements of Dirk Adelmann, CEO of Smart Europe.

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Adelmann expressed enthusiasm about Smart's foray into the mid-size premium SUV segment with the #5, emphasising that this move reflects the brand's dedication to quality, innovation, and its responsiveness to evolving customer needs. He views the #5 not only as a step up in terms of premium offerings from Smart but also as a gateway to exploring new possibilities within the realm of electric mobility.

To reinforce its adventurous persona, the Smart #5 comes equipped with features such as a roof light bar and an electric trailer hitch. For those seeking to fully embrace the outdoors lifestyle, an optional "Adventurers' Collection" package is available, adding underbody protection, a roof-mounted carrier basket, running boards, a side bag, and even a fire escape-style ladder for easier access to overland gear.

Smart is heavily promoting the #5's suitability for outdoor enthusiasts. Beyond the Adventurers' Collection, the vehicle offers remarkable versatility in its interior configuration. The seats can be adjusted to create sleeping spaces of various sizes, including king, queen, or single, transforming the car into a mobile sleeping quarters.

&nbsp;Apart from that, the #5 boasts an impressive 34 storage compartments, a generous 72-liter frunk (front trunk), and up to 1,530 liters of cargo space under the hatch, all designed to enhance the vehicle's practicality for camping and outdoor adventures.

This dramatic shift in Smart's product strategy raises intriguing questions about brand identity and market positioning in the ever-evolving automotive landscape. As traditional car manufacturers and new entrants alike grapple with the transition to electric mobility, Smart's bold move with the #5 exemplifies the broader industry trend of reimagining established brands to meet changing consumer preferences and technological imperatives.

The automotive industry has long been characterised by a trend of increasing vehicle sizes with each new generation, and Smart, the brand once renowned for its diminutive city cars, appears to be embracing this philosophy wholeheartedly.

The automotive industry has long been characterised by a trend of increasing vehicle sizes with each new generation, and Smart, the brand once renowned for its diminutive city cars, appears to be embracing this philosophy wholeheartedly. In a bold move that signals a significant departure from its roots, Smart has unveiled a new five-passenger electric crossover in Australia, positioning itself to compete directly with Tesla's highly popular Model Y. Smart's journey in the automotive world began as an innovative collaboration between the eccentric watch manufacturer Swatch and the prestigious German automaker Mercedes-Benz. Their initial vision was to create ultra-compact urban vehicles featuring interchangeable plastic body panels, a concept aimed at appealing to young city dwellers by offering unprecedented customization options. Despite the fact that Smart's early offerings were widely regarded as subpar in terms of performance and comfort (with gear shifts so jarring they threatened to propel occupants through the windshield), the brand has managed to persevere. Its latest creation, the Smart #5, available in Summit Edition and Premium+ variants, made its global debut in the picturesque setting of Byron Bay, Australia. This new model represents a complete abandonment of the quirky micro-car concept that originally defined the brand, instead adopting a more mainstream aesthetic, incorporating advanced interior technology, and clearly setting its sights on broader market appeal. The Smart #5 boasts a spacious interior capable of accommodating five adults comfortably, along with ample cargo space. Its design language embraces a robust, off-road-inspired look that, while not revolutionary, is likely to resonate with a wide audience. The company's executives seem particularly proud of this new direction, as evidenced by the statements of Dirk Adelmann, CEO of Smart Europe. Adelmann expressed enthusiasm about Smart's foray into the mid-size premium SUV segment with the #5, emphasising that this move reflects the brand's dedication to quality, innovation, and its responsiveness to evolving customer needs. He views the #5 not only as a step up in terms of premium offerings from Smart but also as a gateway to exploring new possibilities within the realm of electric mobility. To reinforce its adventurous persona, the Smart #5 comes equipped with features such as a roof light bar and an electric trailer hitch. For those seeking to fully embrace the outdoors lifestyle, an optional "Adventurers' Collection" package is available, adding underbody protection, a roof-mounted carrier basket, running boards, a side bag, and even a fire escape-style ladder for easier access to overland gear. Smart is heavily promoting the #5's suitability for outdoor enthusiasts. Beyond the Adventurers' Collection, the vehicle offers remarkable versatility in its interior configuration. The seats can be adjusted to create sleeping spaces of various sizes, including king, queen, or single, transforming the car into a mobile sleeping quarters. Apart from that, the #5 boasts an impressive 34 storage compartments, a generous 72-liter frunk (front trunk), and up to 1,530 liters of cargo space under the hatch, all designed to enhance the vehicle's practicality for camping and outdoor adventures. This dramatic shift in Smart's product strategy raises intriguing questions about brand identity and market positioning in the ever-evolving automotive landscape. As traditional car manufacturers and new entrants alike grapple with the transition to electric mobility, Smart's bold move with the #5 exemplifies the broader industry trend of reimagining established brands to meet changing consumer preferences and technological imperatives.

Smart car makes a comeback as a mid-size electric crossover

A woman in US gave birth in the front seat of her electric smart car while it was being driven on autopilot. The baby, born on September, is now being termed as the world’s ‘first Tesla baby’.

Philadelphia resident Yiran Sherry, 33, was with her husband, Keating, 34, and three-year-old son Rafa in the car when the courageous delivery took place, reports US-based newspaper the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The couple and their son were stuck in traffic when Sherry’s water broke. With slow traffic and increasing contractions, the couple decided that they could not wait until they reach the hospital.

Keating Sherry put the vehicle on autopilot mode after setting the navigation system to the hospital, which was 20 minutes away from their current location. He then attended to his wife.

“She was squeezing my hand to the point where I thought she was going to shatter it. I was (saying) ‘Yiran, OK, focus on your breathing.’ That was advice to myself, as well. My adrenaline was pumping,” Keating Sherry told the Inquirer.

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My wife courageously delivered our baby girl, Maeve, in the front seat of our ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a>⁩ model 3 en route to the hospital - here’s the story ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/PhillyInquirer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhillyInquirer</a>⁩ ! ⁦⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> thx for the autopilot⁩ 🤝💯 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tesbaby?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tesbaby</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPMfh7AyhN">https://t.co/JPMfh7AyhN</a>
— Keating Sherry (@KeatingSherry) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeatingSherry/status/1471315682570772482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Yiran said the decision to give birth in the car or wait until they reach the hospital was an “agonising” one.

The mother of two said her husband intermittently drove and used autopilot in the rush to reach the hospital.&nbsp;

However, she said that she kept glancing at their estimated arrival time and saw it was barely moving.

“Should I push or should I hold? Should I push or should I hold? F**k it, let’s do this,” she recalled telling herself, according to People magazine.

She then gave birth to her daughter, Maeve, as they arrived at the hospital. Nurses cut the baby’s umbilical cord over the car’s front seat.

&nbsp;“Once the paediatrician said, ‘She’s healthy, congratulations,’ that was quite the sigh of relief,” Keating said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman in US gave birth in the front seat of her electric smart car while it was being driven on autopilot. The baby, born on September, is now being termed as the world’s ‘first Tesla baby’.

A woman in US gave birth in the front seat of her electric smart car while it was being driven on autopilot. The baby, born on September, is now being termed as the world’s ‘first Tesla baby’. Philadelphia resident Yiran Sherry, 33, was with her husband, Keating, 34, and three-year-old son Rafa in the car when the courageous delivery took place, reports US-based newspaper the Philadelphia Inquirer. The couple and their son were stuck in traffic when Sherry’s water broke. With slow traffic and increasing contractions, the couple decided that they could not wait until they reach the hospital. Keating Sherry put the vehicle on autopilot mode after setting the navigation system to the hospital, which was 20 minutes away from their current location. He then attended to his wife. “She was squeezing my hand to the point where I thought she was going to shatter it. I was (saying) ‘Yiran, OK, focus on your breathing.’ That was advice to myself, as well. My adrenaline was pumping,” Keating Sherry told the Inquirer. My wife courageously delivered our baby girl, Maeve, in the front seat of our ⁦@Tesla⁩ model 3 en route to the hospital - here’s the story ⁦@PhillyInquirer⁩ ! ⁦⁦@elonmusk⁩ ⁦@Tesla thx for the autopilot⁩ 🤝💯 #tesbaby https://t.co/JPMfh7AyhN — Keating Sherry (@KeatingSherry) December 16, 2021 × Yiran said the decision to give birth in the car or wait until they reach the hospital was an “agonising” one. The mother of two said her husband intermittently drove and used autopilot in the rush to reach the hospital. However, she said that she kept glancing at their estimated arrival time and saw it was barely moving. “Should I push or should I hold? Should I push or should I hold? F**k it, let’s do this,” she recalled telling herself, according to People magazine. She then gave birth to her daughter, Maeve, as they arrived at the hospital. Nurses cut the baby’s umbilical cord over the car’s front seat. “Once the paediatrician said, ‘She’s healthy, congratulations,’ that was quite the sigh of relief,” Keating said. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Tesla baby’: US woman gives birth in front seat of car while it was on autopilot

Smart cars have become focus point at the 6th edition of the Internet Conference in East China. Watch this video to know more.

WION Wallet: Smart cars steal show at World Internet Conference in China

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Smart car makes a comeback as a mid-size electric crossover

‘Tesla baby’: US woman gives birth in front seat of car while it was on autopilot

WION Wallet: Smart cars steal show at World Internet Conference in China