Mercedes-Benz head of smart design Kai Sieber was a key speaker at the preview of the smart #5 to the world’s motoring media in Byron Bay last October, and now he has taken delivery of the new midsize electric SUV for his personal use.
The smart #1 and smart #3 were both launched onto the Australian market in late September 2024 with three levels of specification each, including the sporting Brabus versions of both cars, offering styling my Mercedes-Benz and performance engineering by Brabus, the German automotive performance house.
The smart EV range is offered and supported in Australia by the world’s largest retail group for both Mercedes-Benz and smart, LSH Auto, and can be seen and driven at smart Experience Centres within the group’s Mercedes-Benz Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane retail outlets.
During the preview event, Seiber outlined the design philosophy behind smart’s first mid-sized SUV and the design principles driving the look and feel of the revived, now all EV smart brand.
Thanks to the market launch of the smart #5 in European markets, Seiber will live the smart design philosophy in his driving life with one as his new daily driver.
“I’m very happy with my new smart #5 – it’s a super practical and spacious all-electric car in everyday life. And I love being surrounded by the great work of my team – both the shape of the exterior and interior as well as the colours and materials,” Seiber says.
“On top, seeing the design being honoured with a Red Dot Award makes me very proud. It’s a great recognition for the whole design team.
Sieber and his team at Mercedes-Benz have been responsible for the design of the new smart EV range, covering the already launched smart #1 and smart #3, as well as the smart #5 which is the brand’s first venture into a midsized 4×4 SUV.
Recently, the smart #5 joined its stable mates by being awarded the coveted Red Dot Design Award. For 70 years, the Red Dot Design Award has been internationally recognised as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design. The smart #1 and smart #3 were awarded Red Dot Design Awards in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
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