Brabus edition of impending sports utility holds nothing back.

AN impending addition to the Smart line-up now has a flagship with plenty of fizz.

The dual-motor edition of the Smart #5 sports utility has been given a big performance lift by German tuning specialist Brabus, which started out hot-rodding Mercedes petrol cars but now has transformed into an electric oomph specialist.

First big effort is the Smart #5 Brabus, which gets 475kW and 540 kilometres of range.

This type has an an identical 100kWh (94kWh usable) battery as the #5 Premium, the top version of the new #5 which will come here to sit above two already launched smaller models, the #1 and #3.

In the Brabus, though the outputs are way higher and, despite weighing the thick end of 2.4 tonnes, this five-seater will crack 0-100kmh in 3.8 seconds - so, lineball with a Range Rover SV, according to the website for Britain’s Autocar magazine. Top speed is 210kmh.

The performance is not too draining on range, either, as Smart attests the Brabus is just 50 kilometres shy of the Premium.

The car uses a 800V electrical architecture from China’s Geely, which now owns Smart, and can charge at speeds of up to 400kW via a DC connection. This allows for a 10-80 percent (or 378km) top-up in 18 minutes.

The car also gets a Brabus mode that remaps the throttle to increase power delivery and introduces artificial engines noise into the cabin.

The Brabus model stands out from the standard #5 with a small front diffuser, 21in alloy wheels, a matt paintjob, red accents, red brake callipers and an assortment of Brabus branding.

Inside, it features an Alcantara steering wheel, heated front and rear seats and a dashboard dominated by dual 13in OLED screens.

Recently the potential New Zealand configurations for the mainstream editions of the #5 were shared.

The entry-level model, the smart #5 Pro, comes equipped with a 76 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP), and offers advanced comfort features, a panoramic halo roof, connectivity, and driver assistance systems.

From the Smart #5 Pro+ onwards, all models are powered by the 100kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery (NCM) and built on the 800-volt platform.

Within that selection is a Smart #5 Pulse with an intelligent dual-motor all-wheel drive, an extra-wide dual OLED central display, and an energy-efficient heat pump.

Topping selection is the ‘designed for adventure’ Summit Edition, with outdoor-orientated features and integrated equipment for off-road driving.

Adaptive, Sand, Snow, Mud, and Rock off-road driving modes - which also carry to the Pulse line - allow the all-paw Smart types to adjust to different surfaces. In both variants, acceleration from 0-100kmh achieves in 4.9 seconds, which “underscores the vehicle’s dynamic potential.”

The Summit Edition also stands out from the Pulse in having an electric trailer hitch as well as a roof platform and side ladder. It also achieves “a unique colour combination further emphasises its distinctive character.”