Back in the 1990s, Smart positioned itself in the market as a manufacturer of microcars.
Famous, iconic cars, including the Smart Fortwo, Smart Forfour and the sporty Smart Roadster, made good use of their compact proportions and unique design philosophy.
Now a joint venture between founder Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely, Smart mostly focuses on electric SUVs. But the company is going back to its roots as a city car brand, with a fourth generation of its smallest car.
The first electric Smart Fortwo first went on sale in 2008, but now it’s back with a new name - and it’s set to become one of the smallest electric cars on sale in the UK and Europe.
Let’s get into all the details.
Named the #2, Smart’s new small electric car was revealed as a concept at the Beijing motor show. Its new name reflects Smart’s existing naming strategy and is designed to offer what the company claims is “uncompromised urban capability”.
The new Concept #2 is a two-seater electric car. It's based on Geely’s Electric Compact Architecture, but has been designed on the whole by Mercedes-Benz. While still only a concept, it features a visual look very reminiscent of the previous Smart Fortwo.
While technical details will remain secret until the car’s full unveiling at the Paris motor show in October, Smart has confirmed the car will offer a range of almost 299km (186 miles).
It will also be able to charge from 10-80% in less than 20 minutes. Other technology includes vehicle-to-load charging, which is expected to be a unique selling point for an electric car of this size.
The new city car's design clearly takes its cues from Smart's range of larger SUVs, but it retains the ultra-compact footprint that defined its forebears. Its wheels sit sharply at each corner, which means it has a tiny turning circle of just 6.95 metres.
It measures just 2792mm long, which is only 100mm longer than the previous Fortwo. It also makes it the shortest full-size electric car on sale, undercutting the Fiat 500e by almost a metre. Anything smaller, including the Citroën Ami or Micro Microlino, is officially classed as a quadricycle.
The new Smart #2 will move the small car upmarket and benefit from increased interior space. That’s thanks to its bespoke EV architecture, which makes better use of its footprint than the previous internal combustion engine model.
Smart says the Concept #2 "elevates the city car beyond mere utility". While the interior is yet to be revealed, it promises to be much plusher and more luxuriously appointed than the sparsely furnished original.
It will still be minimalist, in keeping with an exterior design that's been "reduced to its essence", but liberal use of leather, translucent surfacing and two-tone gold paintwork will help to cultivate more of a premium aesthetic.
Kai Sieber, head of Smart design at Mercedes-Benz, said the new concept demonstrates the company's vision that "a city car should do more than solve challenges: it should spark joy".
He continued: "Carrying the heritage of the Fortwo's iconic design, the Concept #2 translates our bold personality into a new era where function becomes fashion. It is not only about clever practicality but serves as a true extension of personal identity."
Smart has not indicated pricing ahead of next year's scheduled launch, but the more luxurious cockpit and vastly superior technical attributes mean the #2 could command a premium over its predecessor, which cost around £22,000 (€25,600 / $27,400) when it was discontinued in 2024. It will also have a much bigger driving range.
There's no word yet on whether Smart plans to stretch the #2 and add a back seat to create a successor to the Forfour, but such a model would give the brand a footprint in the increasingly competitive electric supermini market, where it could take on the likes of the Renault 5, Citroën C3 and upcoming new DS 3.
