Smart Concept #2 Brings ForTwo Replacement Closer - More Range, More Tech Promised

There was a sketch, and now there’s a concept car with some production specs presented at the Beijing Motor Show, but Smart won’t make its official debut until the Paris Motor Show in October this year. For now, this is as close as it gets to the new Smart #2.

A few details have also been released as a teaser ahead of its official launch, but the Smart #2 is built on an entirely new platform for the first time, called the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA).

Dimensions and Maneuverability

At just 2,792 mm in length, this fourth generation Smart city car is 97 mm longer than the outgoing model that has stayed the same size since 2007. The original Smart car - when it launched in 1998 - was just 2,500 mm in length, which is the full legal width of a Motorhome.
Despite the growth spurt, the new #2 is still a shortie and still keeps the same wheels-at-the-nether regions stance.

Smart has built the #2 to be city-proof by achieving a super-tight turning circle of just 6.95-meters and, when coupled with compact dimensions, maneuvering into tight spaces will be a breeze.

Range and Battery

Smart is also targeting a WLTP range of 185 miles, which is a significant step-up vs the outgoing FourTwo which was rated at around 81-84 miles.
Along with a significant battery upgrade, the Smart #2 will have DC rapid charging as well, with a target charge of 10% - 80% taking under 20 minutes. Smart will also introduce Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) which can be used to power devices, or power directly from the cars high voltage battery.

What the Boss Says

Wolfgang Ufer, CEO smart Europe, said, “The strong response from media and industry experts to the debut of smart Concept #2 in the past days confirms that we are moving in the right direction and addressing a real need in the ultra-compact segment. We look forward to carrying this energy forward to the Paris Motor Show in October this year, where we will celebrate the world premiere of the new two-seater Smart #2. Together with Beijing, this underscores key milestones for smart at two of the most important auto shows in China and Europe.”

How Does it Look

Despite its growth, Smart has kept the secret sauce that brought it many fans from compact dimensions, wheels at each corner, plenty of tech and an abundance of character.
There are a few new design cues to make it stand out compared the the outgoing model, such as the faux suitcase straps on the front bumper, and new lights front and rear that align the #2 to the rest of the Smart range.

What about the Inside

There are no pictures of the interior yet, but if the #2 follows the other cars in the Smart line-up, customers could expect a digital drivers display and centrally mounted touchscreen.
However, the concept is said to preview unconventional premium materials such as leather straps for door handles complete with gold buckles. It’s unsure whether this will feature in the production version, though, but expect the Smart to be different, just like the FourTwo’s before it.

There are hints that the platform could be used for other models as the Smart #2 has a very challenging time delivering a return on investment. It would be great to see the return of a ForFour replacement, a cabrio #2 and a Roadster again, all built on the Electric Compact Architecture .

And Smart could not have timed the launch of this more perfectly as the EU demands its manufacturers make smaller, more affordable EVs such as city cars like the Smart #2.

Look out for Paris 2026 when Smart reveal the production version and all specs, plus hopefully pricing of their new ultra-compact city car.

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About the Author

Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.

You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb or YouTube @REV-EV.