The Smart brand has changed radically since 2019, when Mercedes and Geely established a 50:50 joint venture. Production now takes place exclusively in China, and all models are significantly larger and heavier than their predecessors. The company currently has a pair of SUVs and even a sedan nearly as long as the current-generation E-Class.
The new Smart #2 marks a return to form, successfully reviving the spirit of the original ForTwo in both styling and footprint. Designed by Mercedes, the tiny two-door hatchback clearly pays homage to its predecessor, which debuted in 1999 and spanned three generations before being retired in 2024.
While earlier models offered gasoline and even diesel engines, the fourth generation will be exclusively electric. The Smart #2 picks up where the EQ ForTwo left off, featuring pronounced wheel arches and extremely short overhangs. Some design elements are deliberately exaggerated, as this is still a concept.
The production version will debut in October at the Paris Motor Show. It will be built from the ground up as an EV on what Smart calls the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) platform. While the old EQ ForTwo managed just 84 miles (135 kilometers) on a single charge, its spiritual successor targets more than double that figure: 186 miles (300 kilometers).
However, this range estimate comes from Smart and is not WLTP-certified. Even so, a substantial improvement over its predecessor is expected, given the rapid advancements in battery technology in recent years. The new #2 will also charge much faster, taking less than 20 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent. It will support Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, allowing the car to act as a mobile power bank.
The #2 will be offered in Europe as one of the smallest EVs on the market. Exact dimensions have not been disclosed, but the concept appears to be in the same vein as the old EQ ForTwo, which measured about 106 inches (2.7 meters) in length. By comparison, the new Renault Twingo is much larger, stretching to nearly 150 inches (almost 3.8 meters). It'll also be significantly shorter than a BYD Dolphin Surf.
Although Smart is now centered on China, its vehicles are sold in 40 markets worldwide.
