Smart is going back to its roots. At the 2026 Paris Motor Show, where 30 years ago the first two-seat Smart concept was unveiled under the glass pyramid of the Louvre, the company presented the #2, a fully electric two-seat city car and the successor to the Fortwo. The familiar hallmarks are all there: wheels pushed to the corners of the body, two-tone paintwork and a tailgate split into two parts.
The body is 2746 mm long, 51 mm longer than the EQ Fortwo (2695 mm), but it still turns around within 6,95 metres. The car is built on the new ECA platform, created specifically for compact EVs. A lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 35,8 kWh is laid into the floor, which helps keep the centre of gravity low. The claimed range is up to 290 km on the WLTP cycle with consumption of 13,6 kWh per 100 km. The rear electric motor produces 60 kW (about 80 hp) and 130 Nm of torque.
The main difference from its predecessor is charging. The EQ Fortwo, with its 17,6 kWh battery, covered around 133 km and never received DC fast charging. The new #2 accepts up to 65 kW: it goes from 10 to 80 % in roughly 20 minutes, though the manufacturer stipulates that this is possible under optimal conditions. There is also AC charging at up to 11 kW, and a V2L function that allows external devices to be powered. According to Smart, the five-link rear suspension is the first of its kind in its class.
Price is the new model's main argument. In Europe, the entry-level Pure version costs 19 990 euros, the Pure+ 20 990, the Premium 24 490, while the limited Couture Edition, produced in a run of 999 units for the whole of Europe, will cost 25 690 euros. These prices are for the German market and may differ in other countries. Pre-orders in a number of European countries, including Germany, France and Italy, are being taken from 13 October through retail partners, while online sales start in the first half of 2027. In the UK, the Pure is listed from 17 900 pounds excluding registration and delivery; the official price of "under 20 000 pounds" has been confirmed, with full UK prices promised later.
For Smart, this is a notable reversal. In recent years the brand has bet on markedly larger electric SUVs, and the #2 returns it to the idea of a super-compact city car. The marque itself belongs to a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, which was created in 2019 on an equal footing, 50 to 50, for the production and sale of Smart cars in China.
Smart has not been sold in the US and Canada since the 2019 model year: at the time, Mercedes-Benz explained the withdrawal by falling demand for microcars and the high cost of certifying low-volume models. That is why the new #2 is not supplied to these countries either.
For residents of dense European urban areas, the #2 looks convincing: a short body that is easy to park, a range almost twice as long as before and a price of around 20 thousand euros. The compromise is obvious: two seats versus four in cars of a similar price. Moreover, the specifications are not yet final, since the car is undergoing European type approval, and the figures may change before deliveries begin.
