Smart goes back to basics with a successor to the original Fortwo microcar that put the company on the map. At the “Change of Perspectives” event in Beijing, the brand unveiled the Concept #2, which serves as a close preview of a tiny urban EV set to arrive later this year.

The model was designed by Mercedes-Benz, looking like a natural evolution of the EQ Fortwo that was discontinued in 2024. It has a familiar two-door silhouette with a very short hood and large wheels positioned at the corners. Other highlights include the aggressive LED headlights and the clean surfacing.

More: You’re Not Wrong, The New Mercedes GLB Looks Suspiciously Like A Smart

The concept features futuristic wheels with transparent aero covers shod in light-colored rubber, trick DRLs with #2 lettering, leather straps instead of door handles, and a blocked grille that looks like a luxury suitcase, while at the rear it sports a small matrix screen that can display various messages. Those elements will likely be toned down for production, as with the shiny gold finish of the floating roof.

The Concept #2 measures 2,792 mm (109.9 inches) long, making it the largest interpretation of a two-door city car from Smart. It is 292 mm (11.5 inches) longer than the original Smart and 97 mm (3.8 inches) longer than the last generation of the EQ Fortwo.

More: Smart Thinks Its E-Class-Sized Sedan Looks Like A Shark, And Stands By It

Still, the EV remains the smallest contestant in Europe’s A-Segment, being 840 mm (33 inches) shorter than the Fiat 500e and 997 mm (39 inches) shorter than the Renault Twingo E-Tech. In fact, the new Smart is closer in size to heavy quadricycles like the Citroen Ami and the Fiat Topolino than actual cars.

New Underpinnings

Under the skin lies a new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) developed in house. Since Smart is co-owned by Mercedes and Geely, it is safe to assume that the platform uses technology from the Chinese automaker.

The #2 will be exclusively available with an electric powertrain, similar to the #1 and #3 and unlike the larger #5 and #6, which are also available in plug-in hybrid forms.

Smart has yet to announce detailed specifications, but mentioned a targeted range of around 186 miles (300 km), which is more than double the 135 km (84 miles) range of the EQ Fortwo. The battery will charge from 10-80% in under 20 minutes and will support V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) functions. Chances are that the #2 will stick to the RWD layout of its rear-engined predecessors.

More: Smart Just Killed Hopes Of A ForFour Comeback

The presentation didn’t include photos of the interior, but the packaging of the EV-dedicated platform promises a more spacious two-seater cabin which is also expected to be more premium than before.

The production Smart #2 will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, ahead of its market launch. The model will be likely focused in Europe and the UK, although it could also find its way into other markets around the world.

Smart

Smart goes back to basics with a successor to the original Fortwo microcar that put the company on the map. At the “Change of Perspectives” event in Beijing, the brand unveiled the Concept #2, which serves as a close preview of a tiny urban EV set to arrive later this year.

The model was designed by Mercedes-Benz, looking like a natural evolution of the EQ Fortwo that was discontinued in 2024. It has a familiar two-door silhouette with a very short hood and large wheels positioned at the corners. Other highlights include the aggressive LED headlights and the clean surfacing.

More: You’re Not Wrong, The New Mercedes GLB Looks Suspiciously Like A Smart

The concept features futuristic wheels with transparent aero covers shod in light-colored rubber, trick DRLs with #2 lettering, leather straps instead of door handles, and a blocked grille that looks like a luxury suitcase, while at the rear it sports a small matrix screen that can display various messages. Those elements will likely be toned down for production, as with the shiny gold finish of the floating roof.

The Concept #2 measures 2,792 mm (109.9 inches) long, making it the largest interpretation of a two-door city car from Smart. It is 292 mm (11.5 inches) longer than the original Smart and 97 mm (3.8 inches) longer than the last generation of the EQ Fortwo.

More: Smart Thinks Its E-Class-Sized Sedan Looks Like A Shark, And Stands By It

Still, the EV remains the smallest contestant in Europe’s A-Segment, being 840 mm (33 inches) shorter than the Fiat 500e and 997 mm (39 inches) shorter than the Renault Twingo E-Tech. In fact, the new Smart is closer in size to heavy quadricycles like the Citroen Ami and the Fiat Topolino than actual cars.

New Underpinnings

Under the skin lies a new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) developed in house. Since Smart is co-owned by Mercedes and Geely, it is safe to assume that the platform uses technology from the Chinese automaker.

The #2 will be exclusively available with an electric powertrain, similar to the #1 and #3 and unlike the larger #5 and #6, which are also available in plug-in hybrid forms.

Smart has yet to announce detailed specifications, but mentioned a targeted range of around 186 miles (300 km), which is more than double the 135 km (84 miles) range of the EQ Fortwo. The battery will charge from 10-80% in under 20 minutes and will support V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) functions. Chances are that the #2 will stick to the RWD layout of its rear-engined predecessors.

More: Smart Just Killed Hopes Of A ForFour Comeback

The presentation didn’t include photos of the interior, but the packaging of the EV-dedicated platform promises a more spacious two-seater cabin which is also expected to be more premium than before.

The production Smart #2 will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, ahead of its market launch. The model will be likely focused in Europe and the UK, although it could also find its way into other markets around the world.

Smart

Some cars try to dominate the road, but Smart’s greatest hit barely took up half a parking space. Now the brand is teasing its icon’s comeback act with the Concept #2, a preview of the long-awaited successor to the legendary ForTwo, which went out of production in 2024.

Having dropped disguised images of a prototype testing last year, Smart has now released sketches and extreme close-up teaser images of the new concept ahead of a global brand event at the Beijing Auto Show later this month.

Related: Smart’s First Ever Sedan Is Much Bigger Than You Think

While full design and tech details remain hidden, it’s clear from what we can see that the #2’s profile closely echoes the original’s, but that this time the the arches are much fatter. The front end also adopts the family face from other new-generation Smarts like the #1, #3 and #5. Slightly confusingly, the #2 will be much smaller, and probably less expensive, than the #1.

Fashion Inspiration

Smart says the concept uses a matte white and warm gold two-tone finish, along with details inspired by fashion accessories, including buckle-like elements and leather touches. This is definitely no Citroen Ami-style no-frills economy EV.

We can see some of that white and gold coloring in the teaser shots, though whether those “fashion” ideas will find their way onto the production car is another matter. That design direction makes sense, though. The modern Smart brand isn’t selling bare-bones transportation anymore. It now pitches itself as a premium EV maker, with larger models like the #1, #3, and #5 already moving the company far beyond its original microcar roots.

ForTwo Legacy

CEO Tong Xiangbei previously admitted that building a truly tiny EV on a fresh platform is harder than making a larger car. Packaging batteries, safety systems, and decent practicality into something this small is engineering Tetris at expert level. But the #2 matters emotionally. It’s the car enthusiasts actually associate with Smart, the machine that made city motoring weird and fun long before everyone else discovered quirky mobility.

We’ll see the full concept in Beijing on April 22, where it shares the stage with the new China-only #6 EHD fastback sedan. The #6 was designed by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design team, and is shaping up to be a bit like a cut-price Mercedes EQE.

Smart

Smart may be best known for its pint-sized two-door hatchbacks, but its lineup has been steadily expanding to include SUVs and coupe-style crossovers. Now it is pushing further upmarket with something entirely different. The Geely and Mercedes-backed brand has unveiled its first fastback, pairing an aerodynamic silhouette with what it describes as, “shark-inspired” styling cues.

More: You’re Not Wrong, The New Mercedes GLB Looks Suspiciously Like A Smart

Following its earlier appearance in regulatory filings, Smart has now released a fresh batch of images of the #6 EHD. Mercedes-Benz was responsible for the exterior, and Smart says the whole thing takes its cues from marine predators.

At the front, the hood integrates functional air channels that Smart has branded “Bionic Shark-Gills.” Around the rear, a four-stage adjustable spoiler is said to echo the movement of a shark’s tail Or so the company claims, so take that with a pinch of seal salt.

Other details include tightly drawn body surfacing along the profile, aggressive LED headlights linked by a central grille element, and full-width LED taillights set within a sculpted rear panel.

At 4,906 mm (193.1 in) long, the #6 sits in executive sedan territory, being closer to a Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5-Series than anything Smart used to build. The 2,926 mm (115.2 in) wheelbase is the longest the brand has put into production, which should pay dividends for cabin space.

The interior has yet to be revealed, but spy shots suggest it will feature a tall center tunnel and a large infotainment display with the latest tech, similar to the Smart #5 SUV.

Electrified Powertrains

The Smart #6 sits on Geely’s PMA2+ architecture, a further development of the widely used SEA platform that also underpins models like the Zeekr 007 and its GT counterpart. It will debut as a plug-in hybrid, with fully electric versions set to follow, including a range-topping Brabus variant.

More: Smart’s About To Drop A #2 On The City Car Segment

The EHD, short for Extended Hybrid Drive, uses Geely’s NordThor 2.0 system. It pairs a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a front-mounted electric motor, delivering a combined 429 hp (320 kW / 435 PS). The headline figure is range, with a claimed 1,810 km (1,125 miles) on the CLTC cycle, including up to 285 km (177 miles) in electric-only driving.

The Smart #6 EHD is scheduled to launch in China in the coming months, ahead of a global rollout. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

Smart