We’ll take back our catty comments about Smart forgetting its roots…
A new version of the Smart ForTwo has been greenlit, and it’ll have a new name – the Smart #2.
A little confusingly, it sits below the Smart #1 SUV. Clearly, the new model wasn’t in the pipeline when the #1 was revealed.
Anyway, it’ll give Smart a model that’s not an SUV, as it returns into the electric city car market. The Smart #2 is a two-seater just like the original ForTwo. Its maker says it’ll ‘feature cutting-edge EV technology while evolving the core qualities’ of the original.
Smart isn’t targeting a massive range for its new EV – the battery will have to be small to fit under the floor of the #2. We would expect around 150 miles to a full charge, which is considerably better than the Smart ForTwo’s 82-mile range.
It’s not clear what battery or motor will be fitted underneath the Smart #2. It seems unlikely that the Smart #1’s base 49kWh battery will be able to be squeezed into the smaller #2 – the old EQ ForTwo only packed a 17kWh battery.
The #2 will almost certainly use an existing powertrain from parent company Geely, because it’s going to be a niche product that won’t have big margins. Europe is going to be its biggest market, and it’s still unashamedly focused at urban drivers – although a boost in range will make it more useful for longer journeys.
The #2 is being designed by Mercedes and will be produced in China.
We may see a concept model at an upcoming motor show, although we’ll have to wait until late 2026 to see the Smart #2 on the road. Expect the starting price to be around £20,000-£25,000.
Shop used Smart ForTwo and used Smart ForFour cars for sale at Motorpoint, or read our Smart ForTwo review.
