Smart Concept #2 revives the fortwo for the electric era
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Smart has gone back to the future, reinventing its original model as the Concept #2 at its Global Brand Event in Beijing.
The concept previews the return of the brand’s two-seater city car, reimagined for the electric era. A production version is set to make its global debut at the Paris Motor Show 2026 later this year.
The Concept #2 represents a shift in philosophy for Smart, which is apparently ‘repositioning itself as a contemporary premium EV brand’. Styled by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, the compact concept adopts the brand’s “Love, Pure, Unexpected” design language.
Smart says the concept’s compact silhouette is paired with ‘bold proportions’ and the matte white and gold two-tone finish has a series of hidden details beneath translucent surfaces. According to Smart, the idea is to create a vehicle that goes beyond simple urban transport and instead reflects the owner’s personality.
It measures just 2792mm in length though the Concept #2 maximises interior space thanks to a “wheels-at-the-corners” layout, while a tight 6.95-metre turning circle is designed to make city driving as easy as possible.
Underpinning the new model is smart’s all-new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), a dedicated platform developed in-house to support future compact EVs. While still a concept, the brand is targeting a driving range of around 300km, along with fast-charging capability that could take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality is also part of the package.
Smart Europe CEO Wolfgang Ufer described the unveiling as a pivotal moment for the brand, signalling the beginning of a new chapter that will culminate in the production version later this year. He said the Concept #2 reflects how European customers live and move, focusing on agility, efficiency and ease of use.
