Smart is returning to its roots as a city car manufacturer with a fourth generation of the Fortwo, now officially named #2. The concept vehicle, unveiled ahead of the Beijing motor show, is designed to be the smallest electric car on the market when it launches in the United Kingdom next year. The new model aims to reclaim the title of the shortest EV, undercutting the Fiat 500e by nearly a meter.
The Concept #2 is only around 100 millimeters longer than the previous Fortwo, measuring just 2792mm in length. This compact footprint allows for a turning circle of 6.95 meters. At this size, the car is officially smaller than the Fiat 500e and larger only than vehicles like the Citroën Ami and the Micro Microlino, which fall into the quadricycle category.
Despite its diminutive exterior, Smart claims the new model maximizes interior space. This is a significant change from the previous electric Fortwo, which was based on an internal combustion engine platform. The new car utilizes a bespoke ‘Electric Compact Architecture’ developed by Geely, the brand’s co-owner with Mercedes-Benz.
Design and Features
Although the concept car is based on Smart’s newer SUV models, it retains the “wheels-at-the-corners” layout that defined its predecessors. The design has been “reduced to its essence,” with liberal use of leather, translucent surfacing, and two-tone gold paintwork to create a premium aesthetic. Smart describes the vehicle as “reduced to its essence,” and the interior promises to be much plusher than the sparsely furnished original.
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Technical details are limited until the production car is revealed at the Paris motor show in October. Smart has confirmed the new #2 will offer a range of nearly 186 miles and support fast charging from 10% to 80% capacity in less than 20 minutes. The concept also features vehicle-to-load ‘reverse-charging’ capability, a feature expected to carry over to the final production model.
Kai Sieber, head of Smart design at Mercedes-Benz, stated that the Concept #2 demonstrates the company’s vision that “a city car should do more than solve challenges: it should spark joy.” He added that the car carries the heritage of the Fortwo’s iconic design while translating that personality into a new era where function becomes fashion.
Pricing and Future Outlook
Smart has not announced pricing ahead of the next year’s scheduled launch. However, the more luxurious cockpit and vastly superior technical attributes suggest the #2 could command a premium over the short-legged predecessor, which cost around £22,000 when it was discontinued in 2024. There is currently no word on whether Smart plans to stretch the #2 to create a successor to the Forfour, though such a model would give the brand a footprint in the increasingly competitive electric supermini market against vehicles like the Renault 5, Citroën C3, and the upcoming new DS 3.