Smart #2: What We Know About the Electric City Car Set for Paris
Smart has given its upcoming #2 electric city car another undisguised preview ahead of a planned debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026. The latest teasers come from murals in Shanghai, Buenos Aires and Melbourne, showing a rounded, compact nose, angled headlights and wheels pushed to the corners - a clear nod to the old ForTwo.
The #2 will be Smart's entry-level model, slotting below the #1, #3 and #5, and will sit on a new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). Smart claims a 35.7kWh battery with more than 186 miles of range, a 10-80% charge in under 20 minutes and a 6.95-metre turning circle. The company says it should be no longer than the last ForTwo, which measured 2,695mm.
Styled by Mercedes-Benz's design team, the car is expected to cost roughly £20,000 to £25,000 when it reaches the UK, likely in 2027. Smart has confirmed it will be a two-seater with a bench seat, an S-shaped dashboard and an evolved version of the ForTwo's Tridion safety cell. A production version of the concept's pixel lights and transparent wheel covers is unlikely, according to the report.
The launch comes as European rivals bring cheaper small EVs to market, including Honda's Super-N, which is available from less than £19,000, and the Fiat 500e. Smart's former UK boss Jason Allbutt said the brand is not aiming to be the cheapest, but wants to be affordable enough to generate volume while keeping a premium feel.
Where the #2 Fits in Smart's Line-Up and the Low-Cost EV Battle
Smart's Entry-Level Halo
Smart is positioning the #2 as its 'undisputed halo product' even though it will be the cheapest and smallest model in the range. That is a deliberate contrast to its SUVs: the #1, #3 and #5 are conventional high-riding models, while the #2 carries the heritage of the ForTwo. The strategy appears to be using nostalgia and distinctive design to justify a premium price on a small car, rather than competing purely on cost.
The pricing comments from former CEO Dirk Adelmann and former UK boss Jason Allbutt support this. Adelmann said there is 'no reason we can't bring in at that price' in response to low-cost rivals, while Allbutt argued that affordability and premium can coexist. Those are intentions, not commitments, and final UK pricing has not been announced.
How the #2's Numbers Stack Up
On paper, Smart's claims would give the #2 a significant advantage over Honda's Super-N: more than 186 miles of range versus a shorter figure, a sub-20-minute fast charge, and a 6.95-metre turning circle that beats the Fiat 500e's 9.6 metres. The Renault Twingo, named in the report as a rival, is also targeting the same small-EV space.
These figures come from Smart and relate to a car that has not been fully revealed. The real test will be whether the production version matches them, and at what price. If the #2 lands at £20,000-£25,000, it will sit above Honda's Super-N but offer more range and a stronger brand story.
Heritage, But Not Nostalgia
The design team, led by Smart's Kai Sieber, is deliberately leaning into the ForTwo's visual identity - monobox shape, bulging wheelarches, exposed safety cell - while updating it for an electric platform. The Tridion Cell concept is retained in evolved form, suggesting Smart wants buyers to associate the #2 with the original's safety and packaging strengths.
The bigger question is whether the 'premium' positioning works in a segment where buyers are highly price-sensitive. Former UK boss Jason Allbutt acknowledged that volume matters, and the #2 is expected to be Smart's entry point. If the final price drifts too far above £20,000, it could struggle against cheaper alternatives; if Smart holds to the lower end, it may cannibalise interest in the #1, which the report notes is available used from under £20,000.
What Smart's #2 Teaser Means for Buyers and Rivals
For anyone considering a small EV, the #2 is worth watching but not yet worth waiting for without caveats.
- Treat Smart's £20,000-£25,000 range as an estimate. The company has stressed that it wants a premium product, and its former UK boss said price is 'important, but not the be all and end all'.
- Check UK timing before planning a purchase: the Paris debut is set for October 2026, and UK arrivals are expected in 2027, not this year.
- Wait for production-spec figures. The 186+ mile range, sub-20-minute 10-80% charge and 6.95m turning circle are Smart's claims and could change at launch.
- Compare against Honda's Super-N, already available from under £19,000, and the Fiat 500e if you need a city car now. The #2's range claim is stronger, but the price is likely to be higher.
Risk & Opportunity Assessment
| Commercial Risk | Medium | Smart is entering a price-sensitive small-EV segment against Honda's Super-N (from under £19,000) and low-cost European EVs, while aiming for £20,000-£25,000; volume will depend on final pricing and production-range claims holding. |
| Competitive Risk | Medium | Rivals include the Honda Super-N, Fiat 500e and a Renault Twingo rival; the #2's claimed range and turning circle are strong, but competitors are already on sale. |
| Regulatory Risk | Low | The #2 is electric-only, which aligns with European emissions rules, but no specific regulatory decision affecting it appears in the story. |
| Reputation Risk | Medium | Smart is promising a 'halo' product at entry level while preserving ForTwo heritage; if the production car cuts concept details or misses the premium feel, it could disappoint the nostalgic buyers the brand is courting. |
| Technology Disruption | Low | The ECA platform and sub-20-minute charging are notable for the segment but not a fundamental technology shift; the design, not the engineering, is the main draw. |
| Commercial Opportunity | Medium | The small city-car EV niche is underserved in the UK, and the #2's ForTwo heritage gives Smart a differentiated hook versus more generic small EVs. |
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