Smart #2: Concept previews design for Fortwo successor

Smart has released the first images of the Concept #2, which will be unveiled on Wednesday, previewing a successor to the Fortwo city car.

The production #2 was announced in September and will arrive later this year as a Europe-focused two-seater developed jointly by parent companies Geely and Mercedes-Benz.

Sketches of the concept reveal a look that stays true to the 1998 original Smart car and even appears to build on the facelifted third generation model – which went out of production in 2024 – suggesting that Smart sees this as effectively a continuation of the model line.

New elements are a more bulbous overall shape and larger wheel arches – cues that define the Smart brand’s new-era #1, #3 and #5 EVs.

Smart said the #2 is a “reinvention” of the Fortwo that will sport a “fresh identity”, penned by Mercedes, albeit with the same “wheels-at-the-corners” stance.

It noted that the concept shows a “reinvention of the brand's iconic two-seater city car”, adding that it carries the “core genes” and is “unconventional – again”.

Further details will be revealed on Wednesday when the concept will be unveiled at the Beijing motor show alongside the #6 – Smart’s first saloon which, following initial sales in China, is expected to come to the UK.

Smart #2: What we know

The electric two-seater will be Smart’s new entry model and will use the new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). 

In a first for Smart, the platform is being developed jointly by Geely and Mercedes, given that the car is built mainly with a focus on the European market. This differs from the rest of the line-up, which were all engineered by Geely and designed by Mercedes.

During first testing in December (pictured below), the platform was paired with a third-generation Fortwo body. Smart said this confirms that the #2 will offer similar proportions to the car it replaces.

Smart has also confirmed the #2 will be offered with the same two-door, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive configuration as its predecessor, resulting in the same “core driving dynamics”.