Big News About a Very Small Car

Smart has announced that it is developing a new all-electric, two-seater city car called the #2, and it’s scheduled for launch in late 2026.

Credit: Smart

Though details are thin on the ground other than the name and these… shadows of what we presume are the new car, we know that it’ll be an evolution of the original Smart Fortwo by Mercedes-Benz, which burst onto the scene in 1998 with plans to completely revolutionise city mobility, says Top Gear.

That didn't quite happen but they were very popular in old European cities with their tiny roads. And it was the first time the world was introduced to a lively microcar for getting around town - one that could also park nose-forward towards the pavement, rather than sideways. The new iteration will be a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.

“The confirmation of our ‘project: two’ and the upcoming launch of the Smart #2 marks a milestone moment for the Smart brand on a global scale,” said Smart Europe boss Dirk Adelman. “The Smart #2 will shape a new era of individual urban automobility, especially in classic Smart cities like Rome, London or Paris.”

Rendering of the probable new Smart

Technical specifications remain under wraps, but Smart has confirmed it will be electric-only. There's also nothing about prices yet, but it will likely be sub £10,000 ($13,500).

Visually, the #2 will do away with the curves of its Fortwo predecessors, favouring a more bluff, angular look. AutoCar says that teaser images published by Smart suggest it will have a Kamm tail-like rear end and a small roof spoiler, most likely to boost aerodynamics and extract the maximum range from the car’s small battery.