New 2026 Smart #2 teased with strong hints of the iconic ForTwo
Smart helped revolutionise the city car and is now finally returning to its roots
Smart has confirmed that it’s working on a brand new city car inspired by the iconic ForTwo. The tiny, two-seater EV will be aimed at buyers in European cities when it arrives next year, and will carry the Smart #2 name to neatly integrate into the brand's current range.
This is a story Auto Express broke earlier this year when we spoke to Smart’s European CEO Dirk Adelmann. He promised us earlier this year it has the potential to “define the A-segment”. Similarly keen on the idea is Smart’s head of design Kai Sieber, who told us: “The ForTwo is the core of our brand. It’s still our very clear intention to bring it back into the range.”
For now we only have a shadowy teaser that portrays little about this new model, but a concept car should be just around the corner – potentially at the IAA Munich motor show in just a couple of weeks time.
However, this isn't the first Smart in the brand's rebirth. The Smart #1 kicked things off back in 2022 and you can get your hands on a used Smart #1 through our Buy a Car service for just £23,000.
Will the new Smart #2 be electric?
Adelmann confirmed that Smart is committed to being an electric-only brand. “If you want to take the traffic decarbonisation seriously, you have to do electric,” he told us. “I'm 100 per cent convinced that we go that direction – all of us in the industry”.
It won’t just align with the brand’s sustainability mantra, but will also make the car easier to package and build. The original ForTwo, initially known as the MCC Smart City Car, was innovative to the point of extremes due to its ingenious packaging of an internal combustion petrol engine and gearbox between the rear wheels.
This time around, though, a comparatively compact e-motor will be mounted between the rear wheels, while a small battery pack is likely to be placed underneath the cabin floor. It could lead to a slightly higher driving position than in previous generations, which will enhance outward visibility as well as the sense of interior space.
Adelmann said that to build a new city car, Smart would “need an investment into a new platform”, suggesting that, as with its ForTwo predecessor, the new model would be considerably smaller than anything else in the maker’s product range. This platform is unlikely to be created completely in-house, but could be developed with help from parent company Geely. Since 2019, Smart has been jointly owned by Geely and Mercedes.
As was the case with the ForTwo, the new model will still be usable out of town, so should have a reasonable electric range in the vicinity of 100 to 200 miles, depending on the model.
Of course, the previous two-seater Smarts weren’t just known for their clever packaging, but also a distinctive style designed around an exposed safety cell.
What will the new Smart #2 look like?
Previous two-seater Smarts weren’t just known for their clever packaging, but also a distinctive styling designed around an exposed safety cell. This wasn’t just for style’s sake either, but a visual cue to customers it was still a safe car at all speeds, despite its tiny footprint.
From the teaser pictures released by Smart, we don’t really get much of an idea about the new model’s design language. However, its silhouette does look to be close to that of the third-generation ForTwo, which swapped the pure mono-box shape of the first two generations for a more traditional look with a tiny bonnet.
The same idea will be applied to the new #2, and we expect flared wheelarches, big wheels and shrinkwrap-like bodywork to emphasise its solid stance. Our exclusive images give you some idea as to what the new #2 could look like with contemporary design details seen on its current models.
There are certain non-negotiables, according to Adelmann. “We will definitely have some Smart-family elements, Like frameless doors or the space concept,” he told us. “We'll put the wheels in the corners. That we will keep.” The European boss went on to list important features that any future ForTwo successor should have. “Interior space, functionality and versatility are essential,” he said. “Depending on the segment, also the turning circle, parkability and so on.
Smart has not been afraid of integrating large digital interfaces into any of its contemporary models, and we suspect that will also be the case with the new #2. This will be combined with bright colours and playful details in other parts of the cabin design.
How much will the Smart #2 cost?
Yet while a Smart has always been funky, it’s never been particularly cheap. We expect this new generation of city car to cost in the region of £20,000 to £25,000.
We discussed the possibility of a ForTwo successor with Smart UK CEO Jason Allbutt in an exclusive interview, who said the return of the cult-favourite city car could “help almost bring the brand together in a way, and I think it definitely could be a positive if it were to happen”.
Allbutt acknowledged that cost will be key for an entry-level model like this, however while “starting price is certainly important, I wouldn't say it's the be all and end all”. He added: “We still want to make sure we've got a premium product, and of course, one that has got a good range for a small electric car. It's not going to have 300, 400 or 500 miles range for sure, given its size.”
The UK boss pointed out that the original ForTwo wasn’t created to be a bargain-priced model, and it would be a similar story with a #2. “We're not necessarily looking to have the cheapest car available in the market, but we are looking to make sure that we're affordable enough to generate enough volume, then not move too far away from our heritage or what we stand for,” Allbutt explained. “I don't necessarily see a difference completely between affordability and premium – I think you can be both.”
Smart has confirmed it’ll arrive in 2026, suggesting that much of the car’s design and engineering work has already been carried out. While it’ll be focused towards European sales, Smart’s Chinese connections through 50 per cent share holder Geely will also mean it’ll be offered in the Chinese market. And also explains its rapid development timeline.
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