Smart confirms city car return with #2
ForTwo successor coming in '26, 'providing a stylish, efficient and innovative vehicle for the A-segment'
Was the Smart ForTwo ahead of its time? There’s today’s question to ponder. Launched almost 30 years ago with its diminutive dimensions, changeable panels and Mercedes influence, maybe it previewed all that was now so important - specifically personalisation and a premium billing. Ideal for cities and super efficient too, the Smart has felt long overdue a comeback.
Maybe that’s just the nostalgia talking, but Smart itself is keen on the ideas as well, and has now confirmed the return of an A-segment city car for next year. It’ll be the Smart #2 (yes, still persisting with the crazy naming strategy), it’ll be built in China, and it’ll be focused on the ‘demands of customers in urban areas, with Europe as main market.’
What we can see so far (it really is just a shadow) suggests that this new #2 really will be as dinky as its predecessors. In a world of two tonne EV hatches, that’s got to be encouraging; previous electric Smarts have used batteries as small as 17.6kWh (or less than a PHEV Panamera these days), so something of a similar capacity would make sense this time around given the advances made in battery tech.
The electric A-segment is a booming one at the moment, too, which must have influenced Smart’s decision to reenter. As well as offerings already on sale like the Hyundai Inster, Renault 5 and Mini, there’s the VW ID.2 coming, plus the Fiat Panda and whatever else will come from the other Chinese makers. Not so long ago small electric cars were as odd as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, so it’s nice to see the city car segment reimagined in some style.
The #2 (nope, still not getting it) will sit alongside the #1, #3 and #5 in the Smart range from next year. And that’s the last hashtag, promise. Dirk Adelmann, CEO Smart Europe, said: “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. The smart #2 will shape a new era of individual urban automobility, especially in classic smart cities like Rome, London or Paris…The new smart #2 will be a unique, authentic addition to the all-electric product portfolio of smart in Europe.” Certainly it feels like the right place for Smart to be expanding into. The Brabus will be here before we know it…
Still, what can you expect from something called "number two"? I still have to remind my kids to flush after a number two.
Fun story: it's 1999, and I'm working for a cottage industry car importer. We've brought one of the new Smart Cars in from Germany, and it's my job to get it registered. It's yellow and LHD, so we need to switch the foglight over and replace the kph speedo with an mph one because we still live in the dark ages.
With both of these completed, I take it to the local DVLA office for inspection, which it passes with no problems. It's a hot day, so I have the windows down as I leave the DVLA office. A young mum with a small child is walking past. The little girl points and says "Look at that funny little car with a big man driving it!".
I've never driven one since.
Still, what can you expect from something called "number two"? I still have to remind my kids to flush after a number two.
Fun story: it's 1999, and I'm working for a cottage industry car importer. We've brought one of the new Smart Cars in from Germany, and it's my job to get it registered. It's yellow and LHD, so we need to switch the foglight over and replace the kph speedo with an mph one because we still live in the dark ages.
With both of these completed, I take it to the local DVLA office for inspection, which it passes with no problems. It's a hot day, so I have the windows down as I leave the DVLA office. A young mum with a small child is walking past. The little girl points and says "Look at that funny little car with a big man driving it!".
I've never driven one since.
Still, what can you expect from something called "number two"? I still have to remind my kids to flush after a number two.
Fun story: it's 1999, and I'm working for a cottage industry car importer. We've brought one of the new Smart Cars in from Germany, and it's my job to get it registered. It's yellow and LHD, so we need to switch the foglight over and replace the kph speedo with an mph one because we still live in the dark ages.
With both of these completed, I take it to the local DVLA office for inspection, which it passes with no problems. It's a hot day, so I have the windows down as I leave the DVLA office. A young mum with a small child is walking past. The little girl points and says "Look at that funny little car with a big man driving it!".
I've never driven one since.
It was either ahead of it's time, or it actually answered a question no one was asking. And not sure that's changed. Are people going to pay a premium price for a 2 seater city car when you can get a 4 seater for the same ( or less ).
There will be some who may, but suspect that's a small number and Smart will be hopelessly optimistic again and fail to deliver the volumes....
But if you have to travel to work by car, it's via busy roads, through towns etc. Little cars like this are perfect.
My word it is ugly.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/smart-...
Saw a Smart #1 the other day in red. I didn't recognise it, had to look twice. Looked ok. This looks like a squished version
My word it is ugly.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/smart-...
Saw a Smart #1 the other day in red. I didn't recognise it, had to look twice. Looked ok. This looks like a squished version
t. 
Its a photo of their long term demo, which they've photoshopped ffs. Then blanked out the window so you cant see their s
tty writer in the car.https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/smart/long-te...
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