Smart returns to city car roots with sub-£20k two-seat #2
Smart will return to its roots with the arrival of the new #2 city car, which channels the spirit of the original two-seater and will hit the UK next year priced from less than £20,000.
Unveiled in production form at the Paris motor show, 28 years after the first-generation Fortwo was launched at the same event, the new city runaround sits on a bespoke new platform and returns the reinvented Smart brand to its urban origins.
Smart is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, with the cars styled in Germany but built in China on Geely platforms. It has expanded into offering a wider range of models, including large SUVs. But the firm has long vowed it wouldn’t abandon its city car roots.
The #2 is just 2746mm long, actually making it slightly shorter than the third-generation Fortwo that went out of production in 2024. The styling clearly draws inspiration from the original, and it has a turning circle of just 6.95 metres, matching that of its predecessor.
The #2 is powered by a rear-mounted 80bhp electric motor, which drives the rear wheels. Powered by a 35.8kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, it has an official WLTP range of 180 miles, and can be charged at speeds of up to 65kW. It also offers a vehicle-to-load outlet.
For comparison, the previous electric Smart EQ Fortwo offers the same power, but has a 17.6kWh battery for a range of just 90 miles.
Smart says it has developed a bespoke platform, called the Electric Compact Architecture, for the #2. This involves five-link rear suspension, which the firm claims will both smooth the ride on urban roads and allow for “sportier” handling.
The new model features a next-generation version of Smart’s Tridion Cell Evo body structure, which is made from 78% high-strength steel. It will also feature adaptive cruise control, highway assist and LED headlights as standard.
Inside, the two-seater offers bench-style seating, while the dashboard pairs a 10.1in central touchscreen with an 8.8in digital driver display. There is also a ‘smart pillar’ in the dashboard that small gadgets can be attached to, and a sizeable 305-litre boot – with an unusual split tailgate for ease of access.
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