Smart unveils Concept #2: first look at the reinvented electric city car

24 April 2026

Smart has officially taken the wraps off the Concept #2 at its Global Brand Event in Beijing. Giving the world its first physical glimpse of the next-generation smart #2, the brand's reinvention of the iconic two-seater city car that made smart a household name.

The reveal marks a significant moment for the brand, which has been quietly rebuilding its identity as a premium EV maker since relaunching as a Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture.

What is the smart Concept #2?

The Concept #2 is a design study and not a car you can buy yet. However it's a direct preview of the production smart #2 that's coming. Styled exclusively by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, it takes clear inspiration from the original fortwo's compact philosophy while updating it for a new era.

The design language is guided by what smart calls "Function becomes Fashion": the idea that a city car doesn't have to feel like a compromise. The concept measures just 2,792mm in length, so it's shorter than almost anything else on the road, using smart's traditional "wheels-at-the-corners" layout to maximise interior space within that compact footprint. A tight 6.95-metre turning circle makes it well-suited to urban environments.

Visually, it's distinctive: a matte white and warm gold two-tone finish, fine leather detailing, and translucent surfaces that conceal design details until you look closely. Whether that translates directly to the production car remains to be seen, but it sets a clear direction.

The technology underneath

The smart #2 will be built on the brand's newly developed Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) platform which has been designed entirely in-house, specifically for compact electric vehicles. Smart has shared early performance targets for the production model:

An electric range of nearly 185 miles (300 km)
DC fast charging from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability for charging devices on the go

Those numbers, if confirmed in production, would make the smart #2 a genuinely competitive option in the small EV segment, a category that has so far struggled to combine real-world range with rapid charging in a package this size.

When does it arrive?

The production smart #2 is set to make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, with European sales expected to follow. Smart is positioning it as the natural successor to the original fortwo. The car that defined the brand.

Smart CEO for Europe, Wolfgang Ufer, described it as "the reinvention of our iconic two-seater," while Mercedes-Benz Design's Kai Sieber said the aim was for the car to serve as "a true extension of personal identity" rather than simply a practical urban tool.

A brand with momentum

The Concept #2 wasn't the only news from Beijing. Smart also revealed the #6 EHD, a premium fastback sedan designed for the Chinese market (it won't be coming to Europe), and confirmed that its customer care service; "smart care" will launch across Europe from mid-2026.

It's a busy period for the brand. Smart now operates in 40 markets globally, recently appointed Louise O'Sullivan as CEO of smart UK, and saw the smart #5 take home Family Electric SUV of the Year at the 2026 What Car? Awards.

If you're already considering the smart range, DriveElectric has smart #1 lease deals available now, and for those interested in the broader Mercedes-Benz electric lineup that shares DNA with smart's design team, you can explore Mercedes-Benz lease deals on our site too.

The smart #2 won't arrive until late 2026 at the earliest, but if the Concept #2 is an honest preview of what's coming, it's shaping up to be one of the more interesting small EV launches in recent memory.