2027 smart #2 design revealed early in Melbourne mural
Melbourne is one of just six cities chosen for smart's global mural campaign, giving Australians an early look at the two-seat electric city car before Paris.
Shane Riley
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Key takeaways
- 2027 smart #2 design revealed early via Melbourne street mural
- World premiere confirmed for Paris Motor Show in October 2026
- Australian availability not yet confirmed by distributor LSH Auto
Dynamic artist Georgia Laurie brings the vehicle to life in an immersive mural in Melbourne
Melbourne has been handed one of the first proper looks at the 2027 smart #2, and not on a show stand. A mural on La Trobe Street at Melbourne Central shows the electric two-seater in production form, months out from its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026.
Painted by contemporary artist Georgia Laurie, the artwork places a bright red 2027 smart #2 among Flinders Street Station and the Arts Centre Spire. It is one of six commissioned pieces worldwide.
What the 2027 smart #2 mural reveals
Forget the camouflaged prototype shots. The murals show a finished car, and the details are readable.
Standing out are a floating contrast roof with blacked-out pillars, eight-spoke alloy wheels and conventional pull door handles rather than the flush units fitted to most new EVs. Up front sit rounded headlight clusters, a rectangular central intake and twin air curtains cut into the bumper.
Proportions echo the old ForTwo. Stubby overhangs, an upright cabin and a tall glasshouse, but with wider guards and a heavier shoulder line.
Styling comes from the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, and smart says the side profile carries over from the Concept #2 shown in Beijing earlier this year. Underneath sits a new Electric Compact Architecture developed with Geely, built to package a battery under an extremely short wheelbase.
Battery size, power outputs, range and kerb weight all remain unconfirmed.
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Six cities, six artists
Melbourne is the campaign's opening act, chosen because smart calls it Australia's undisputed street art hotspot.
"A work of art in a public space can make someone stop, look up, and rediscover a place they see every day," Laurie said.
Shanghai's wall came from artist Zhu Bin, mixing traditional motifs with neon. In Hong Kong, four-person collective Parents Parents built a piece around the idea that a tiny footprint wins in a crowded city. Buenos Aires went to muralist Martín Ron.
Two remain. Berlin's East Side Gallery gets a piece painted by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team itself, then French street artist Brusk closes the run in Paris just before the car is unveiled.
Why art matters to smart
This is not a random marketing choice. smart was born from the formula "s+m+art", short for Swatch, Mercedes and art, after Swatch boss Nicolas Hayek pitched a radically small city car to Mercedes-Benz in the 1990s.
Production started in 1998 with the rear-engined, rear-wheel drive City-Coupe. It was renamed ForTwo in 2002 and stayed on sale until the third-generation car ended production in 2024.
Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely Holding relaunched smart as a joint venture in 2019, and every model since has been an electric crossover or SUV. The #2 is the first return to the two-seat idea that built the badge.
"The smart #2 is the evolution of a revolution," said smart global CMO Kang Yi.
Is the smart #2 coming to Australia?
"smart #1 and smart #3 are already available in Australia, and further information regarding smart #2 market availability will be shared at the appropriate time," a smart spokesperson said.
Local distributor LSH Auto sells the smart #1 and smart #3, with the Tesla Model Y-rivalling #5 already locked in for a local launch. European reports point to a starting price near €20,000 and first deliveries in 2027, though nothing is confirmed for Australia. A larger #6 is also due in 2026.
Melbourne's mural is a right-hand-drive tell
Five of the six mural cities sit inside smart's stated China and Europe home markets. Melbourne is the outlier, and the only right-hand-drive market on the list. Brands do not spend marketing money seeding a car in a market they have not engineered for, which points to RHD production for the 2027 smart #2 being signed off rather than under consideration. Australia has no direct two-seat electric rival on sale, so the #2 would land without a natural competitor and instead pull buyers from cheap five-seat hatches like the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora.
Paris in October settles the questions that matter, range, charging and price. Until then, a wall in the Melbourne CBD is the best spec sheet anyone has.
Frequently asked questions
When will the 2027 smart #2 be revealed?
The production smart #2 has its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026. Customer deliveries are expected to start in 2027.
Is the smart #2 coming to Australia?
Not confirmed. smart says details on market availability will come later, though the Melbourne mural suggests Australia is under strong consideration.
How much will the smart #2 cost?
European reports point to a starting price around €20,000. No Australian pricing has been announced.
The Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team blends automotive design with street art in Berlin
Shane Riley
Co-founder & Director
Shane Riley is Co-founder and Director of The Beep based in Melbourne, Australia. He has 20+ years across OEM, leasing and fleet, with experience in vehicle strategy, sales and operations.
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