Smart revives the tiny two-seater as an EV with the Concept #2

Key takeaways

• Smart Concept #2 previews a ~300km-range electric city car due in production form at Paris 2026
• Just 2.79m long with a 6.95m turning circle, built on a new Electric Compact Architecture
• Smart Australia has not confirmed local launch plans for the #2 at this stage

Smart has taken the wraps off the Concept #2 at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show, giving the world its first look at a fully electric revival of the two-seat city car that started the brand back in 1998. The production smart #2 will make its official world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026.

Back to basics

The fortwo lineage ran for over two decades before wrapping up in 2024. Since then, smart's reborn lineup under its Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture has skewed noticeably large, with every model stretching beyond 4.2 metres. The Concept #2 changes that.

smart fortwo

At just 2,792mm end-to-end, it's a genuine city car again. That's actually slightly longer than the outgoing fortwo's 2,695mm body, but the proportions are unmistakably compact. The "wheels-at-the-corners" layout, smart's signature trick for maximising interior space, is back, and the turning circle comes in at a remarkably tight 6.95 metres.

Design duties fall to the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, who've gone bold with a matte white and warm gold two-tone scheme, translucent body surfaces, and leather-strap door hardware. Most of those flourishes won't survive the jump to production, but the silhouette and proportions are expected to carry through largely intact.

Smart #2 specs and electric range

The Concept #2 rides on smart's all-new Electric Compact Architecture, a platform developed specifically for this car rather than shared with Geely's broader stable. Smart claims a WLTP range of close to 300km from the production model, a meaningful step up from the final electric fortwo EQ's 145km figure.

DC fast charging is said to top up from 10 to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) support is confirmed, letting you run external devices off the battery. Motor output and battery size haven't been detailed yet.

For now, smart Australia has confirmed there are no plans to bring the #2 to market locally. That could change after the Paris production reveal, but buyers here shouldn't hold their breath just yet.

Smart #6 EHD: the other big reveal

Alongside the Concept #2, smart also premiered the #6 EHD, the brand's first premium fastback sedan. Where the #2 goes small, the #6 goes the other direction entirely, sitting roughly in Toyota Camry territory for size.

The #6 uses a petrol-electric hybrid system smart calls Electric Hybrid Drive, returning a claimed 3.9L/100km with a combined range of 1,810km on the Chinese CLTC test cycle. Inside, a dual 13-inch OLED display setup dominates a clean horizontal dashboard, and the boot stretches to 525 litres.

Tuned by Mercedes-Benz, the #6 EHD features a four-stage active rear spoiler and ZF steering hardware. It launches in China first, with no confirmed Australian timeline.

The Concept #2 is the more significant story for urban drivers globally. If the production version holds onto the range figures and compact footprint the concept promises, smart will have something genuinely compelling on its hands when Paris rolls around in October.

Frequently asked questions

When will the smart #2 be released?

The production smart #2 is set to make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, with a China launch expected to follow.

Will the smart #2 come to Australia?

Smart Australia has confirmed there are currently no plans to bring the #2 to the local market.

How far can the smart #2 travel on a charge?

Smart claims the production #2 will deliver around 300km of WLTP range, more than double the 145km offered by the outgoing electric fortwo EQ.