The electric successor to the ForTwo already has a release date: it will come out on November 5th with 82 horsepower and a range of 410 km.
Two seats, wheels flush with the corners, and a body length of less than 2.8 meters. The formula that made the ForTwo famous returns with the Smart #2, the brand’s urban electric vehicle shared by Mercedes-Benz and Geely. Its launch date in China has been set: November 5th. Chinese consumers will be the first to enjoy it. Its arrival in Europe still doesn’t have a specific date, though we know it will be during the spring season.
For the brand, this is almost a homecoming. The original ForTwo was introduced in 1998 and sold over 2 million units, but production stopped in March 2024. Today, the lineup consists of much larger SUVs like the Smart #3 and Smart #5. The #2 brings Smart back to the segment that made it popular.
A limited edition to whet appetites
The November launch is not the first step for the #2 in China. On October 12, the same day of its global debut at the Paris Motor Show, Smart began selling the Couture Edition there, limited to 999 units at 112,999 yuan, approximately 14,690 euros. Reservations opened on September 14.
In China, there will be only two versions, Premium and Couture Edition, as confirmed in Paris. The price of the more affordable Premium version remains unknown, and it is this figure that truly matters: a limited edition says little about where the model will fit in everyday use.
CATL battery and rear motor
The Chinese version is equipped with a 35.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery using CATL cells. It achieves up to 410 kilometers of range under China’s CLTC testing cycle, which is more generous than Europe’s WLTP standard. It can go from 10% to 80% charge in 20 minutes using fast charging, and the V2L function allows the car to power external devices.
The engine is located at the rear and drives the rear wheels, just like in the ForTwo. It produces 82 horsepower and 130 Nm of torque according to the manufacturer’s official figures. Smart has also confirmed a five-link rear suspension, which is uncommon for a car of this size, along with a turning radius of only 6.95 meters.
A custom-built platform
The #2 introduces the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), a platform developed specifically for ultra-compact electric vehicles. The design was created by Mercedes-Benz’s global team, who preserved the proportions of the ForTwo. It measures 2,751 or 2,764 millimeters in length depending on the version, with a wheelbase of 1,875 millimeters.
Inside, there is a bench-style seat and an S-shaped wraparound dashboard. It also retains the split door, with its lower section folding down to serve as a loading platform or seat when the car is parked, capable of holding up to 120 kilograms according to the manufacturer. It is produced in China, at the Zhejiang Haoqing Automobile Manufacturing plant, a Geely company, and units for Europe will also be manufactured there.
What’s happening in Spain
In our country, Smart has already accepted the first orders at a promotional price of 19,990 euros for the Pure finish. The range continues with Pure+ (20,990 euros), Premium (24,490 euros), and the Couture Edition (25,690 euros), with only 999 units available across Europe. The European version uses the same battery, claiming a range of 290 kilometers under the WLTP testing cycle, and supports fast charging at 65 kW, with commercial release expected in the first half of 2027.
The comparison is striking: the Couture Edition costs about 11,000 euros less in China than in Spain. It’s not entirely a fair comparison, as taxes, equipment, and homologation vary from market to market, but the difference is significant for a car that comes from the same factory. Still, German dealers have already noted the high volume of orders received in these first days.