The new all-electric Smart concept revives the spirit of the now legendary ForTwo model with two seats and compact city dimensions.
After a series of larger and heavier models created as part of the collaboration between Mercedes and Geely, the Smart brand is returning to its roots with the new Smart #2 concept. Designed by Mercedes, its two-door design represents the direct spiritual successor to the legendary ForTwo model, which was finally retired after three generations a year ago. The newcomer retains the recognizable pronounced wheel arches and extremely short overhangs, with some design features deliberately emphasized for now due to the concept nature of the vehicle.
The fourth generation of the smallest Smart will be designed as an all-electric vehicle on a new platform called Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). While the previous EQ ForTwo model could only cover 135 kilometers on a single charge, its successor aims for more than double that, with a range of around 300 kilometers according to the manufacturer. Thanks to advances in battery technology, the vehicle will support fast charging, which will allow the battery to be charged from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes, and will also include V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) bidirectional charging technology, which allows the car to be used as a mobile charging station.
Although the brand's focus is currently on the Chinese market, the Smart #2 is also likely to be an important model in Europe, where it will occupy the position of one of the smallest electric cars on the market. With an expected length of around 2,7 meters, it remains true to the original micromobility philosophy and will be significantly shorter than competitors such as the almost 3,8-meter-long upcoming Renault Twingo or the BYD Dolphin Surf. The official presentation of the production version of this distinctly urban car is scheduled for this October at the Paris Motor Show.
