Smart goes small again with the new #2 electric city car

The Smart car brand is finally remembering what made it famous in the first place. The company's name used to be synonymous with tiny vehicles that could squeeze into the smallest parking spots on a busy city street, but lately, those cars have been growing much larger. Many fans of the original two-seater design felt like the brand had lost its way. Those fans will be happy to hear that Smart is returning to its roots. A new Smart #2 has been spotted testing in China, and it is much smaller than the models the company has released recently.

Since 2019, Smart has been run as a joint venture between two automotive giants: Geely and Mercedes-Benz. This partnership decided to focus entirely on electric cars and plug-in hybrids. This was a forward-thinking move for sure, but the cars themselves started to lose their "mini" charm. Take the Smart #6 that will be launched later this year - this sedan is 193.1 inches long. It is hard to call a car "Smart" in the traditional sense when it is almost the size of a full-sized luxury boat.

The new Smart #2 promises to fix that. On April 6 2026, in China, eagle-eyed car spotters caught the car undergoing road tests. Even though it was almost fully camouflaged, the shape was unmistakable. It looks very similar to the second-generation ForTwo hatchback. It is a two-door car designed for people who live in crowded areas where space is a luxury. While the bigger SUVs and sedans from Smart might appeal to families, this new model is strictly for the urban commuter who wants to navigate traffic with ease.

Mercedes-Benz took the lead on how the car looks from the outside. The Smart #2 has a very short hood and almost no overhang beyond the wheels, making it look like a little bubble on wheels. It has "cute" headlights that give it a friendly personality. One of the most noticeable design choices is the contrast-colored roof. This helps the car look more modern and stylish. It also sports large side-view mirrors.

During the road tests, the Smart #2 was seen with basic steel wheels. We believe these are just for testing and that the final version will come with nicer aluminum rims. The charging ports appear to be located on the front fender, making it easy to plug in at a DC station. Another classic design choice is the door handles, which are located right on the edge of the doors. There is also a camera mounted behind the windshield. This suggests that even though the car is small, it will still have at least some advanced safety features and driver assistance technology.

According to the latest info coming from China, the new #2 uses an entirely new platform - the ECA modular architecture designed specifically for small electric cars. The car will have a single electric motor that sits on the rear axle. This motor gets its power from a 30 kWh battery, and even though it is smaller than what you would find in a large electric SUV, it is nearly twice the size of the one found in the Smart ForTwo.

The dimensions of this car are truly impressive for anyone who hates hunting for parking. The Smart #2 is roughly 8.9 ft long - you could almost fit two of these cars in a single standard parking space. The wheelbase is only 6.2 ft. It truly is a tiny package that delivers a lot of utility for city life. Smart's global CEO, Tong Xiangbei, mentioned that building a microcar like this is actually more difficult than building a big car. Engineers have to work very hard to fit all the batteries and safety equipment into such a tight space.

Smart really needs this car to be a success, especially in China. The latest data from the China EV DataTracker shows that the brand only delivered 2974 units in the first two months of 2026. Those are not very high numbers for such a massive market. The company hopes that by returning to the small EVs that people originally loved, they can boost their sales and find their place in the market again. We will get to see the final version of the Smart #2 at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24, 2026.

Via