2027 Smart #2 teased as iconic ForTwo city car returns as compact EV

City car specialist Smart is going back to its roots, teasing the production version of its all-electric #2 micro car ahead of its world debut at the Paris motor show in October.

The teeny EV is unmistakably 'Smart', looking very much like a modern version of the original City-Coupe from the late 1990s. The core formula carried on for a further two generations as the ForTwo, which ceased production in 2024.

Styled by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, the 2027 Smart #2 is touted as "the reinvented two-seater city car" which will deliver "unmatched urban agility, driving stability, elevated NVH refinement, and uncompromising safety".

Smart adds that the new #2 "fully embodies" the brand's core DNA, being "Designed with Love, No Compromise on Safety, and Amazing Drives".

Official images of a camouflaged prototype show the production-spec vehicle – recently shown in concept guise at the Beijing motor show in April – undergoing "rigorous" development testing at the company's proving grounds.

It appears Smart is gunning for a more premium driving experience in the #2 to distinguish it from other pint-sized EVs like the BYD Atto 1 and Dongfeng Box, making numerous mentions of a "serene cabin experience" and extensive NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) testing.

The company has also noted testing of various tyre compounds on a range of road surfaces and conditions to strike an "optimal balance between low rolling resistance for maximum range and exceptional noise reduction".

Further, Smart is subjecting the #2 to targeted impact and durability testing on bumpy roads, potholed streets and continuous undulations, as well as impact tests in simulated city-driving scenarios involving mounting kerbs and hitting deeper potholes.

The 2027 Smart #2 will feature the next generation of the brand's 'tridion safety cell', which is claimed to maintain high protection, stability and driver confidence despite the compact dimensions.

CarExpert has reached out to Smart's local distributor to see if the #2 is on the cards for an Australian launch following its reveal in October. Stay tuned for an update.

New Zealand distributor Armstrong's currently sells the #1, #3 and #5 small electric SUVs, which share their Sustainable Experience Architecture 2 (SEA2) architecture with the likes of the Zeekr X and Volvo EX30.

For those not in the know, the modern Smart brand is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the latter the parent company of brands like Volvo, Polestar, Geely and Zeekr.

Originally a collaboration between the parent of Swatch watches and Mercedes-Benz, the Ningbo-headquartered automaker offers a range of EVs and PHEVs utilising shared architectures from within the Geely Group.