The Smart #2 made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show this week, complete with a split tailgate, a bench seat, and about 180 miles of range.The limited-quantity #2 Couture Edition adds gold accents and Premium trim options.Pricing and exact release dates haven’t been announced, but the U.S. won’t see them anytime soon. The #2 will only be sold in Europe and China.
The iconic pint-sized Smart car is back, and if there was any question of just how tiny it feels, Smart placed it next to a sculpture of a giant shoe at its Paris auto show debut. Though squatty and petite next to other cars—or in this case, giant shoes—the #2 seems surprisingly spacious and practical for city life.
Smart
The tiny #2 was designed by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, which clearly crafted it to feel just as comfortable and approachable as any other car on the road. Just like the original ForTwo, the #2 is a bit of a square. At the front, a short hood rounds out into a large, mostly flat grille. Almond-shaped headlights, small horizontal grille cutouts, and two vertical panels near the wheels break up the body-colored front fascia. The roof and mirrors are a contrasting black.
A split tailgate occupies the rear, creating more space when needed. The top window opens independently from the bottom tailgate, which can act as a loading platform or even a seat when parked. Large, round taillights complete the compact but practical look.
Smart
Inside, the #2’s bench seat and S-shaped cockpit create enough space for two adults to sit comfortably while still incorporating a cupholder, armrest, storage spaces, and a touchscreen inside. The wide windshield and windows, combined with the car’s simple dashboard and light brown seats, give the EV an airy feel.
Beneath its squatty styling, the #2 is powered by a 60-kW electric motor mounted to the rear wheels. That motor, combined with a 35.8-kWh LFP battery, can power the car for about 180 miles on a single charge, according to Europe’s WLTP range calculations. Smart says the EV can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes with DC fast charging.
Smart
The #2 is nine feet long—slightly longer than its ForTwo predecessor, but significantly shorter than the rival Fiat 500e, which is just under 12 feet long. The #2 is also equipped with a reinforced chassis, adaptive cruise control, and stop-and-go highway assistance to provide peace of mind on roads dominated by large SUVs and trucks.
For those with quirky yet expensive taste, Smart’s #2 Couture Edition might fit the bill. The limited-quantity trim brings in gold accents and elevated design to highlight Smart’s “Function becomes Fashion” theme. Outside the EV, a separate panel replaces the standard grille cutouts with embossed Smart logos, similar to those found in some luxury luggage. The Couture Edition wears special Atelier White Matte paint, and Platinum Gold accents line the mirror caps, roof, wheels, and the bottom edge of the car.
The Couture Edition is limited to 999 units in Europe and 999 units in China. That won’t matter in the United States, though, as the ultracompact EV will only be sold in Europe and China for now. Pricing details and arrival dates haven’t been announced yet.
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Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership’s showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard “Fiero-vette” for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called “The Dumptruck.”