New Smart #2 electric car revealed with 290km range

Is it still a two-seater?

Thankfully, yes. After a couple of years of revived Smart (nowadays, the brand is a collaboration between Mercedes and Chinese car maker Geely) turning out ever larger electric SUVs and crossovers, Smart is going back to its roots with an ultra-compact — 2.7 metres long with a tiny 6.95-metre turning circle — two-seat city car. Except, it might not just be confined to the city…

Electric, we assume?

Of course. The Smart #2 uses a 35.8kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery — surprisingly large for such a small car — and a 60kW (81hp) electric motor driving the rear wheels. That combination is good for a 290km range, which is rather more than you might expect for something that’s supposedly going to be confined to city streets, and around three times the range of the original electric ForTwo. In fact, Smart says that the car’s complex five-link rear axle gives it: “confident and composed driving in urban areas and on the highway. Combined with the low centre of gravity of the floor-mounted battery, this advanced suspension architecture enables a direct steering geometry, delivering both sportier handling and greater comfort.”

What about charging up the new Smart #2?

Also decently quick. The maximum DC charging rate is 65kW, which isn’t much, but thanks to the relatively small battery, Smart reckons that’s still good enough for a 10-80 per cent charge in just 20 minutes. More importantly, for most owners, the 11kW on AC charging power (for higher-spec models) will make good use of a kerbside charging point, although the fact that the charging port is at the rear of the car (on the left) means you won’t be able to park nose-in to charge up, in the classic Smart style. Well, you will, but you’ll have to drape the cable along the side of the car.

Is the Smart #2 practical?

Sure, for two people. There’s plenty of space in the cabin for two, and better yet there’s a very useful 305-litre boot behind those seats, with a two-part split tailgate (which might make a handy picnic bench if you’ve not eaten too many cheeseburgers).

What about tech and safety in the new Smart #2?

The Smart #2 should be very safe, even considering its tiny size. As with the original ForTwo, there’s a substantial ‘Tridion’ safety cage, now known as the Tridion Cell Evo, for physical crash protection, while you get the now-expected electronic driver assistance systems, including smart cruise control and lane keeping, and stop-and-go control in heavy traffic. As for tech, there’s a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, an eight-inch driver’s digital instrument panel, 4G connectivity, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a handy clamp on the dashboard for your phone or other connected devices.

How much will the Smart #2 be?

That’s still TBC. The Smart #2 won’t be super-expensive, but neither will it be Dacia Spring-style cheap. Figure on a price tag around €21,000-€22,000. There will be three trims, initially — a base #2 Pure with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)charging, adaptive cruise and LED lights with automatic high beam. The #2 Premium will get more standard safety features — Blind Spot Detection, Rear Collision Mitigation and Rear Cross Traffic Alert — along with 11kW on ACcharging, a glass roof, heated faux leather seats and a dedicated seven-speaker Sennheiser Sound System, and the option of two-tone exterior paint. At the top of the line-up, for now, is the Couture edition, of which only 999 will come to Europe, and which features special matte white and gold paint, 16-inch alloys, the glass roof, ambient lighting, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, Sennheiser sound, wireless charging and navigation, and a numbered interior badge. The first European deliveries should start taking place in the new year.