At a time when many electric cars keep getting larger and more complicated, Smart is preparing something much closer to the idea that made the brand famous in the first place. On April 22, 2026, the company will unveil the Concept #2 in Beijing as a preview of the future smart #2, which it describes as the reinvention of its iconic two-seater city car.
That makes this concept more important than a typical design exercise. Smart is not just showing another EV but signaling a return to the compact urban formula that defined the original Fortwo for years.
The timing also matters. The concept will debut at Smart’s global brand event in Beijing before appearing at Auto Beijing 2026, placing it at the center of the brand’s next product push.
For American readers, the appeal is easy to understand. In an era filled with bigger crossovers and premium EVs, the idea of a truly tiny city car coming back in modern electric form feels refreshing again.
The Return Of An Urban Icon
Smart says the concept #2 preserves the essence of its classic urban two-seater while reimagining it for a new electric era. In official language, the company calls it the first concrete expression of the future smart #2, which makes it clear this is not just a styling fantasy with no production intent behind it.
That direction has been building for a while. Smart had already confirmed plans for a new #2 as the successor to the fortwo, and its own UK site now lists the smart #2 with a 2027 tag, even as some early reports suggest the production car could be revealed by late 2026.
Either way, the broader message is already clear. Smart wants the new car to reconnect with the brand’s original mission while fitting into its newer premium electric identity, rather than simply copying the old fortwo with fresh headlights and a battery pack.
A Tougher And More Fashion-Led Design
The first sketches show a silhouette that clearly recalls the Fortwo, but the new concept also looks more muscular and expressive than the old car ever did. Early previews point to fuller surfaces, wider arches, bigger wheels, and stronger visual links to newer Smart models such as the #1, #3, and #5.
Smart says the concept #2 follows its “Love, Pure, Unexpected” design philosophy, and the official details support that. The company highlights a matte white and warm gold two-tone finish, along with fashion-inspired details such as buckles and fine leather applications, all intended to make the car feel like a piece of personal style as much as simple transportation.
That helps explain why the concept feels more upscale than the stripped-down city cars people might expect from this size class. The modern Smart brand is no longer trying to sell bare-bones mobility, and Concept #2 appears designed to show that a very small EV can still carry a premium image.
What The Production Car Could Become
Smart has not released full production specifications yet, so some of the mechanical details still belong in the rumor category. Even so, Autocar reports that the upcoming #2 is expected to use a new electric compact architecture developed jointly by Geely and Mercedes-Benz and to keep the classic two-door, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive layout that defined the Fortwo.
If that holds true, the new model would take a noticeably different path from the rest of Smart’s current lineup. Instead of following the #1, #3, and #5 further into compact and midsize crossover territory, the #2 would once again give the brand a true city car with wheels pushed to the corners and proportions aimed at dense urban driving.
Smart also used this week’s announcement to confirm the #6 EHD, its first premium fastback sedan, which will be sold only in China for now. That contrast says a lot about where the company is heading: one new model pushes upward into a larger premium segment, while Concept #2 pulls the brand back toward the compact format that built its identity in the first place.
If the production version can keep the spirit of the original Fortwo while adding the refinement, range, and technology expected from a modern EV, Smart may end up doing something few brands manage well. It could move forward by returning to what made it memorable in the first place.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.