Fortwo successor: testing phase for the Smart #2 launched
The Smart car brand has undergone a transformation since the Chinese automotive group Geely acquired a stake around five years ago, turning Smart into a 50:50 joint venture between Geely and its former parent company, Mercedes-Benz. Over the past three years, the partnership has exclusively introduced five-seater models, including the Smart #1, #3, and #5. However, fans of the brand have missed a brand-typical two-seater in the portfolio since the Fortwo was discontinued in spring 2024.
As early as April 2024, Dirk Adelmann, Head of Smart Europe, hinted in an interview at a new two-seater. In September 2025, the company officially confirmed that this model would be unveiled at the end of 2026.
Although the launch is still a year away, Smart is already offering further insights into the next chapter for the brand. While the design is still being finalised in Mercedes-Benz’s studios, Smart has begun practical testing of its new platform, the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), which will underpin the Smart #2.
Smart has also shared photos of a camouflaged test vehicle—and those who do not read the accompanying text may be misled. As the company admits, the test vehicle, which bears an striking resemblance to the predecessor Smart Fortwo, is actually an old Fortwo. More precisely, the body of an old Smart Fortwo has been mounted onto a chassis featuring the new ECA platform.
Smart has also confirmed what fans have been eager to hear: the #2 model will retain the ultra-compact dimensions of the original. The Fortwo was last 2.70 metres long, and in its earliest iterations, it measured just 2.50 metres. Logically, the #2 will once again feature only two doors, with the wheels positioned at the corners of the vehicle.
Smart has even paired multiple Fortwo bodies with ECA chassis to create a ‘fleet of highly representative test vehicles,’ as the company describes it. Using these prototypes, Smart’s research and development team is conducting global validation tests on aspects such as driving dynamics, crash safety, battery performance, software, and climate control.
Smart further confirms that the Smart #2 remains on schedule for its world premiere at the end of 2026, ‘where it will set new benchmarks for the city-car segment that smart defined almost thirty years ago,’ according to the company.
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