Smart #2 Brings Back the Two-Seat City Car as an EV

Smart has unveiled the Smart #2, an ultra-compact battery-electric car that seats two, at the Paris Motor Show. The company describes it as the reinvention and return of the urban two-seater. The debut took place at Mondial de l'Auto in Paris, which runs October 12 to 18, 2026 Engadget.

The production car seats two and measures 2,746 mm long Smart. Packaging is the main point. The small footprint is designed for dense city streets, tight curb-to-curb turns and short parking spaces.

Power comes from a rear-mounted 60kW motor that sends 130Nm of torque, or turning force, to the rear wheels. The rear tires are larger than the fronts, an arrangement called staggered fitment. The rear axle uses a five-link suspension system, meaning five separate arms position each rear wheel to control its movement. Together, that setup is aimed at traction when pulling away, stability with weight on board, and a calmer ride in a very short car.

Energy is stored in a battery pack mounted under the floor. Smart rates range at up to 180 miles (290km) per charge. Fast charging takes the pack from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes. The Pure+ trim adds 11kW AC charging, the slower type of charging used at home and workplace posts.

Inside, the cockpit is built around two screens, a 10.1-inch central screen and an 8.8-inch display for the driver. Connectivity is wireless over 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so no cable is needed for core network functions.

There are four trims. Pure is the entry model. Pure+ adds the 11kW AC onboard charger and a heated driver seat. Premium adds a glass roof, heated leather seats and a seven-speaker Sennheiser sound system. At the top, the Couture Edition is limited to 999 units, with a white exterior, gold-painted roof and gold detailing on the tires.

Smart says the starting price will be under $26,500 (£20,000). Preorders are planned to open in the spring, with deliveries to follow in the summer.

The Paris show is crowded. Stellantis will show more than 60 vehicles and nine concept cars from eight brands at the 2026 show. Press previews also point to a B03 compact car and B03X fully electric compact SUV display pairing, and Tesla bringing the Cybercab to Paris. The show guide dates the event to October 12 to 18 AutoExpress.

The broader context here is useful for readers who follow small urban cars. A two-seat, rear-drive layout with a battery under the floor is a deliberate trade. It preserves cabin space and a flat floor while keeping the driven wheels where weight shifts under acceleration. Staggered tires and the five-link rear should help calm the jittery handling short cars can show over broken pavement and in crosswinds. None of that changes physics. Range remains modest by family-EV standards, and 60kW fits city and suburban use rather than sustained highway driving.

In my view, the more interesting signal is product discipline. Smart is not trying to make one small EV do everything. It is keeping the two-seater focused on city use, where frequent short trips, overnight AC charging and 20-minute fast top-ups match how people actually drive, and leaving larger jobs to larger cars such as its #5 mid-size SUV. If the price holds under $26,500 and the summer delivery schedule holds, the #2 gives urban buyers, fleets and car-sharing operators a simple choice defined by size, ease of charging and short charge time rather than headline range.