After a period focused on SUVs, Smart has reintroduced a vehicle that made it well-known. The new Smart #2, which is the all-electric successor to the Fortwo, a two-seater compact notable in large urban centers, was presented at the Paris Motor Show.
The choice of location was not random, as it was in the French capital that the brand exhibited, thirty years ago, the concept that gave rise to the Fortwo. This car was designed by Mercedes-Benz and uses the ECA platform, developed by Smart itself, which is currently a joint venture between the German automaker and the Chinese company Geely.
The dimensions of the Smart #2 are 2.75 meters long, 1.67 meters wide, and 1.55 meters high, weighing approximately 1.1 tons. Its turning circle diameter of 6.95 meters facilitates maneuvering in narrow streets.
The electric motor, positioned on the rear axle, generates 82 horsepower and 13.3 kgfm of torque. Although the power is in the same range as 1.0 naturally aspirated cars sold in Brazil, the force delivery is instantaneous, a characteristic of electric propulsion.
The battery, made of lithium iron phosphate, has a capacity of 35.8 kWh and ensures an estimated range of 290 km under the European WLTP cycle, a more optimistic figure than the standard established by Inmetro. With fast chargers up to 65 kW, recharging from 10% to 80% takes about twenty minutes. Furthermore, the vehicle can be used to power external equipment, although this feature requires a separately purchased adapter.
Internally, the car offers full seating for the two occupants, a 10.1-inch multimedia center, and an 8.8-inch digital dashboard. The trunk accommodates 305 liters and can expand to 527 liters. In Europe, pre-sales began immediately after the debut, with prices starting from 19,990 euros, equivalent to approximately R$ 117 thousand. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027.
Even disregarding import taxes, the cost approaches the price of the BYD Dolphin Mini, which is the most affordable electric car available in the Brazilian market, starting at R$ 118,990. For now, Smart has not confirmed its intention to sell the #2 in Brazil, given that the brand left the country in 2016, after seven years of selling the Fortwo through Mercedes-Benz.