The Return of the Two-Seater: smart #2 Wins Over Public and Press in Paris

Paris, city of love and famed for its dense traffic, spent a week under the spell of the smart two-seater. At the Paris Motor Show 2026, one of the world's most traditional motor shows, the new smart #2 celebrated its world premiere to a very positive response from press and public alike. The strong interest in the new fully electric two-seater made the premiere a standout moment for the brand.

Under the motto “IT’S BACK!”, thousands of visitors, from smart fans to trade guests, met the new smart #2 in person during that auto show week in Paris. At the press conference on Monday morning, special guests were welcomed from both the early days and the present of smart. Among them was one of the founding minds behind the brand, Prof. Johann Tomforde, as well as Dr. Annette Winkler, who shaped a major chapter of the brand as CEO, and BRABUS CEO Constantin Buschmann. More than hundred attending international media representatives took the opportunity to exchange with the experts from smart and Mercedes-Benz Design.

_{Left to Right: Kang Yi, Wolfgang Ufer, Prof. Johann Tomforde, Dr. Annette Winkler, Kai Sieber, Constantin Buschmann}

An Icon Returns

Thirty years after the first smart two-seater city-car concept was presented at the Louvre in Paris, the smart #2 picks up the thread of a compact, practical urban mobility solution: fully electric and built on a purpose-developed technical foundation¹.

The signature “wheels-at-the-corners” setup of all current and historic vehicles of the brand, has also been carried over to the smart #2. At just 2,746 mm in length² across the Pure, Pure+ and Premium lines, with a turning circle of 6.95 metres, it is made for narrow streets and tight parking spaces. The newly developed Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), combined with rear-wheel drive and a five-link rear suspension – a first in the ultra-compact segment – unites the vehicle’s compact footprint with modern vehicle technology. The combined all-electric range reaches up to 290 kilometres (WLTP; target value)³.

During the press conference, Wolfgang Ufer, CEO of smart Europe, captured the significance of this occasion:

Strategically, the two-seater fulfils a key role. It goes back to the founding idea of the brand, to make an innovative contribution to urban mobility offerings, and the smart #2 enriches the product portfolio in Europe with a vehicle that makes the core of the brand most tangible. The smart #2 retains the design cues that made the original two-seater immediately recognisable, while bringing them firmly into the present. Kai Sieber, Head of smart Design at Mercedes-Benz, explained the approach in Paris:

Strong Response and a Successful Start with Early Order Offering

Even before the premiere, interested customers had been asking smart retail partners all around the world when they could get their hands on the smart #2. At the Paris Motor Show, Wolfgang Ufer announced an early order offer as a response to the high demand: since 13 October 2026, smart fans across Europe have been able to place a binding order with their local smart retail partner – and the interest has been exceptionally high since then.

Pricing starts at €19,990 in several European countries, including Germany, France and Italy. The lines on offer are Pure, Pure+ and Premium, plus the limited Couture Edition. It combines the full Premium specification with a distinctive look: Atelier White Matte paintwork with a Platinum Gold roof, gold accents, and 16” rims with gold details. The smart Design team took the look and feel of the Couture Edition straight from the smart Concept #2, which was presented in April 2026 at the Auto China in Beijing. Customers and fans were so enthusiastic about the show car that this was the spark to bring that striking appearance into series production within less than six months. This sprint from smart Concept #2 to smart #2 Couture Edition reflects the brand’s commitment to incorporating customer feedback directly into its product development. The Couture Edition found an enthusiastic buyer right at the trade show in Paris: BRABUS CEO Constantin Buschmann was so taken with it that he ordered on the spot, becoming the first customer for a smart #2 in Europe.

A First Taste of BRABUS Performance

Another remarkable moment of smart in Paris was also connected to Constantin Buschmann: Wolfgang Ufer announced during the press conference that a BRABUS line will soon be added to the smart #2 line-up. Just as the BRABUS version of the smart fortwo defined the top of its model range, the smart #2 BRABUS line is set to do the same for the new generation.

Awarded as Best City Car

The recognition from the many smart fans was not the only accolade the smart #2 received in Paris. During the motor show, the smart #2 was awarded the "Meilleure Automobile Citadine" — Best City Car — by the Association of Automotive and Motorcycle Media. Cyril Bravard, CEO of smart France, accepted the award on behalf of the brand. The recognition underlines what the smart #2 set out to achieve from the very beginning: to define what a modern city car should be.

The Full smart Family on Display during Public Days in Paris

When the Paris Motor Show opened its doors to the general public from Tuesday, the smart booth continued to draw consistently strong crowds. Visitors could explore the smart product portfolio in person, with the latest model-year versions of the smart #1, #3 and #5 presented alongside the newly revealed smart #2 in several variants. Two smart #2 Premium and the exclusive smart #2 Couture Edition gave the public the chance to experience the new two-seater up close, offering a compelling overview of where the brand stands today and where it is heading.

Visitors also gained a first impression of the extensive personalisation options available for the smart #2. The smart Pillar, for example, allows a range of small and useful items to be attached to the dashboard in front of the passenger seat, showing how the vehicle can be adapted to individual preferences and lifestyles.

The smart booth itself was designed to reflect the spirit of a modern city: An unconventional urban backdrop — complete with building façades, a poster column and advertising billboards — transported guests into a vivid street scene. The most unexpected element, however, was a set of oversized legs protruding from the scenery: a playful invitation to look at the familiar from a completely different angle.

The world premiere in Paris was a remarkable moment for the brand – but it is only the start for the new smart two-seater. The smart #2 combines the familiar promise of a very compact city car with a new electric platform and up-to-date technology: exactly what cities across Europe, like Paris have been waiting for. More impressions from the Paris Motor Show:

Disclaimer:

¹_{Note on the smart #2’s vehicle status: The vehicle is currently still undergoing the homologation process (type approval process). The technical specifications, equipment features, and functions listed are based on the current state of development and are subject to change during the homologation process. Delivery will take place once homologation is complete. Upon delivery, the vehicle will correspond to the production specification confirmed by homologation.}

²_{This applies to the smart #2 Pure, smart #2 Pure+, and smart #2 Premium models. The smart #2 Couture Edition is 2,764 mm long.}

³_{Energy consumption combined in kWh/100 km (WLTP): 13.6 (Pure / Pure+ / Premium / Couture Edition); CO₂ emissions combined (while the car is in operation) in g/km: 0; CO₂ class: A; electric range (WLTP) in km: 290 (Pure / Pure+ / Premium / Couture Edition). These are preliminary details. The vehicle is currently undergoing the EU homologation process. These details are subject to final homologation. Changes are therefore possible. Once the EU homologation process is complete, smart will publish the official figures through the usual channels.}