Smart said its upcoming all-electric #2 had moved deeper into real-world testing, with engineers validating the brand’s new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA) using modified bodies from the outgoing smart fortwo.
The workaround was meant to keep the test fleet representative, while also signalling that the #2 was set to stay true to the fortwo’s ultra-compact footprint.
The company said the #2 would retain the fortwo’s two-door, two-seat layout, rear-wheel drive dynamics and the familiar wheels-at-the-corners stance.
Still, it positioned the car as more than a straight remake. smart said the interior and exterior were being fully redesigned by the Mercedes-Benz design team, while the new ECA platform was intended to be the base of a next-generation electric drivetrain, updated safety systems and a city-focused driving experience.
Testing was being run across multiple facilities. At a proving ground in China, engineers were concentrating on core driving dynamics, including ride and handling for urban agility, checks on structural strength, and further brake system optimisation.
Elsewhere, the programme was covering crash safety performance, suspension durability, battery performance, software systems and climate control validation across different conditions, smart said.
smart said the #2 remained on track for a world premiere in late 2026, where it expected the car to reset expectations in a city-car segment it helped define almost three decades ago.
