smart has moved development of the #2 into its global validation phase ahead of the electric two-seater’s scheduled unveiling in Paris this October.
Development cars wearing a monochrome disguise are running at test centres and on roads.
The programme examines responses to abrupt hazards, evasive manoeuvres and slippery surfaces, while engineers adjust the steering ratio, rack travel, suspension behaviour and chassis mounting points.
Cabin noise is also under scrutiny. Tests in aerodynamic tunnels, sound laboratories and climate-controlled four-post rigs measure wind intrusion, tyre roar, drivetrain noises and temperature-related sounds. Engineers are also hunting for squeaks and rattles before production specifications are signed off.
Tyre choices are being compared on coarse tarmac, ribbed concrete and faster circuits. smart is seeking a compromise between energy efficiency and acceptable cabin noise rather than prioritising one at the expense of the other.
The durability schedule subjects prototypes to repeated pothole strikes, uneven roads and long-wave undulations. Separate impact exercises reproduce the loads created when a driver clips a kerb or hits a deep road defect.
Structural work includes further development of the tridion safety cell, a feature closely associated with previous smart two-seaters. The prototypes retain the wheels-at-the-corners proportions, while their camouflage pattern was created by Mercedes-Benz designers.
Underneath is smart’s Electric Compact Architecture, developed in-house for an ultra-compact battery-electric car. The company has previously quoted a 6.95-metre turning diameter, equal to that of the last-generation fortwo.
The #2 will restore smart’s two-seat city-car format after a break in the line-up. It is due to be manufactured in China and sold in Europe, China and selected overseas markets.
Battery capacity, motor output, charging performance and driving range remain undisclosed. Prices and market-specific arrival dates have also not been released.
smart will present the production model at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026.
