Smart has indicated that its upcoming #2 electric city car could launch in Europe with a starting price below €22,500, as the company prepares to reintroduce its two-seat urban vehicle concept.
The Smart #2 is expected to arrive next year as the battery-electric successor to the Fortwo, with production initially planned in China.
Affordable Electric City Car
Speaking about the upcoming model, Smart Europe CEO Wolfgang Ufer said the entry-level version is expected to be priced below the midpoint of the €20,000 to €25,000 range.
While the final price has yet to be confirmed, Smart plans to announce full pricing details when the production model is unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October.
Ufer described the new vehicle as an evolution of the original Fortwo concept.
“A legend is making its return – and it will be the best two-seater ever.”
Compact Design with Improved Range
The production version of the Smart #2 will be based on the company’s new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA).
The vehicle will measure 2.79 metres in length and feature a turning circle of 6.95 metres, maintaining the compact dimensions that characterized the Fortwo.
Smart currently targets a 35.7 kWh battery pack, providing an estimated WLTP driving range of approximately 300 kilometres, although the figure has not yet been homologated.
The company also expects DC fast charging from 10% to 80% to take less than 20 minutes.
Compared with the previous Smart EQ Fortwo, the new model is expected to more than double both battery capacity and driving range.
European Production Under Consideration
Smart said production of the #2 will initially take place in China but could be expanded to Europe if demand reaches sufficient levels.
Ufer did not identify a potential manufacturing location or production timeline, saying only that the company would evaluate local production as sales volumes develop.
Smart expects Europe to be the primary market for the new model, with Germany identified as its largest target market, followed by Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
According to the company, between 300,000 and 400,000 Fortwo vehicles remain on German roads, while nearly 600,000 units have been sold in Italy since the model’s introduction in 1998.
Source: lifepr.de, auto-motor-und-sport.de
