The Smart #2 Couture Edition costs 112,999 yuan ($16,790) in China, with 999 units allocated to each of the Chinese and European markets. Credit: Smart
- The Couture Edition costs 112,999 yuan ($16,790) in China, with production limited to 999 units each for China and Europe.
- The ForTwo successor made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, with the Chinese version offering a CLTC range of 410 km.
Smart, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Auto (HKEX: 0175), has launched the Smart #2 Couture Edition, bringing its signature 2-seater city car back as an all-new electric model.
Smart China announced on Monday that the Smart #2 Couture Edition had officially launched at a retail price of 112,999 yuan ($16,790), with 999 units available in China.
The production Smart #2 made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show today. Its market roll-out will follow, starting with early ordering in Europe and China.
The Couture Edition will also be limited to 999 units in Europe, according to Smart’s English-language press release, with separate allocations for the 2 markets.
China will receive the Premium and Couture Edition variants. Chinese pricing for the Premium version will be announced in November.
The Smart #2 succeeds the classic ForTwo 2-seater city car. Styled by the Mercedes-Benz global design Team, it is built on the Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), a platform developed specifically for ultra-compact electric vehicles.
The Couture Edition pairs a matte white body with a gold roof and features gold detailing, exclusive 16-inch wheels and a numbered commemorative badge to emphasize its distinctive positioning.
Inside, the car features bench-style seating and an S-shaped cockpit. It also retains a split tailgate, whose lower section folds down to serve as a seat when parked, supporting up to 120 kg.
The Chinese version has a 35.8-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with cells supplied by CATL (HKEX: 3750), delivering a CLTC range of 410 km.
The car uses a rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels, with maximum output of 60 kW (80 hp) and peak torque of 130 Nm, Smart said. It also features a 5-link rear suspension.
The European version also has a 35.8-kWh LFP battery, with a target combined WLTP range of 290 km. That figure uses a different testing standard and is not directly comparable with the Chinese version’s CLTC range.
The European version supports 65-kW DC fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes. Market-specific equipment, pricing and availability will be announced locally, Smart said.
For safety, the car features the next-generation Tridion Cell Evo safety structure and driver-assistance systems, continuing Smart’s focus on occupant protection within a compact footprint.
The Smart #2 appeared in a vehicle filing catalog published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in August. It is manufactured by Geely’s Zhejiang Haoqing Automobile Manufacturing.
The original Smart ForTwo was launched in 1998 and sold more than 2 million units. The new model brings the brand, now jointly operated by Mercedes-Benz and Geely, back to its signature 2-seater city car segment.
The new-generation Smart #1 is the brand’s first model built entirely on an 800-volt platform across the lineup.
($1 = 6.7313 yuan)
