Tiny New EV Aims to Challenge Chinese Cars on Safety
Camouflaged prototypes are being tested to refine urban agility, stability, noise, and safety before the electric city car’s October debut.
- The Mercedes-Benz and Geely co-owned brand Smart has officially launched pre-production road testing for the electric successor to the Smart ForTwo, with camouflaged prototypes undergoing evaluation to ensure the two-door city car delivers "rigorous pre-production testing and validation."
- Revealed in concept form earlier this year, the model stays true to the design, featuring headlights that evoke the Smart-logo, though the concept's patterned "grille" appears to have been removed from production.
- Engineers are subjecting prototypes to curb strikes and potholes while optimizing NVH refinement and sound quality, including evaluating tire compounds over varied surfaces to maximize range while reducing road noise.
- Smart confirmed it will debut the new model at the Paris Motor Show in October, though there are currently no plans to bring the vehicle to market at the moment.
- When the second-generation Smart ForTwo arrived, critics cited a choppy ride and tippy handling; the new model must overcome these legacy issues to succeed in the competitive urban vehicle segment.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Tiny new EV aims to challenge Chinese cars on safety
The strong safety record of tiny Smart cars is expected to continue with the #2 due to be revealed later this year in Paris. Smart’s upcoming #2 two-seater is expected to perform well on crash-safety tests, despite its diminutive size and tiny proportions. That’s according to Smart senior director of overseas sales, global band and marketing, and product management Ling Zhu, who told Drive tiny new model is expected to replicate the success of …
The new Smart #2 is already facing the final stretch of its development.Before the expected electric two-seater makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show next October, the brand is subjecting its prototypes to an intense testing program with a clear objective, to see that the return of smart to the segment of the most compact urbans maintains the agile character that has always defined the fortwo, but adapted to current requirements.The test…
Automotive Testing Technology International
automotivepowertraintechnologyinternational.comSmart #2 undergoes global testing ahead of debut
The smart #2 will have its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show this October and is currently undergoing global testing in preparation. Test vehicles are wearing a black-and-white camouflage livery styled by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team. At dedicated proving grounds, the vehicle’s agility was tested against a wide range of real-world urban challenges, including unexpected obstacles, emergency lane changes and low-grip wet road conditio…
smart #2 undergoes testing ahead of Paris premiere, targets high levels of agility, stability, quietness, safety
The smart #2 EV, which you first saw in concept form at Auto China 2026 in Beijing, is undergoing global testing, and you’ll see the production version at October’s Paris motor show. It’s really being put through its paces, if the press release is to be believed. The targets are “unmatched urban agility, driving stability, elevated NVH refinement and uncompromising safety.” Unexpected obstacles, emergency lane changes and low-grip wet road condi…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
