Smart is taking an unusual approach to previewing its upcoming #2 electric car, using large murals in cities around the world to reveal more of the compact model ahead of its official debut at the Paris Motor Show this autumn.
The campaign has appeared in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Paris, and Shanghai, where artists were photographed creating the murals with spray paint and large pasted illustrations. Together, the artworks offer one of the clearest looks yet at the small electric car set to replace the Smart ForTwo.
The production model remains closely linked to the earlier #2 Concept, although several details have been refined for the road. Up front, the car features a grille designed to improve airflow, along with vertical air intakes and revised headlights that differ from those seen on the concept.
Its compact proportions are still easy to recognize from the side, with a curved body, rounded wheel arches, and aerodynamically optimized wheels. A contrasting black roof may also be available as an option. Smart has fitted conventional door handles, while the rear adopts circular taillights, a prominent spoiler, and a traditional tailgate with the license plate positioned in the center.
The Smart #2 is based on the Electric Compact Architecture platform and is expected to use a battery with a capacity of around 35.7 kWh. The estimated driving range stands at approximately 300 km, while DC fast charging should allow the battery to charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes.
At 2.792 meters long, the new model is 97 mm longer than the second-generation ForTwo. It also has a turning circle of just 6.95 meters, a figure that should help it retain the urban agility that defined its predecessor.
The mural designs were developed by the Mercedes-Benz design team in cooperation with local artists, including Martín Ron, Georgia Laurie, Zhou Bin, and the Parents Parents collective.
With the #2, Smart appears to be returning to one of its most familiar ideas: a tiny city car designed to make everyday urban driving easier. This time, however, it will arrive as a fully electric model with a more modern platform, improved practicality, and a design introduced through one of the brand’s most creative campaigns yet.
