The electric Smart Fortwo was always excellent at getting through the city. Going much farther than your usual urban rounds required a lot more planning because of its limited electric range. Its replacement, the Smart #2, aims to keep the first part while making the second far less of a concern.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the new Smart two-seater targets 180 miles (290 kilometers) of combined WLTP range from its 35.8-kilowatt-hour LFP battery. That’s roughly twice the range of the outgoing EQ Fortwo, whose battery measured just 17.6 kWh.

Charging should be significantly better, too. Smart claims 65-kilowatt DC charging and a 20-minute stop to go from 10% to 80%, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) lets the car power external devices.

This is also a welcome return to familiar territory. Smart’s transformation into a Mercedes-Benz–Geely joint venture brought Chinese production and a lineup of much larger vehicles. Smart has changed a lot, but Mercedes handled the design of the new two-seater (though it will also be built in China).

At 108.1 inches (2.75 meters) long, the #2 remains properly tiny with a familiar wheel-at-each-corner stance. Its short wheelbase gives it a curb-to-curb turning circle radius of just 22.8 feet (6.95 meters). It still has only two seats, but a split-opening tailgate and a surprisingly cavernous trunk (for its footprint) should handle daily shopping needs.

It rides on the dedicated Electric Compact Architecture and features a rear motor producing 80 horsepower. It has wider rear tires and a five-link rear suspension, which Smart promises will balance agility and comfort.

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