Smart #2 Brabus Approved: The Performance Era in City Cars

Smart has officially approved the Brabus version of the Smart #2 model that made its premiere in Paris. While the standard #2 is positioned as a measured city car with its 80 hp motor and 11.6-second 0-100 km/h time, the Brabus version is preparing to bring sportiness back to the two-seat electric segment after many years. Power figures have not yet been announced, but judging by history, this job is not foreign to Brabus.

When and how was the Smart #2 Brabus announced?

The sequence unfolded in an unusual way. At the 2026 Paris Motor Show, Smart re-showcased its classic two-seat city car under the Smart #2 name; the concept is the same as the ForTwo: a tiny city car leaving enough space for luggage. The announcement of the Brabus version came right after this premiere. In other words, the performance variant is already on the bench while the model is not yet on the roads.

The first teaser images show the car with a black body and red details; a choice quite consistent with the visual language Brabus has used for years. Smart's official United Kingdom page also uses the "coming soon" phrase for the Brabus #2, stating that notification will be given when the ordering process opens. In other words, approval is official, but the calendar is still uncertain.

The standard #2 itself came to life with the final development decision following the successful completion of a feasibility study called "project: two". The first half of 2027 is being pointed to for market launch. How close the Brabus version will swing to this date, only time will tell.

What does the standard Smart #2 offer? Technical data

The standard model comes with a permanent magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle. Official figures highlight 80 hp of power and 130 Nm of torque; some promotional materials list this value as 82 hp and 95 lb-ft. The difference is small and most likely stems from rounding and measurement definitions; the scale is the same: a modest, but sufficient traction for the city.

Acceleration 11.6 seconds, top speed 140 km/h is limited. This picture quietly sits in the "average" category in comparison lists of acceleration times. On the range side, the 49 kWh battery promises approximately 290 km and the starting price is just about €20,000. Length is 2.74 meters: a one-to-one continuation of the old two-seat formula.

There is a technically interesting detail: the #2 uses a five-point rear axle for the first time in its class. This level of attention to suspension geometry in a small car can be taken as a reasonable hint of how much the chassis can be stretched by Brabus's hand.

How powerful will the Brabus #2 be?

There is no official power figure yet. However, the assessments made point to a reasonable range. Brabus's Ultimate E project offered 92 hp; on the other hand, Smart's co-owner Geely's E2 model for the Chinese market comes with 116 hp. It is certain that the group has enough power on the shelf; the question is at which figure the engineers will stop.

The historical scale also supports this range. The petrol-era 453-generation ForTwo Brabus cruised with 109 hp. Considering today's technical possibilities and the state of the charging network, it would not be an exaggeration to assume that the Brabus #2 could comfortably settle above the 100 hp threshold. Every extra horsepower to be placed in a small body translates into a large proportion in feel; a 30-40 hp difference in a 2.74-meter car is not an abstract figure, but a difference in quality that is usable every day.

Brabus-Smart collaboration: from 2003 to today

This project is not a youthful dream from the United Kingdom; it is a corporate tradition. Brabus has been maintaining a collaboration with Smart that began in 2003 with the premium version of the iconic fortwo and has lasted for more than 20 years. In the age of electrification, this partnership has #1, #3 and the new #5 extended to.

How far the upper end can climb #5 BRABUS shows: after its world premiere in 2025, 579 hp, 474 lb-ft of torque and acceleration under 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The #3 Brabus meanwhile completes 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with its total power of 422 hp. Extracting these figures from a small crossover has certainly sparked debate; some reviews openly wrote that they found that performance excessive for a small car. Brabus's job is to make fast cars, not measured ones - that's how it has always worked in these lands.

Performance trend in electric city cars

The Brabus #2 is not just a curiosity, it is part of a trend. Abarth has put a performance version with 152 PS of power and 235 Nm of torque on top of the electric 500e; using the same 42 kWh battery as the standard 500e, this model reaches 100 km/h two seconds faster thanks to a modified gear ratio. There is also a price to pay: the WLTP range drops from 311 km in the standard 500e to 253 km in the Abarth. In other words, about six kilometers of range is sacrificed to performance.

Buying a small car used to mean making peace with physics; now, thanks to batteries weighing several hundred kilograms in the same class, carrying a sporty claim has become possible. But we also know this equation doesn't guarantee success: the Abarth 500e was described as a disappointment in some reviews, and it became clear that projects of this kind rest on a fine balance. Brabus's Smart tradition, meanwhile, is one of the longest-running references in this direction of the segment.

A similar trade-off can be expected on the range side with the Brabus #2 as well. This inference is a prediction based on Abarth figures; there is no confirmed number from Smart. But physics works the same way for every brand.

The questions awaiting the buyer: price, date, and the possibility of a Cabrio

Let's answer the concrete questions. Sales: the first half of 2027 is marked for the standard #2; no date has been announced for the Brabus. Price: the standard model starts at around 20,000 euros; how much of a premium Brabus will add is not yet clear. Power: no official figure; reviews point to a range of 92-116 hp.

The Cabrio possibility is a separate matter. There is no official statement and its future is entirely uncertain; however, it is evident that it is technically manageable and would create a real niche in this segment. For those who remember how beloved the old fortwo's Cabrio was, this question is not asked in vain.

There is also the special editions front: Smart's United Kingdom page introduces the #2 Couture Edition limited to 999 units; it comes with an Atelier White Matte body and Platinum Gold roof combination. The fact that room is made for this kind of positioning as early as the model's first day shows that the brand intends to sell the #2 not merely as a trade tool but as a design object.

A brief assessment: small car, big claim

The standard #2, with its 11.6-second acceleration and 140 km/h speed limit, is a perfectly adequate car for city use; there is no problem with it either. However, when compared with performance-focused models in the segment, the picture changes, and Smart approved the Brabus variant very early, aware of this. This is not courage but market reading: there is a group of buyers looking for a sporty option in the electric city car field, and until now this group had been stranded on the Abarth side.

Whether the Brabus #2 will be the winner of this equation hinges on questions such as how much its power will be increased and what that will cost in range. When official figures arrive, the picture will become clear. Until that day, what we have in hand is a solid tradition, an approved project, and a platform shown in Paris: for those who want more from the small car business, this is good news.

Sources

• smart #2 - News and photos of the electric 2 seater
• smart x BRABUS
• BRABUS x smart
• The all-new smart #5 BRABUS
• smart Confirms Reinvention of Iconic City Car
• A New Brabus Smart #2 Is Happening, Of Course
• The New Smart #2 Nails The City Car Formula
• Smart #2 EV: Specs, range, price
• Remember the Smart Fortwo? 2025 Smart #5 Brabus First Drive
• Smart #3 Review 2026
• New Abarth Electric 500e
• Abarth 500e 2024 Review | Goodwood Test
• Acceleration cheat sheet of fully electric vehicles