Smart brand hero
Smart brand showcase image

Smart: All Models, History & Specs (Fortwo & #1) | Rethinking The Car

Smart is the revolutionary brand that rethought the city car. Famous for the iconic Fortwo, a tiny two-seater that could park anywhere, Smart has always been a champion of innovative urban mobility. Now reborn as an all-electric brand, discover the story of this clever, forward-thinking marque and its stylish new #1 and #3 SUVs.

Smart: The Revolution in Urban Mobility

In a world of ever-larger vehicles, one brand has consistently and bravely championed the opposite: the Smart car. More than just a car company, Smart has been a rolling think-tank, an experiment in radical packaging and urban mobility. Born from a collaboration between Swatch watch creator Nicolas Hayek and automotive giant Mercedes-Benz, the brand was founded in 1994 in Böblingen, Germany. The vision was simple yet revolutionary: to create a small, stylish, safe, and eco-friendly car specifically for crowded city life. This is the story of a brand that has always dared to think small in a big way.

The Genesis: The "Swatchmobile" Dream

The idea for the Smart car came from Nicolas Hayek, the charismatic CEO of the company behind Swatch watches. He envisioned a small, fashionable "Swatchmobile" that would be a fun, personal, and eco-conscious form of urban transport. He initially approached Volkswagen, but ultimately partnered with Mercedes-Benz to bring his vision to life. The result of this partnership was the Micro Compact Car (MCC) and its first product, a car that would become a global icon: the Smart City-Coupé, later renamed the Fortwo.

Core Philosophy: "Reduce to the Max"

The core philosophy of Smart has always been about intelligent reduction, or "Reduce to the Max." This is not just about making a small car, but about making a small car clever, safe, and desirable.

  • The Tridion Safety Cell: This is the engineering heart of the classic Smart car. The Tridion cell is a high-strength steel hemisphere that forms a rigid safety cage around the passengers. It is the visible, often contrasting-colored frame of the car and is so strong that it allows the tiny car to have incredible crash safety performance.
  • Radical Packaging: By placing the engine in the rear, under the trunk floor, the original Smart Fortwo was able to dedicate its entire length to its two passengers, creating a surprisingly spacious and airy cabin in a car that was less than nine feet long.
  • Urban Focus: Every aspect of a classic Smart was designed for the city. Its tiny size allowed it to park in spaces no other car could (famously, nose-to-curb in Europe), and its excellent fuel economy made it a perfect, efficient urban runabout.

The Icons of Smart: A Legacy of Clever Thinking

While the Fortwo is the undisputed star, Smart has produced a fascinating range of vehicles over its history.

The Fortwo: The Car That Started It All

The Smart Fortwo (1998-2024) is the icon. For three generations, this revolutionary two-seat microcar has been a symbol of intelligent urban mobility. From its efficient gasoline and diesel versions to the final, all-electric EQ Fortwo, it has always been the ultimate city-dweller's car, a masterpiece of packaging and safety engineering.

The Roadster: The Cult Classic

The Smart Roadster and Roadster-Coupé (2003-2005) was a brilliant and beloved cult classic. It took the rear-engine platform of the Fortwo and stretched it to create a featherweight, mid-engine sports car. The Roadster was a masterpiece of minimalist fun, a "junior supercar" praised for its go-kart-like handling and pure, unfiltered driving pleasure. It is a true modern classic.

The Forfour: The "Smart for Four"

The Smart Forfour was the brand's attempt to bring its philosophy to a more practical, four-seat package. The first generation was a collaboration with Mitsubishi, while the second was a unique and incredibly agile rear-engine city car, co-developed with the Renault Twingo, that offered a surprising amount of interior space and maneuverability.

The Rebirth: A New All-Electric Era

In 2019, a new chapter began for Smart. Mercedes-Benz entered into a 50-50 joint venture with Chinese automotive giant Geely Holding (the owner of Volvo and Lotus) to reinvent Smart as a global, all-electric brand. This new entity is focused on creating a new generation of stylish, premium, and tech-forward EVs.

The #1 and #3: The Future of the Brand

The first products of this new era are the Smart #1 and Smart #3. The #1 is a stylish and critically acclaimed all-electric compact SUV that has been praised for its premium interior and fun-to-drive character. Its high-performance Brabus version is a true 422-horsepower "hot hatch" in disguise. The #3 is its sleek, coupe-like sibling, offering a more emotional and design-focused take on the brand's electric future. These new models are designed to take the innovative spirit of the original Smart and apply it to the most popular segments of the global market.

Smart Models

  • Fortwo

    1998-2024

    The icon. The original. The car that could park nose-to-curb. The Fortwo was a revolutionary two-seat city car, a masterpiece of packaging and safety engineering with its Tridion safety cell. It is the undisputed symbol of modern urban mobility.

  • #1

    2023-Present

    The brand, reborn. The #1 is a stylish, all-electric compact SUV that represents the future of Smart under the new Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture. The Brabus version is a true, 422-horsepower electric 'hot hatch' in disguise.

  • #3

    2023-Present

    The sleek and aerodynamic 'SUV Coupe' from the new Smart. The #3 takes the platform of the #1 and wraps it in a stunning, fastback-style body, offering a more emotional and design-focused take on the brand's electric future.

  • Forfour

    2004-2006, 2014-2019

    The 'Smart for four.' The Forfour translated the brand's clever design philosophy into a more practical four-seat package. The final generation was a unique and incredibly agile rear-engine city car, co-developed with the Renault Twingo.

  • Roadster / Roadster-Coupé

    2003-2005

    A brilliant and beloved cult classic. The Roadster was a tiny, featherweight, mid-engine sports car that delivered one of the purest, most fun-to-drive experiences of the 2000s. A true 'junior supercar' and a masterpiece of minimalist fun.

  • Crossblade

    2002-2003

    The most extreme and radical Smart ever made. The Crossblade was a limited-edition speedster with no roof, no doors, and no windshield. A pure, unfiltered expression of automotive fun and a highly sought-after collector's item.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Smart car and who makes it?
The Smart car, most famously the tiny two-seat Fortwo, is a brand of microcars designed for urban mobility. The brand was originally a joint venture between Swatch and Mercedes-Benz. Today, Smart is a global joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely (the parent company of Volvo), and has been reinvented as an all-electric brand.
How is such a small car like the Smart Fortwo safe?
The incredible safety of the Smart Fortwo comes from its revolutionary Tridion Safety Cell. This is a high-strength steel hemisphere that acts like a rigid roll cage or the shell of a nut, forming a protective cocoon around the passengers. It is the visible, often contrasting-colored frame of the car. This design is incredibly strong and allows the tiny car to perform remarkably well in crash tests against much larger vehicles.
Are Smart cars still sold in the USA?
No, Smart officially withdrew from the United States market after the 2019 model year. While the classic Fortwo had a cult following in dense urban areas, its small size and niche appeal struggled to gain traction in the broader American market, which overwhelmingly prefers larger trucks and SUVs.
What is the new Smart #1?
The Smart #1 is the first vehicle from the brand's all-electric rebirth under the new Mercedes-Benz and Geely partnership. It is a stylish and critically acclaimed compact electric SUV that is significantly larger than the classic Fortwo. The #1 combines a premium, tech-forward interior with a fun-to-drive character, especially in its high-performance, 422-horsepower Brabus version.
Did Smart ever make a sports car?
Yes, from 2003 to 2005, Smart produced the brilliant and beloved Smart Roadster. It was a tiny, featherweight, mid-engine sports car that was praised by critics for its go-kart-like handling and pure, fun-to-drive experience. While it was never officially sold in the US, it has become a cult classic for driving purists in Europe and is a fascinating part of the brand's history.