The iconic two-door, two-seater city car is officially back. On November 5, the Smart Fairy #2 made its official market debut, launching a single model priced at 9.99 yuan ($13,850 USD). Positioned as an all-electric micro car, the new model inherits the classic design DNA of the fuel-powered Smart Fortwo (chassis code 453) while packing modern EV tech.
The Smart Fairy #2 remains faithful to the timeless proportions and styling cues of its predecessor. It features an integrated LED daytime running light setup, projector headlights, and a prominent lower front bumper intake flanked by capsule-shaped grille openings and vertical vents. The high-end customized edition sports a striking matte Cloud Velvet White and Sun Crown Gold dual-tone paint job, complemented by exclusive gilded grille patterns and badges.
Riding on 16-inch gilded celestial dome wheels, the micro EV utilizes a staggered tire setup with 185/50 R16 rubbers up front and 205/45 R16 at the rear. Dimension-wise, the vehicle measures 2,751 (or 2,764) mm in length, 1,669 mm in width, and 1,555 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 1,875 mm. At the rear, it features a roof spoiler, irregular circular taillights with dual-strip graphics, and a split tailgate design where the lower section can support up to 120 kilograms.
Inside, the cabin adopts an “S-Shape” water-ripple design philosophy. It is equipped with a large floating center touchscreen powered by Meizu’s Flyme Link system, a three-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, a column shifter, and turbine-style air vents. The two-seater layout includes a center console with a hidden storage compartment and armrest. Creature comforts range from 256-color ambient lighting and a heated steering wheel to heated seats, a Sennheiser sound system, Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and remote parking capabilities.
Powering the rear wheels is a single electric motor delivering 60 kilowatts (80 horsepower), paired with a 35.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack. It offers a CLTC-rated all-electric range of 410 kilometers (255 miles). The chassis utilizes a MacPherson front strut and a five-link independent rear suspension, enabling an ultra-tight minimum turning radius of just 3.35 meters.
Just like the original Fortwo, the Smart Fairy #2 faces no direct peer competitors in the domestic market. Comparing its 9.99万元 price tag and 82-horsepower output against basic 50,000-yuan micro cars with half the power would be unfair. However, similarly priced models in this bracket are typically larger compact hatchbacks offering more space and seating. Smart’s product managers have once again carved out a distinct blue ocean market. If forced to name a spiritual rival, vehicles like the NIO Firefly share a similar luxury positioning and high recreational value. For buyers looking for an oversized adult toy, the Smart Fairy #2 stands entirely alone.
Editor’s Commentary:
Demand for two-door micro cars in China has always existed; the problem was that few manufacturers took the segment seriously. Back when the fuel-powered Fortwo entered the Chinese market, it sold nearly 60,000 units over five years. It proved that the niche had dedicated fans while clearly defining its ceiling: it is typically a secondary household vehicle or a young driver’s first car. It handles narrow urban streets and grocery runs with ease, but cross-country family road trips? Naturally, that is beyond its capabilities.
Is the Smart Fairy #2 expensive? It all depends on perspective. Vertically speaking, the original Fortwo started at 133,800 yuan back in the day, translating to over 150,000 yuan on the road. Today, thanks to mature electric vehicle supply chains and localized cost reductions, the starting price is significantly lower than its gasoline-powered predecessor.
Yet horizontally speaking, the reality hits hard: sub-100,000-yuan models like the BYD Seagull or Wuling Bingo offer four doors and five seats. Therefore, buyers spending around 100,000 yuan on a two-door, two-seater aren’t paying for cost-effectiveness; they are paying for Mercedes-Benz design, an adult “big toy,” and a fashion statement in the digital age. Will consumers bite? The fact that the limited-run 999-unit Gilded Customized Edition sold out instantly proves that passion remains alive. Regardless of whether it achieves massive mainstream volume, we hope fun, well-built little cars like the Smart Fairy #2 survive—after all, a world filled exclusively with practical family haulers would be far too dull.