The most unexpected return of Smart, a new electric car aimed directly at Renault
The disappeared Smart ForFour will return to the market to compete, among others, with the Renault Twingo. Named Smart #4, it will be positioned in the growing Smart range as the 'big brother' of the future Smart #2, a successor to the also disappeared ForTwo. With these new electric vehicles, the brand is determined to be the reference in sustainable urban mobility.
Smart is determined to regain its role as a reference brand in the field of sustainable urban mobility and, more specifically, 100% electric. After recently confirming the future launch of the Smart #2, the successor to the disappeared ForTwo, the well-known electric vehicle brand is now focusing on another model marketed years ago to recover it and add it to the growing range. It is none other than the Smart ForFour.
The ForFour will also come back to life. About half a decade ago, production ended for this practical urban car and now, thanks to the backing of the Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely, the 'new Smart' has greenlit a successor. The Smart #4 will be a reality. The disappeared ForTwo and ForFour that supported the Smart brand for years will return to the market.
Smart #4, the successor to the ForFour will be an electric vehicle for and by Europe
Dirk Adelmann, CEO of Smart Europe, has confirmed the return of the ForFour. At the recent Munich Motor Show 2025, the head of the European division of Smart indicated that the successor to the ForFour will be named #4 following the current naming strategy used by the brand. And equally important, it will be a vehicle designed for and by Europe.
While he did not go into specific technical details, Adelmann did indicate that the future #4 will be technically related to the new #2, successor to the ForTwo. Both models will be designed and manufactured in Europe. This is key for the competitiveness of these vehicles as being produced in European territory will avoid any type of tariff.
"It must look like a successor," Adelmann stated when asked about what the new #4 will be like. The CEO of Smart Europe also clarified that the vehicle is in the early stages of development. It will be quickly recognizable as a ForFour, although adapted to the new times and, above all, to the new philosophy of Smart.
The successor to the ForFour will help monetize the development of the Smart #2
While there is still a small possibility that the project could be canceled or frozen for any reason, Adelmann has made it clear that a successor to the ForFour is necessary to monetize the development of the new #2. The company will allocate significant resources to bring the new ForTwo to life: "We need economies of scale. The challenge was to achieve a size small enough for the #2; it is much easier to expand it slightly."
Considering that Smart will present the #2 at the end of 2026 and that the development of the future #4 is in a very early stage, we can assume that the successor to the ForFour will not reach dealerships until, at the earliest, late 2027 or early 2028.