Smart, Citroën Push Small EVs at Paris Motor Show as Rivian R2 Review Lands

The Smart #2 is Smart's first ultra-compact since a string of SUV releases and arrives four years after the Smart #1. It fits two people, will be available in two-tone color options that recall the original Fortwo, and is designed for tight city streets and narrow parking spaces. It has a rear-mounted 60kW electric motor producing 130Nm of torque to the rear wheels, with rear tires larger than the front tires. A floor-mounted battery provides up to 180 miles (290km) per charge, and fast charging can go from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes, according to Engadget. Smart promises sportier handling and greater comfort from a five-link rear suspension. The car includes driver assistance systems, a 10.1-inch central screen, an 8.8-inch driver display, and 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Trims run from Pure to Pure+, Premium and a limited Couture Edition of 999 units with a white exterior, gold-painted roof and gold-detailed tires. Smart says the starting price will be under $26,500 (£20,000), with preorders in the spring and deliveries in the summer. Engadget reported the car likely will not come to the United States, where Smart has not sold vehicles since 2019.

Citroën's 2 CV Concept revives the iconic compact city car as an electric concept, following a March tease. The original 2 CV was revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 1948 and appeared as James Bond's car in For Your Eyes Only. Citroën said the concept will inspire a production model within the next two years with a target starting price of 15,000 euros, or about $16,800. The company emphasized affordability, lightness, practicality and versatility, and included quirky details such as a brake pedal with a tortoise symbol and an accelerator with a rabbit. The interior uses recessed door panels, wide seats, a removable front seat, a removable storage basket instead of a center console, and a detachable radio. A single stem supports the steering wheel, control lever, paddle-shift gear selector and an eight-inch touchscreen. Engadget reported most of these ideas likely will not reach production because of auto regulations, but Citroën said it wants a more accessible, lighter and more essential electric car. Citroën does not sell cars in the United States.

Engadget's review of the 2027 Rivian R2, which Engadget said hit roads earlier this year as Rivian's third EV, called it the closest thing to a Goldilocks electric SUV on sale today: not too big, not too small and not too expensive. Rivian's first vehicle, the R1T, reached roads in 2021, and the R1S followed in 2022 with three rows and a starting price above $80,000. The R2 is a mid-size SUV that blends off-road capability with everyday use for under $60,000, or less depending on specification. Its design shares cues with the R1S, including a boxy body, flush door handles, chunky bumpers and pill-shaped headlights. Rivian chief design officer Jeff Hammoud previously said the R1 was based on an early R2 concept, according to Engadget. The R2 includes front tow hooks, roof rack mounts, an optional tow package with a 7-pin connector and concealed hitch, a 12v accessory socket, a 120v outlet, bi-directional charging for V2L and V2H, and a 5.2-cubic-foot frunk with a drain. It has Matrix LED headlights, a rear hatch with a retractable window, and a button that lowers all four windows and the rear windshield at once. The review noted a minor annoyance: removing rear seat headrests requires a pin tool, which complicated installing car seats despite LATCH points. The reviewer also wished the R2 had a unique design trait like the R3's slanted C-pillar, because the R2 and R1S look so similar. Inside, Engadget said the cabin blends modern minimalism with warm accents, making it feel spacious, airy and cozy.