2020 Smart Touch Up Paint (8 OEM Colors)

The 2020 Smart Vibe

The year 2020 was a strange one for everyone, but for the Smart Fortwo, it was business as usual-zipping through city gaps that larger SUVs couldn't dream of. While the rest of the world was staring at four walls, these little urban runabouts were showing off a palette that actually had some personality. We've got the essentials for the survivors, from the stealthy Mountain Gray Metallic to the high-energy Orange Pigment Metallic and the deep Carmin Red Tricoat. Whether yours is a black-on-black commuter or a bright red city-shuttler, it was designed to be seen in a rearview mirror for about three seconds before it claimed the last parking spot on the block.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the "Thin Paint Era." By 2020, the robots in the factory had become so precise they were practically whispering the paint onto the panels. These cars are a mix of steel tridion cells and high-tech plastic body panels, and that creates a specific headache. The clear coat on these rigs-especially on the roof and the plastic door skins-is often thinner than a 2020 stimulus check. If you're seeing what looks like clear cellophane tape peeling off in the sun, that's "Robot Efficiency" failing you. The bond between the base and the clear on these flexible panels is a known weak spot, and once a stone chip gives the air a way in, the clear coat starts to lift like a bad sunburn.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2020 Smart, you have to respect the robotic precision of the original finish. Because the factory coats are so lean, you can't just slap a heavy glob of paint on a chip and call it a day. Build your layers slowly; don't blob it. Use several thin passes to build the color up to the surface level, then let it dry fully before adding your clear. If you rush it and go too thick, you'll end up with a raised "island" of paint that sticks out like a sore thumb against that tight, factory-sprayed finish. Patience is your best tool here.