Automotive

fortwo and forfour debut smart new direction

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The smart forfour and fortwo enter their third generation with a new design and new engines
The new smart fortwo comes standard with daytime running lights
The new smart forfour is available in 40 different color combinations
The smart fortwo has a tiny turning circle
The interior can be optioned with a leather multifunction steering wheel
The smart forfour uses a "tridion" safety cell to protect its occupants
Personalization is a focus for the new Smart lineup
The smart forfour and fortwo enter their third generation with a new design and new engines
The forfour and fortwo integrate driver smartphones through a free app
The new smart fortwo
The new smart lineup has a customisable honeycomb grille
The fortwo is available with lane keeping assist
The rear engined smart fortwo
Inside, smart has three different trim levels: Passion, Prime and Proxy
The smart forfour
The forfour's rear doors open to almost 90 degrees for easy egress
Daytime running lights are standard on the new Smart models
The new smart lineup
The Smart Fortwo and Forfour were released in Berlin overnight
A five-speed manual and six-speed dual clutch automatic are available on the new smart cars
Heated seats are available on higher trim level smart cars
The new fortwo uses smart's twin section tailgate
The new smart fortwo's redesigned front end
The smart car is designed for city drivers
On the highway, the smart car has crosswind assistance
The smart forfour
The new smart car's interior
Inside, the forfour is bigger than before
The smart forfour
The new smart forfour
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Since being introduced in 1998, over 1.5 million of the smart fortwo city cars have been produced. The company has now revealed the third-generation, with the new fortwo and forfour models boasting a colorful new design, a range of modern engines and turning circles tight enough to take on the narrowest city streets.

The new vehicles the choice of either a 1.0-liter or 898 cc three-cylinder engine. The 1.0-liter engine is naturally aspirated, and makes 52 kW (71 hp) and 91 Nm of torque from 2,850 rpm. The most powerful engine, however, is the smaller of the two. The 898 cc (0.9-liter) engine is turbocharged, and generates 66 kW (90 hp) and 135 Nm from just 2,500 rpm, perfect for zipping in and out of city traffic. A basic 45 kW (60 hp) engine will also be available a few months after launch, and all engines are rear mounted.

Small engines are advancing rapidly of late, with Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost winning awards all over the world. So it's no surprise that Daimler has chosen to launch the third-gen models with a range of efficient three-cylinder motors. All engines will be available with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed dual-clutch auto.

The new smart lineup

Along with new engines, the new smart fortwo and forfour sport a completely new exterior design. The old Fortwo was a "one-box" design, with no real bonnet. For the new car, smart's designers have taken a more conventional approach, giving the car a more traditional silhouette with a proper hoodline.

At the front of the car, both the forfour and fortwo have a new honeycomb grille, which can be optioned in colors that match or contrast with the body. This contrast theme runs throughout the car. As well as the grille, smart's "tridion" safety cell can be painted in a wide range of colors beyond just the body color, with up to 40 combinations available.

The tridion safety cell is one of smart's biggest calling cards. The cell is made of high-strength, hot formed steel, and is designed to hold up in frontal impacts with larger cars.

On the chassis front, the new vehicles boast a track 100 mm (3.9 in) wider than its predecessor, which allows the wheels to be positioned further out and should help with a more stable feel on the road. Special attention has been paid to the turning circle, which on the fortwo is just 6.95 m (22.8 ft). This is partially due to the Smart's steering, and partially due to its tiny 2.87-m (9.4-ft) wheelbase.

The suspension has also been totally redesigned, with more travel than before for "markedly increased ride comfort." On models with sport suspension, the fortwo and forfour sit 10 mm (0.39 in) lower than the standard car and are more stiffly sprung.

Inside, there are three different trim levels available – Passion, Prime and Proxy. While all cars are fitted standard with features like daytime running lights, upper spec models can be optioned with luxuries like a leather multifunction steering wheel and heated seats.

The new smart car's interior

Big news out of the new interiors is the way it integrates drivers' smartphones into the infotainment system. Cross Connect is a smartphone app that allows people to use internet radio and find parking, and can be integrated through a specially designed cradle in the dash. The advantage of running infotainment through a smartphone is that it is easier to update the system or download apps when required.

For audiophiles, a JBL sound system can be optioned with eight speakers in the fortwo and 12 in the forfour. In the smaller car, the JBL system puts out 240 watts, and uses a six channel amplifier, while the bigger forfour takes advantage of an eight channel amp.

A raft of active safety features is necessary to compete in the small car market, so the new smart cars are available with the option of lane keeping assist and forward collision warning. Standard on all new fortwo and forfours is Crosswind Assist, which is active over 80 km/h (50 mph) and helps prevent the light car getting buffeted around on the highway.

The new smart lineup will be available from November in Europe, with the new fortwo to start at the same price as the current model. The forfour will be around €600 (US$810) more expensive with the same engine.

Daimler's launch video for the new smart lineup is below.

Source: Daimler

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7 comments
Jos G P Noordhuizen
It amazes me that I didn't find any remark on the electric Smart. Did Daimler decide to leave that engine out of the range?
Mel Tisdale
Looks good. I hope that they can price the six-speed auto version attractively enough to make it popular. Combine that with a human being 'super computer', the fly-by-wire throttle, GPS speed setting and forward collision avoidance and there will be no need for autonomous cars - sorry, Google, or speeding fines.
BigGoofyGuy
Having owned a 2008 Smart Fortwo Pure, I really enjoy driving my little car. I think this new one is really nice. It would be neat to replace my old one with this new one.
I think the Forfour is what Smart needs to broaden the the model lineup and appeal of its brand. I think the Forfour looks really nice.
I am still hoping that Smart will bring a newer roadster to the USA.
Milton
This thing is starting to look like a smaller Scion IQ. I like it.
I'd like more info on an EV version.
Daishi
@Jos I was wondering the same thing. When the Smart EV launched in 2011 it was ~$29k, the current (pun intended) model is $12.5k and uses a 17.6 kWh battery. At $500/kWh the battery alone is probably $8,800 so it's probably safe to say they are losing money on the EV version.
They are also using the mostly standard J1772 plug but a 0-100% charge time at 240v is 6 hours for ~ 68 miles max. The Model S at a supercharger will charge 170 miles in 30 minutes and its a much heavier/faster car.
J1772 is fine for plug in hybrid but it isn't well suited for pure electric cars. CHAdeMO would be better its a 480v open standard used by Nissan Leaf and others but it maxes out at 62.5 kW vs the more compact Tesla chargers that will do up to 120 kW.
If they really were Smart(tm) they would move the next model to the Tesla charging standard and include an J1772 adapter with it. As battery prices drop 30% over the next few years this will become the biggest thing still holding back EVs and long range PHEV's.
Bob
What happened to the diesel option and why weren't any mpg values given?
Abby Normal
they need to make a version which doesn't require expensive premium fuel, the requirement for which somewhat defeats its high fuel economy capability.