The new Smart ForFour and ForTwo undergoing winter testing in Sweden.
Finally – but will anyone actually notice? That’s the question the folks at Smart, the microcar division of Daimler AG, have to be worrying about as, after much too long of a wait, they finally get ready to launch two all-new models.
And a new video posted on Youtube offers a first close-up look at the two only slightly camouflaged new products, the all-new ForFour, and the replacement for the Smart ForTwo.
Both are shown undergoing winter testing in Sweden, a routine part of the product development process for most manufacturers.
How soon are they likely to come to market? Soon, it appears, Chief Engineer Markus Riedel telling the video crew both models are pretty much ready to be launched.
The video doesn’t give away many details, mostly showing engineers testing the car in extreme temperatures on thick sheets of ice. After all, one wouldn’t want to fail the notorious Scandinavian “moose test.”
A close look at the video does appear to support expectations that Daimler somehow found a way to shave another six inches off the length of the ForTwo and ForFour models, something that might seem near impossible considering how small the original two-seater is.
What the maker has confirmed is that both vehicles share the same basic architecture, not only with each other but with the Renault Twingo. The Smart program got some major help as part of a three-way joint venture between Daimler, Renault and the French automaker’s Japanese partner, Nissan.
The new Renault Twingo will share its "architecture" with the upcoming Smart.
We got our first look at the Twingo at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and discovered the latest version is more than just a modest redesign. Working with Smart, Renault made some radical changes – starting with the decision to mount the engine in the rear, a strategy that offers a number of advantages, explained Benoit Bochard, the program’s product planning chief. Among other things, it helped engineers move the front axle forward, yielding significantly more space for both passengers and cargo.
(Click Here to check out the new Renault Twingo.)
Without an engine up front to constrict the suspension, meanwhile, the new Twingo has a far smaller turning circle, even better suited to maneuvering around tight European city streets. Expect the two new Smart models to also benefit from this layout.
Downsizing was a key goal, both for maneuverability but also for fuel economy, without making owners sacrifice room and comfort. Spend any time in the back seat and you’re likely to accept Bochard’s claim that the new Twingo is “a real 4-seater,” certainly when compared to the outgoing model.
It remains to be seen precisely what Smart will do for power. Renault’s new minicar will be offered with two powertrain options after its late summer launch. There’s a 71 horsepower 3-cylinder model displacing 1.0-liter, and a turbocharged version of the little engine – downsized to 0.9-liters – turning out 90 hp. Surprisingly, the French maker dropped its diesel, citing a lack of demand.
It hasn’t said whether it will offer an electric powertrain, though Renault-Nissan CEO is one of the industry’s biggest proponents of battery power. Smart is expected to deliver a next-gen version of the current ForTwo Electric Drive. After a slow start, Daimler has been increasingly interested in electrification.
(Click Here to read the review of the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive.)
Significantly, “There will be no visible common parts,” Bochard told TheDetroitBureau.com, though the Renault and Smart models will share “hard points” that make for a similar basic silhouette.
At the moment, plans call for only the ForTwo two-seater to jump the Atlantic, though there have been calls for Smart to bring the ForFour to the U.S., as well.
(Daimler AG plans to put more emphasis on downsized Smart and Mercedes product. Click Here for the story.)
It could be a challenge for the maker to rebuild momentum. After a quick start, Smart sales have languished in the North American cellar, but with growing interest in small cars, overall, Daimler is hoping that the new ForTwo might come along at exactly the right time.