2-Seater and 4-Seater Available Simultaneously

The "Smart," a city commuter manufactured by Daimler, has been renewed. This time, in addition to the traditional 2-door, 2-seater "Smart fortwo," the 4-door, 4-seater "Smart forfour" has also been revived.

The "Smart forfour," which was once sold in Japan, was born from a joint development with Mitsubishi Motors and shared a chassis with the Mitsubishi "Colt." However, for the new Smart, both the fortwo and forfour were created through collaboration with Renault.New Twingowhich was announced earlier.



The dimensions of the new Smart are 2.69 x 1.66 x 1.55 meters for the fortwo, and 3.49 x 4.66 x 1.55 meters for the forfour. Despite their compact bodies, they offer spacious interiors. The fortwo boasts a length from the foot pedals to the rear of the luggage compartment of 2,011.6 mm and a luggage capacity of 350 liters. For the forfour, the interior length is 2,707.3 mm, and the trunk capacity is 255 liters, expandable to a maximum of 975 liters by folding down the rear seats.

Furthermore, an optional "Ready Space" reversible seat is available for the forfour's rear seats. This allows the surface to be used as a regular seat, and when loading cargo, it can be flipped over to conceal the cushion, lowering the cargo area by 120 mm.

The rear hatch of the fortwo is split vertically, allowing for easy loading and unloading of luggage even in very tight spaces. The forfour's rear hatch is a conventional top-hinged type, but the rear doors open almost 90 degrees, enhancing convenience for loading cargo and for passenger entry and exit.

Minimal Turning Radius Comparable to Kei Cars

As a city commuter designed for navigating narrow urban streets and tight parking spaces, the new Smart retains the agility of its predecessors, leveraging its short body and rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout for exceptional maneuverability.

When the fortwo's steering is turned to its maximum and the vehicle moves forward, the minimum turning diameter measured from the tire's trajectory is 6.95 meters (equivalent to a minimum turning radius of 3.48 meters, as commonly stated in Japanese catalogs). Even when measured by the outermost parts of the vehicle, including the front and rear overhangs, the diameter required for a U-turn is only 7.30 meters.

This figure is less than the minimum turning radius of 3.9 meters for Toyota's city commuter "iQ" and is on par with the turning radius of kei trucks, which are known for their maneuverability due to their cab-over design. The 4-seater forfour also boasts a minimum turning diameter of 8.65 meters (minimum turning radius of 4.3 meters), which is almost identical to basic kei passenger cars like the Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Mira.

Three Types of Three-Cylinder Engines

At present, three types of in-line three-cylinder engines have been revealed. At the November launch, the lineup will start with a 999cc naturally aspirated engine producing a maximum output of 52kW (71ps), and two turbocharged variants with a displacement of 898cc, delivering a maximum output of 66kW (90ps) and a peak torque of 135Nm. A more basic model with a maximum output of 45kW (60ps) will be added a few months later.

The transmission options include a 5-speed manual or a "twinamic" 6-speed dual-clutch.

The suspension system features newly designed MacPherson struts at the front and a De Dion axle at the rear. A sports suspension option is also available, which lowers the vehicle height by 10mm.

Safety Initiatives Involving Mercedes

The new Smart comes standard with LED daytime running lights, remote central locking, keyless entry with immobilizer, cruise control with speed limiter, an outside temperature gauge with a road freeze warning, an instrument panel with a monochrome LCD, and front power windows on all models.

In addition, three trim lines are offered: "Passion," "Prime," and "Proxy." Depending on the chosen concept, features such as a leather steering wheel and a color LCD for the instrument panel are upgraded.

Multimedia connectivity has been enhanced with smartphone integration. The audio system features the first-ever JBL sound system for a Smart. The fortwo is equipped with a 6-channel, 240W DSP amplifier and 8 speakers, while the forfour boasts an 8-channel, 320W DSP amplifier and 12 speakers.



Active safety features include ABS, ASR, and ESP as standard, along with Crosswind Assist. This function automatically controls braking to maintain stability when the vehicle is affected by crosswinds at high speeds, and is effective only at speeds above 80 km/h on straight roads or gentle curves.

Additionally, an optional Forward Collision Warning system utilizing mid-range radar can be installed. This system is active at speeds above 7 km/h. If it detects a risk of collision due to a decreasing distance to the vehicle ahead, it first issues a visual warning via a lamp. If the driver does not take evasive action, such as braking, an audible warning is emitted to prompt such action.

Regarding safety performance, Daimler's paramount objective was to conduct thorough research, especially given the Smart's compact size. This involved extensive efforts, engaging not only Renault, with whom the vehicle was jointly developed, but also engineers from Mercedes-Benz.

In the new Smart, the robust Tridion safety cell, its most distinctive feature, acts as a protective cage for occupants. Meanwhile, other areas focused on expanding the crumple zones and efficiently absorbing and dissipating impact forces. As a result, favorable safety outcomes were achieved for occupants in frontal collision tests with models like the "C-Class" and "S-Class."

"FUN.ctional" Exterior Design

The new Smart has transitioned from the traditional one-box style, where the front screen extends continuously to the bumper, to a two-box silhouette with a distinct hood.

The front grille, available in black, silver, and white to match the body color, features a honeycomb pattern with a gradient finish. This honeycomb motif is repeated in the bumper openings, headlights, turn signals, and rear combination lights.

The sharply angled, diamond-shaped headlights are equipped with U-shaped LED daytime running lights as standard. Additionally, the Smart logo is etched into the lamp shades, and the edge of the lens cover features a honeycomb design, showcasing meticulous attention to detail.



The taillights, designed as an homage to the first-generation Smart, feature 11 individual lamps that illuminate independently, creating a unique rear appearance. These lights can also be upgraded to LED as an option. The honeycomb pattern is repeated in the central part of the combination lamps.

These motifs, including the distinct two-box style, the gradient honeycomb mesh grille, and the trapezoidal front and rear lights, strongly echo the concepts presented previously, such as the "Forstars" and "forjoy".

Daimler describes the design concept of the new Smart as "FUN.ctional" (Fun + Function), emphasizing the combination of Smart's signature unique styling with high functionality condensed within its compact form.

Price Similar to Current Models

The new Smart fortwo will continue to be produced at the Hambach factory in France, near the German border, where Smarts have been manufactured since 1997. The forfour, under the collaboration agreement with Renault, is scheduled to be produced at Renault's factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. Experts from Hambach will be dispatched to this facility to ensure Smart's quality standards are maintained.