Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 


Smart introduces two new models. Image by Smart.

Smart introduces two new models
All-new Smart fortwo and forfour revealed.
<< earlier Smart article     later Smart article >>

 


News homepage -> Smart news

What's the news?

Smart has launched all-new versions of its diminutive fortwo city car and its sibling, the forfour. The former is pretty much the same concept as before, with a new look and plenty of improvements, while the four-door model adopts the rear-engined layout.

Exterior

Dimensionally the new Smart fortwo is very similar to the model it replaces, with length remaining unchanged at 2.69 metres, while width has grown by 100mm in order to make the cabin feel slightly less cramped for both occupants. The tridion cell remains a key part of the car's exterior styling and in keeping with Smart's philosophy of personalisation, can now be ordered in a greater variety of colours. The lengthy doors remain, taking on a more contoured surface and a less flimsy feel than before.

Undoubtedly the most significant aesthetic feature of the new Smart fortwo is the front-end, which although retaining the minimal overhang design has more character and gives the car a friendly 'face'. Around the rear, a more rounded appearance has been created. The split folding tailgate remains, with boot space totalling 350 litres. Larger rear lights help to give the impression of the car being wider and they round off what is a much improved exterior design.

The fortwo's bigger brother, the forfour, receives a far more comprehensive design overhaul and takes on more similarities with the smaller car appearing more like a four-door version of it than before. An extended version of the tridion cell again plays a key part in the car's image, which overall is more conventional than its predecessor with both front- and rear-end designs aping those of the fortwo. Unlike the fortwo, the forfour has a single-section tailgate that opens to reveal a total carry capacity of 975 litres if the rear seats are folded down.

Interior

Smart has placed a big emphasis on improving the interior look and feel of both the fortwo and forfour. Strong use of two-tone colours adds plenty of brightness to the cabin and if chosen wisely could make it look very, well, smart. Depending on trim level, the centre console can feature a large touchscreen infotainment display, which can be used for functions like satellite navigation. Many of the ancillary controls have been clustered together into one nicely designed unit that sits just ahead of the gear selector.

In both models the driving position doesn't seem to be overly tight, and those additional 10 centimetres of width in the cabin are noticeable. The front seats look sporty and offer reasonable levels of support while rear passengers in the forfour won't feel too cramped. Longer journeys might not be too popular with adults in the rear, but the car is well sized for smaller children.

Mechanicals

Buyers will have a choice of two three-cylinder engines; a naturally aspirated 71hp 999cc unit and a more powerful turbocharged 898cc engine that produces 90hp. Thanks to an electronically controlled waste gate, the turbocharged engine offers increased power with reduced emissions. With 135Nm of torque from the turbocharged engine, the Smart fortwo should feel nippy and should help the forfour when carrying four occupants. Both engines will also feature start-stop as standard and further down the line Smart will introduce a third engine option that will be naturally aspirated, producing 60hp.

Smart will also offer five-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The latter replaces the old robotised manual gearbox, which was often criticised for lurching between gear changes.

On the safety side of things, both cars will be fitted with Crosswind Assist as standard. This operates at speeds above 50mph and can automatically apply specific braking intervention when it detects that the vehicle is about to suddenly drift off track, thus reducing the potential level of counter steer input required by the driver. As an option, a forward collision detection system can also be ordered alerting the driver to potentially dangerous situations by continuously monitoring the vehicle ahead and closing speeds. Another option that will be available to buyers will be an audible Lane Keeping Assist system that uses a camera to detect if the car is unintentionally drifting out of its lane.

Anything else?

When it comes to city and town driving, making a quick U-turn is sometimes needed. Thankfully the Smart fortwo sets a new benchmark for turning circles with a tiny 6.96 metres from kerb-to-kerb. More impressively, the new forfour turns in almost the same area that the previous fortwo did - just 8.65 metres from kerb-to-kerb.



Dave Humphreys - 17 Jul 2014

Earlier articles featuring 2014 Smart Fortwo

2014-05-31: Car2Go withdraws from UK
2014-04-17: New Smart Grandstyle Edition


2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.

2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.2014 Smart Fortwo and Forfour. Image by Smart.   








www.smart.com    - Smart road tests
- Smart news
- Fortwo images






Smart updates its electric range. Image by Smart.
Updated Smart range
All-electric Smart line-up gets new look and tech.
 
Smart reveals new Forease concept. Image by Smart.
Smart reveals new Forease concept
The Smart Forease marks 20 years of the brand's existence.
Brabus makes 125hp Smart. Image by Brabus.
Brabus makes 125hp Smart
'Pocket Rocket' city car from Merc's mad tuners.

 
 215 Racing
 9ff
 A. Kahn Design
 Abarth
 Abt
 AC Cars
 AC Schnitzer
 Acura
 Aehra
 AIM
 Alfa Romeo
 Alpina
 Alpine
 Amari
 APS Sportec
 Arash
 Arden
 Ares
 Ariel
 Arrinera
 Artega
 Ascari
 Aston Martin
 Atalanta
 Atomik
 Audi
 Austin
 Auto Union
 Autodelta
 Autofarm
 Autosport
 AVA
 Avatar
 Axon
 Aznom
 BAC
 BAIC
 Bentley
 Bertone
 Bizzarrini
 Bloodhound
 Bluebird
 BMW
 Bosch
 Bowler
 Brabham
 Brabus
 Breckland
 Bridgestone
 Brilliance
 Bristol
 Bugatti
 Buick
 Burton
 BYD
 Cadillac
 Callaway
 Callum
 Caparo
 Capstone
 Carlsson
 Caterham
 CCG
 Chang'an
 Changfeng
 Chevrolet
 Chevron
 Chongfeng
 Chrysler
 Citroen
 Climax
 Connaught
 Cooper Tires
 Corvette
 Cummins
 Cupra
 Dacia
 Daewoo
 Daihatsu
 Daimler
 Dartz
 Datsun
 David Brown
 David Brown Automotive
 DDR
 De Tomaso
 Delta
 Detroit Electric
 Devon
 Dodge
 Donkervoort
 Drayson
 DS
 Eagle
 Eagle E-type
 EDAG
 edo competition
 Eterniti
 Everrati
 Evisol
 Exagon
 FAB Design

 
 Factory Five
 Faralli & Mazzanti
 Fenix
 Fenomenon
 Ferrari
 Fiat
 Fisker
 Ford
 G-Power
 Geely
 Gemballa
 General Motors
 Genesis
 Ginetta
 Giugiaro
 Glickenhaus
 GMC
 Goodwood
 Google
 Gordon Murray
 Gordon Murray Automotive
 Gordon Murray Design
 Gray Design
 Great Wall
 GTA
 GTM
 Gumpert
 Hamann
 Hartge
 HBH
 Heffner Performance
 Hennessey
 HERE
 HiPhi
 Holden
 Honda
 Hulme
 Hummer
 Hyundai
 I.D.E.A
 Icona
 IFR
 Infiniti
 Ionity
 Isis
 JAC
 Jaguar
 Jeep
 Jensen
 Jetstream
 JJAD
 Joss Developments
 Kahn
 Kamala
 Keating
 Kia
 Koenigsegg
 KTM
 Kumho
 Lada
 Lagonda
 Lamborghini
 Lancia
 Land Rover
 Lexus
 Liberty
 Lightning
 Lincoln
 Lister
 Loma Performance
 Lorinser
 Lotus
 LupiniPower
 Luxgen
 Mahindra
 Mansory
 Maserati
 Mastretta
 Maybach
 Mazda
 McLaren
 Mercedes
 Mercedes-AMG
 Mercedes-Benz
 Mercedes-Maybach
 Mercury
 Metrocab
 MG
 Michelin
 MINI
 Mitsubishi
 MMI
 Monte Carlo
 Mopar
 Morgan
 Mosler
 MTM
 Munro
 NAC MG
 Nichols Cars
 Nissan
 NLV

 
 Noble
 Novitec
 Opel
 Overfinch
 Pagani
 Perodua
 Peugeot
 Piaggio
 Pininfarina
 Polestar
 Pontiac
 Porsche
 Praga
 Preview
 Prodrive
 Project Runningblade
 Project Velocity
 Proton
 Protoscar
 Qoros
 Radical
 Range Rover
 Red Bull
 Renault
 Reva
 Rimac
 Rinspeed
 RoadRazer
 Rolls-Royce
 Ronn Motor Company
 Rover
 RUF
 Saab
 SAIC
 Saleen
 Saturn
 Scagliarini
 SCG
 Scion
 SDR Sportscars
 SEAT
 Sin
 Singer
 Skoda
 Smart
 Soleil
 Spada
 speedArt
 Sportec
 Spyker
 SRT
 Ssangyong
 SSC
 Startech
 STaSIS
 Subaru
 Suzuki
 Suzusho
 TAD
 Tamiya
 Tata
 Techart
 Tesla
 The Little Car Company
 THINK
 Thunder Power
 Tojeiro
 Tommy Kaira
 TomTom
 Toray
 Toyota
 Trabant
 TranStar
 Trident
 Tushek
 TVR
 TWR
 UKCOTY
 Vanda Electrics
 Vauxhall
 Velozzi
 Vencer
 Venturi
 Veritas
 Vizualtech
 VL Automotive
 Volkswagen
 Volvo
 VUHL
 WCA
 WCotY
 Webasto
 Westfield
 Wiesmann
 Xenatec
 Yamaha
 Zagato
 Zarooq
 Zeekr
 Zenos
 Zenvo



 
 






External links:   | Irish Car Market News |

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©