Next-Gen Smart Fortwo to Grow and Adopt All-new Look
When the next generation Smart fortwo is unveiled, its proportions will be growing to help improve both safety, and passenger usability.
The new city car is expected to be revealed sometime this year and will have a longer hood, and be significantly wider, with the new length pegged at around 2,750mm, while the width is set to increase by over 100mm to 1660mm. The added length is supposed to improve the Smart’s safety considerably, trying to make sure it stays competitive with other small city cars like the Scion iQ.
The same 0.9-liter three-cylinder that powers today’s fortwo is expected to remain, and can be had either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. It will still be fitted in the rear end of the car, and send power to the rear wheels. The smaller three-cylinder diesel engine is expected to be axed, and will be replaced by the new all-electric version of the fortwo.
Design wise, the fortwo may borrow from 2011’s forvision concept car (seen above), which originally debuted at Frankfurt Motor Show.
[Source: Autocar]
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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I commute 130 miles a day in a 2010 Smart. I also drive a 2007 Shelby GT500! The Smart is a fun car to drive if you use the paddle shifter function and I get up to 48 MPG, drops to about 42 when I do 85 MPH stints on the interstate. The "other" econ cars drop well below 40 when they drive 85 MPH! Dontfall forall of the MPG hype out there.
I have a 2009 Smart Passion which I love to tinker with and improve. Last year, I took out the factory breather box and baffle air intake system and installed a direct Cold Air Intake. Took me about two hours and the results were amazing. More power, putt putt sound eliminated, and better mpg. Stop and go to school everyday, mpg is about 38-39. Summers at the shore see all highway driving with mpg at 46-47. All driving done in automatic.Visit website of Smart Madness for cold air intake. Do not have to be a car mechanic to install. Love my Smart.