Smart Fourjoy concept points to a new style
Smart will give us the best look at its third generation Fortwo. with the introduction of the Fourjoy concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 next week.
The Fourjoy is the latest in a series of concepts that hint at the styling of the next Fortwo and the new Forfour, both of which are under development and due out late next year as 2015 models.
It features a number of details from previous show cars that have proved popular, such as square headlights, lightweight construction and a minimalist interior.
The honeycomb structure of the air intakes also highlights the link to previous Smart concepts. e.g. For-us (Detroit Auto Show 2012) и Forstars (Paris Motor Show 2012).
Meanwhile, the four-seat configuration directly hints at the layout planned for the four-door, four-seat Forfour. The original Forfour was produced from 2004 to 2006. and produced only one generation.
The Fourjoy is 3.5m long, 2.0m wide and 1.5m high, with a turning radius of just under 9.0m. The rear wheels are powered by a 55kW electric motor. It is powered by a 17.6 kWh Li-Ion battery that takes about 7 hours to charge from a normal household outlet.
The concept designers are looking to highlight some of the more premium features, suggesting that Smart will reposition its new Fortwo and Forfour models. a bit more upmarket to target the likes of the Mini.
The signature Tridion cell is finished in aluminium, while raised elegant lettering machined from more aluminum on the side skirts is another sign of premium quality. As with the first generation Fortwo, the taillights are built into a tridion cell and all lights, both front and rear, feature LEDs.
Inside, organic sculptural forms reminiscent of contemporary living room furniture. The back of the seats is made of dark chrome, and the floor of the car alternates between perforated and smooth surfaces. The continuous structure runs down the middle of the car and has a convex surface with touch controls.
As mentioned, the new Smart Fortwo and Forfour will go on sale at the end of next year. They will be based on new platform jointly developed by Smart and alliance partner Renault (French automaker will use it for his next generation Twingo). The new platform will be flexible enough to create many models, including a high-riding crossover. In terms of production, the Smart plant in Hambach, France will be responsible for the two-door Fortwo, while the Renault plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, will be the production base for the Forfour as well as the new Twingo.
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