It looks like someone found it tucked away in an MB Garage... Looks pretty nice... I guess they kept the concept, though apparently the test vehicles were destroyed... I like it!

the bigger question, what is next to it? the car in black
looks the same without the tacky concept addons

If I had to guess... The production version. The turn signals look like regular ones on the lower front bumper as well as on the rear view mirrors. Probably concept and production.

Brembo brakes!

i really like it.

I like it, they should have built it. They still could. Make a gas, hybrid and diesel version and it would be a hit in all major markets IMO. Smart is going to need more product once the U.S. market falls out of love with fortwo.

M

Isn't it the concept that the Smart ForFour originates from..?

This was supposed to be how SMART made it's way to the US. We are a Smart dealer. I don't get it. The car has some need things, but it drives like crap comared to some of the other small cars out there. The shifting is annoying. The Yaris, the Scion xA, are better cars with more room.

They only built 30k cars for the first year of US production. That will not sustain a brand with that little profit margin. They will need new products. The forfour was a good lookin car. Bring it back.

The forfour was terrible and a sales disaster. Its looks and design did not follow the Smart theme and it was based off a Mitsubishi platform and engine. A small SUV is a good idea, or a fully redesigned forFour that is more in line with the Smart philosophy.

the forfour was indeed a terrible car, it looked like a playmobile. only the sound of the exhaust was nice (drove a 90ps version). but i think its really a pitty that they aren't trying to develop the brand any further.
the roadster was very cool, but designwise weak
the formore would have given the brand some strength, small urban suvs are really popular

You're right on a few things here. The more I look at this car it shouldnt' be the hit that it is....at least on paper. Lets see:

Its RWD which means it will be a mess in anything more than dusting of snow becuase of its light weight and itty bitty tires.

It uses premium fuel! What is the point of buying it if you have to use the same fuel that Benzes use?

It at least looks like it should get 50-60 MPG and it doesn't come close. Other cheaper, bigger cars get better gas mileage! Youch.

Its just too small for me, I'd be scared to take it onto most main streets much less an Chicago area expressway.

The transmission is a mess as you say. I guess the cheapest version of the old Benz 5-speed automatic won't fit or is too expensive, but they've got to do better then the current trans. Hello....buy a cheap version of the VW DSG gearbox.


Smart most definitely needs at least 2 more cars to flush out the lineup because the fortwo's sales are going to sink like a rock when the novelty wears and/or if gas prices go back down. The little SUV should have been the 2nd model and than a sporty FWD roadster.


M