Tuesday 20th January 2004

Smart Formore

A wee 4x4 jobby signals the entry to the US market

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Smart are to expand beyond their current range in 2006 with the launch of a 'Smart Utility Vehicle'. This will follow the launch of their four seater which will come later this year.

The smart utility vehicle (suv) will bear the name - still devoid of capital letters - "smart formore". More significant is that this fourth smart car will also mark the company’s entrance into the US market. The four-wheel drive smart formore will also be launched in the company’s other core markets at the same time.

From the beginning of 2006 the smart formore will be built in the DaimlerChrysler plant in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The plant has a capacity of 60,000 cars per annum. In a full sales year, smart plans to sell half of these in the USA and half in their other core markets.

[v8thunder]

[DustyC]

I was just thinking "what a pile of sh1te" then i realised it would mak ethe perfect holiday rental car.

They usually end up off road anyway!

[toppstuff]

Nah,, I think its alright.

in fact..

[blackmonday]

It could be a good little runner but at the end of the day it's a Daimler Chrysler....

[LuS1fer]

So you're stuck halfway up a muddy slope (say a kerb at Sainsburys)and you need more power so you downshift - three minutes later, the gear engages and the car is at the bottom of the slope in a crumpled heap.

Forget the new models, give it a gearbox.

[Arizona]

How can you say that about what will be such a glorious car?? The current Smart's are FABULOUS, with tiny Merc engines that are both reliable AND economical. The forfour will also be amazing and join it's "stable mates" in fine form with a fab interior and stunning power to weight ratio.
They promise to be lots of fun to drive and "in the flesh" are BEEE-UUU-TI-FULL.
For those "piston-heads" amongst you who's need is for speed Z-cars are now in the final stages of a bike engined coupe smart. 0-60 in under 6 seconds and should* get to around 120mph (already clocked at 118mph). A Smart Roadster is also planned (this should go like a Bl**DY ROCKET!!.
The video clips are a sight to behold....
Some are downloadable from here - how COOL is this car?? www.smartsrus.com/evil_twin_z-cars.htm

[vladd]

<YAWN>....Yeah great.

[BT52]

LuS1fer said:

So you're stuck halfway up a muddy slope (say a kerb at Sainsburys)and you need more power so you downshift - three minutes later, the gear engages and the car is at the bottom of the slope in a crumpled heap. Forget the new models, give it a gearbox.

Except since it will be based on the for-four it will have a proper gearbox won't it...

[hertsbiker]

vladd said:

<YAWN>....Yeah great.

You may be surprised - there is life in other vehicles than full-fat sports cars/bikes.