Daimler Shows Off New Smart City Car Lineup

Daimler AG showed news media its next-generation Smart ForTwo city car and larger four-passenger ForFour variant in Berlin late last week.

At 2.7 meters (8.8 ft), the two-seater is the same length as the current ForTwo. The four-seat version is 800 mm (31 inches) longer.

Both rear engine/rear drive cars are powered by a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder powerplant with automatic stop-start. European iterations will include naturally aspirated 60- and 71-hp units and a 90-hp turbocharged edition. Buyers can opt for a 5-speed manual or 6-speed dual clutch transmission. An all-electric powertrain will be added later.

Smart says the 2015 model ForTwo will retail in the same price range as current models when it goes on sale in Europe in late November. The car now retails at about $14,000 in the U.S., where the new model will debut about 15 months from now. Both cars have far more conventional interiors than the jazzy trim touted in a teaser video Smart released earlier this month.

The ForFour will sell for about €600 ($800) more. Smart says it won't offer the larger model in the American market.

Smart will continue cabriolet and higher-performance Brabus options for the ForTwo, but not at product launch this autumn, according to Automotive News Europe.

Daimler co-developed both Smart models with Renault SA, which also supplies the engines. Renault is using the same platform for its Twingo city car. Daimler will continue to make the ForTwo in its Hambach, France. Renault will assemble the ForFour in its Twingo plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.