No Crossover, Roadster for Smart Brand

Daimler AG's Smart city car brand won't add a roadster and has no immediate plans for a mini-crossover vehicle, says CEO Annette Winkler.

But she tells the Automotive News Europe Congress, "never say never" regarding a future crossover. In April, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche floated the idea of a Smart crossover as a logical next model if the brand expands its lineup.

Smart phased out its slow-selling roadster in 2005. In 2006 the company canceled plans for a tiny crossover that was to be called ForMore.

The brand's current lineup consists of the ForTwo two-seater and new ForFour four-passenger variant. Daimler anticipates a big jump in sales this year in large part because of Smart's new optional Twinamic 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The new gearbox replaces Smart's unpopular automated manual transmission.