2016 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe on 2040-cars

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Smart #1 electric crossover shown in production form for the first time

Smart will keep a promise it made several years ago when it releases its first entry into the crossover segment. Previewed by the Concept #1 design study unveiled in Munich in 2021, the pocket-sized soft-roader will be called #1 when it makes its debut later in 2022. Let's quickly address one point: Smart didn't reveal whether the model's name should be pronounced "number one" or "hashtag one." "Pound one," maybe? We suppose it ultimately depends on when you were born, and how many hours you spend on social media. What's almost certain is that the company's future models will follow this naming structure, so it's reasonable to assume that a #2 is coming up soon. With that said, the #1 shares several styling cues with the design study that previewed it. It's characterized by thin LED headlights connected by a light bar and an air dam that takes up most of the space on the lower part of the front bumper. Its overall proportions haven't changed much in the past couple of months, and it looks like the two-tone roof will make the leap from the show floor to the showroom floor. The #1 is bigger than the Fortwo, but it remains relatively small, and these dimensions limit the size of the battery pack that Smart can offer. Engineers consequently went to considerable lengths to lower the crossover's drag coefficient in a bid to maximize driving range. While technical specifications haven't been released yet, we know that they fitted door handles mounted flush with the body (and remembered to include an ice-breaking function), and active grille shutters, for example. China-based Geely handled most of the engineering work while Mercedes-Benz took care of the design; Smart has been jointly owned by the two companies since 2020. Smart will introduce the #1 later in 2022, and sales will presumably start shortly after. Production will take place in China, but there's no word yet on whether the model will be sold in America, a market that Smart left in 2019, or if it will exclusively be offered in global markets. Related video:

Next-gen Smart lineup growing to three models

Still in the testing phases of the next-generation Smart Fortwo and the new Forfour model, Smart could also be planning a new crossover to reach into a more mainstream vehicle segment. According to Auto Express, soon after the redesigned Fortwo arrives in 2014, the Smart lineup will grow to include the other two models by 2015.
As expected, the renderings of the new Fortwo, Forfour and the unnamed Smart SUV are inspired heavily by recent concepts like the 2011 Forvision Concept and the 2012 Forstars Concept (pictured above). One interesting note is that Auto Express says both the Fortwo and Forfour will offer a removable tablet as a center stack display screen. The report says that while these cars were developed alongside the Renault Twingo, the French automaker will only be using the larger of the two hatchbacks for its new model.
This, reportedly, won't be the only tie up between Daimler and Nissan-Renault, though, as Smart also looks to add a new crossover based on the next-generation Nissan Juke, which could arrive by late 2015.

2014 Smart ForTwo prototype shows itself

From the looks of these spy shots, Daimler is hard at work on the 2014 Smart ForTwo, giving us our first look next generation of this micro car. With the partnership between Renault and Daimler finally coming to fruition, the Smart will likely share a platform with the Renault Twingo, and it will come in gasoline, diesel and electric variants.
In terms of styling, the test mule doesn't reveal much, but expect the new ForTwo to utilize some of the design cues introduced on recent concept vehicles like the 2011 ForVision Concept and the 2012 For-Us Concept. One thing we can see with this prototype is that the car appears to have gotten a little bigger with boxier proportions closer to the Scion iQ. Thanks to a bolted-on scoop on the rear part of the car's roof, we can tell that the 2014 ForTwo will continue to have its engine mounted in the rear.
For a release date, the production version of the new ForTwo appears to be heading to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, but we wouldn't be surprised to see another ForTwo-teasing Smart concept later this year.