Details emerge on next-gen smart lineup - Latest Automobile News

Along with the redesigned fortwo, smart's lineup will expand to include a new forfour and a crossover model, according to an Auto Express report.



While both the fortwo and forfour were originally to be co-developed with Daimler partner Renault- Nissan, smart is now reportedly going it alone with its new two-door city car. Slated to launch in early 2014, the fortwo will continue to use a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, but its styling will take inspiriton from the futuristic forvision EV concept.



While details for the U.S.-spec model have yet to be revealed, power for the European-market version will come from a 0.9-liter two-cylinder with about 64 horsepower. No word on transmission choices, but we'd be surprised if smart didn't abandon the current fortwo's oft-critized single-clutch, automated manual gearbox. An all-electric fortwo with 87 horsepower is expected to join the lineup at the end of 2014, along with a new cabriolet variant.



The four-door fourfor, which is still being jointly developed with Renault-Nissan, will also arrive near the end of 2014. It will offer a range of turbocharged three-cylinder that were developed in conjunction with Renault, which will sell its own version of the forfour as the next-generation Twingo.



Finally, the smart model most likely to be embraced by U.S. buyers : the crossover : will arrive in late 2015. The soft-roader is expected to share a variety of components with the next-generation Nissan Juke and feature four-cylinder powertrains along with styling drawn from the forstars concept. div.post-content1 ul li { list-style:disc !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } div.post-content1 ol li { list-style-type: decimal !important; margin-left:20px; color:#000000; } #editorial_graph ul li { list-style:none !important; margin-left:0px; }

Source: Leftlanenews