Smart Pair Gets Second Wind

When the Smart forfour and fortwo came about, with their dainty dimensions and lower-case lettering, they were fashionable. But like any fad their popularity was short-lived: nowadays spotting either is rare on South African roads.

With the resources of the mighty Mercedes-Benz group at hand, the potential to reinvigorate the brand is immense. The next generation fortwo and forfour were revealed today. Both cars were developed in-part with French carmaker Renault.

The fortwo retains its rear-engine layout and compact dimensions. It's still designed to be the quintessential city-slicker, boasting a 6.95-metre turning circle. Some perspective: the turning circle of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class seems massive and 11 metres.

In the crash tests, Mercedes-Benz said they pitted the little car against the new C-Class and S-Class and it performed "well" - but let's wait and see what the folks at EuroNCAP say. The old fortwo had a three-star rating. Under the skin, it received a new front axle design and its makers describe the chassis as an overall evolution, infusing the experience gained from its predecessor.

Two three-cylinder engines will be available at launch, they will serve in both cars. First up is a 999cc mill (52kW and 91) followed by the 898cc engine (66kW and 135Nm) engine developed by Renault, which does duty in the current generation Clio and Sandero. Smart says a 45kW powerplant will follow too. Buyers can pick between five-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch transmissions.

Inside, the quirkiness still resonates: there's lots of emphasis on individualisation, with a variety of colour choices on offer. Three trim levels will be available - passion, prime and proxy (again, all in lower-case). New infotainment systems and a JBL audio system will feature as well.

In the forfour they've strived to make versatility a virtue. The old model was known for its funky lounge-like rear configuration. This one sports reversible cushions in the rear - which can be turned around to provide a full 12 centimetres of additional loading height.

Driver aids like forward collision warning and lane-keep assist will be available as options. However, they saw it fit to install the crosswind assist as standard: it's active from 80km/h and promises to lessen the amount of counter-steering the driver has to do.

Its arrival on our market is yet to be confirmed. In Europe however, the duo goes on sale in November. It will be priced under 11 000 Euros (R159 383) while the forfour will reportedly cost around 600 Euros (R8693) more.

-Ignition Live Reporter