We will not blame you for thinking that this prototype looks more like an amusing effort to create a long-wheelbase version of the Renault Twingo since that’s what the body suggests, but what you see here is said to be a test mule for Smart’s second take on the ForFour theme.
You may remember that our spies recently caught up with Smart engineers trying out a shorter mule for the next ForTwo, again using body parts from the Renault Twingo.
The reasoning behind this move is that Daimler and Renault are co-developing a new chassis and mechanical components for use in both the Smart cars and the next Twingo as part of their extended partnership.
Whereas the shortly lived first generation Smart Fourfour (built from 2004 to 2006) was a conventional supermini (sub-compact) with the engine located up front, which shared its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Colt, these latest spy pictures suggest that Daimler may base the new model on an extended version of the next ForTwo’s platform.
If true – and that’s a big if for now, since we have not been able to obtain any official or unofficial information on the car yet, then the ForFour will have a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.
As for the design of both the next ForTwo two-seater and the ForFour four-seater models, check out Smart’s new ForStars Concept model that is on display at the 2012 Paris Motor Show to see how some of the cars’ details will look like.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoop
PHOTO GALLERY
