Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Smart has revealed its newest concept car



Smart has revealed its newest concept car, the jovial four-seater Forjoy. The "joy" part of that sobriquet is rather obvious ­– with the doorless, roofless, rear-glass-free concept looking like a beach-wagon full of fun ­– but it's the four seats that might prove most prescient as far as Smart's future plans are concerned.

The German small-car maker goes as far as to call the Forjoy "the forerunner of a new smart generation" in its press release, saying that the concept car's proportions portend a lot about the appearance of a four-seat production car. That upcoming Forfour (most likely) should get an official launch at the end of 2014.

Of course, while there might be some production-car cues hiding in this wispy, white and pearlescent concept buggy, the detailing of it can be safely categorized as "concept car only." Polished bits of milled aluminum brightwork are shiny flights of fancy, as is the modern minimalist furniture that ornaments the airy cabin.

On the other hand, the powertrain inside of the Forjoy, a 55-kilowatt electric motor drawing from a lithium-ion battery pack, has been scooped directly out of the production Fortwo Electric Drive. Other than its existence in the concept car, Smart hasn't dropped any hints in the press release as to the ED unit making into a production Forfour. We certainly wouldn't rule it out as a variant.

Look for live images and more info about Smart's hint-heavy Forjoy when we see it on the Frankfurt show floor next week.

No comments:

Post a Comment