Smart ForTwo (2006): first official pictures

By Phil McNamara

First Official Pictures

10 November 2006 08:31

New Smart ForTwo: the lowdown

These are the first pictures of the new Smart ForTwo, which goes on sale in the UK in September 2007. The Mk2 city car looks much the same, but it's had a thorough overhaul. In comes a 1.0-litre engine with more power, mated to an automated manual transmission that's claimed to eliminate today's slow and jerky changes. This Smart is bigger, too, with a longer wheelbase to reduce the choppy ride. Smart has also boosted the ForTwo's interior space, equipment and safety performance. Prices for the coupe and cabrio will remain much the same as today's, which means a start point just short of £7000.

Smart’s designers must have had plenty of time down the pub, because the new ForTwo looks nigh on identical to the old ForTwo. All the key Smart design cues – smiley grille, different tone Tridion safety cage, outboard wheelarches – are present and correct. The most noticeable change is the enlarged headlamps with integrated indicators, replacing today’s melting figure of 8 design. The bonnet sits higher and is steeper, to keep pedestrians away from underbody hard points in the even of a collision.

By Phil McNamara