Smart FourJoy concept

The Smart FourJoy concept will preview next year's all-new four-seat model at the Frankfurt motor show.

Unlike the ForFour (2004-06) that paid only lip service to the brand's iconic city car, this promises to be a true Smart, with the familiar Tridon safety shell, minimal overhangs and plastic panels.

At 3,494mm long it's around a meter longer than the original two-seat version but still significantly shorter than a Mini. One dimension we have to question is its width – at 1,978mm it's a far cry from the nimble, traffic-threading concept of the car. Sure it's a concept car but why the need to make it so wide?

Many of the themes found on the ForUS concept (Detroit 2012) have made their way here, with an upright nose, freckled with hexagonal inlets and flanked by squarecular lamps. Its rear lamps continue the three-dimensional, hollowed-out theme, set within the chrome frame.

The cabin – which is easy to see thanks to the lack of doors and roof – again houses a floating oval IP with minimal instrumentation and a very product-like, plastic aesthetic, while the seats are formed of extravagant curls that hang off the large center console. There are also the obligatory, sickly lifestyle accessories on display, this time an electric longboard and a pair of helmets in the trunk.

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