Smart Fourjoy concept revealed ahead of Frankfurt motor show

Smart will preview its upcoming second-generation Forfour at next week's Frankfurt motor show when it shows the Fourjoy, the latest concept from the Mercedes-Benz owned city car brand.

Pictured here for the first time, the new four-seater follows the earlier Forus and Forstars concepts, providing clues to next year's Forfour, developed with Renault. The French automaker will offer its own version of the new car as a replacement for the Twingo.

Although the Fourjoy has no doors, roof or tailgate, the concept's shape and silhouette is described as being close to Smart's crucial second production model. It will be assembled alongside the third-gen Twingo at Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia.

Design features include Smart's signature Tridion cell -- the exposed metal frame to which its composite plastic body panels are attached. The frame is aluminum on the concept but will be high-strength steel on the production Forfour.

At 137.6 inches long, 77.9 inches wide and 58.8 inches high, the Forjoy will mirror production Forfour dimensions. So the new Smart will be a significant 10.2 inches shorter, 11.8 inches wider and 1.7 inches taller than the first-generation Forfour introduced in 2003. It was discontinued after just three years of production after the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi was disbanded.

The Forfour will join the upcoming third-generation Fortwo in an expanded line of Smart models in the U.S. starting in 2015.

The compact dimensions aim to provide the Forfour with city car traits Smart suggests will also be evident in the way the car handles. For example, Smart is saying the Forfour's 29.9 feet turning circle is class leading.

The Smart Fourjoy interior would definitely be toned down for production.

The Fourjoy's fanciful interior is less production oriented than the exterior. Inside you'll see touchscreen controls and wild seat designs both front and rear, among other conceptual touches. Prospective Forfour buyers can expect a less flamboyant interior with cheaper materials, more in line with the existing Fortwo. The Forfour will seat five with a three-across split/fold rear seat.

The same electric system available in the existing Fortwo electric drive powers the Fourjoy. It consists of a 55kW brushless electric motor mounted in back underneath the trunk floor with a 17.7kWh lithium-ion battery in the floorpan. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a fixed-ratio gearbox.

Smart hasn't yet made an official claim on the emission-free system's range or performance, but says recharging time is seven hours on standard household power or less than an hour using a dedicated charger or public charging station.

The production version of the Forfour will have both the electric driveline available or a new 900 cc three-cylinder direct-injection gas engine. Gearbox choices with the gasoline model are likely to include a conventional six-speed manual and new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

About the showThe 2013 Frankfurt motor show will be held Sept. 10-22 in Germany. Premium automakers appear ready to try to outdo each other with eye-catching electric supercars. Green technology and fuel efficiency will take center stage on the stands of most automakers at the show. For news, reveals and photos straight from the floor in Frankfurt, check out our special Frankfurt motor show section here.

By Greg Kable