UPDATE 1: Tipster Nicolas emailed to let us know that the full unveiling will happen tomorrow in Stuttgart, as reported by Le Blog Auto.
So much for embargoes. Glamour shots of the new 2007 Smart ForTwo are making the rounds on the web, and our sister site, Autoblog Spanish, was kind enough to share them with us. Larger and apparently better-equipped than the outgoing ForTwo, this is the one DCX is bringing Stateside for Roger Penske to sell to us.
Details are scarce at the moment, but we do know that the ForTwo sports a nifty interior. As for the exterior? Well, it looks like a Smart -- stubby and friendly-faced, with a healthy dose of Euro-style. The doors appear to be the single largest body panels on the car, an aspect some potential buyers might find less than confidence-inspiring, given that the itsy-bitsy Smart will share the road with H2s, Expeditions, Armadas, Escalades, Suburbans, and many other larger vehicles... such as the Honda Civic.
It'll be utterly polarizing (read: unbelievably popular), be featured on every single newscast in America at launch, and probably be the "in" thing to have in certain urban locales. Observers, both interested and casual, have a lot to look forward to here.
(Additional photos after the jump)
[Source: Autoblog Spanish (translated)]
2007 Smart ForTwo:
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
srivendel @ Nov 7th 2006 1:42PM
Good evolution of a smart (pupn intended) design. Assuming these come with the full raft of airbags, ESP, ABS, etc they will sell like hotcakes in urban markets.
smart @ Jan 9th 2008 11:47PM
Thanks for creating this great article on the smart, I would like to personally invite you to the new smart site just launched.
The new smart website is focused on the 451 smart fortwo ( 2008 smart car ) and its web address is: http://www.451s.com
451s.com was created to help bring together worldwide smart owners and smart enthusiasts. While this site is focused on the 451 smart fortwo sold in America and Canada it is open to all smart's and the worldwide smart community.
http://www.451s.com
smart @ Jan 9th 2008 11:47PM
Thanks for creating this great article on the smart, I would like to personally invite you to the new smart site just launched.
The new smart website is focused on the 451 smart fortwo ( 2008 smart car ) and its web address is: http://www.451s.com
451s.com was created to help bring together worldwide smart owners and smart enthusiasts. While this site is focused on the 451 smart fortwo sold in America and Canada it is open to all smart's and the worldwide smart community.
http://www.451s.com
Brooks @ Nov 7th 2006 2:01PM
This rates a big "finally!" The car makes so much sense for urban areas that it's bizarre that they haven't imported it before.
And I don't think the writer knows what "polarizing" means. It is not a synonym for "popular".
james @ Nov 7th 2006 2:03PM
heh, there are six of these (along with a forfour and two roadsters) a few miles north of me...at Merc's USA hq in Montvale, NJ. they're done up in what i can only describe as a Target (the store) wrapping paper pattern. a polka-dot looking pattern of red bullseyes.
-james
Nill @ Nov 7th 2006 2:06PM
PLEASE, DCX, bring all the options over when you sell it here! The Smart's saving grace is that it is well equipped for a small car.
And a diesel option wouldn't hurt either, hint hint.
Giggles of Doom @ Nov 7th 2006 2:08PM
Sharp looking little cars. An improvement over the old ones in my eyes.
Kowell @ Nov 7th 2006 2:56PM
And the differences are????? Smarts have been riding here in Canada for 2 years and I can't spot any difference.... as for the equipment, they come butt naked and having them fully equip brings the price as high as a lightly equipped midsize sedan. For the size it'S cheaper to just buy 2 SubCompacts.
Kowell @ Nov 7th 2006 2:58PM
The interior quality also makes a Hyundai Accent look like a luxury car.
Mr_Oak @ Nov 7th 2006 3:28PM
Can't wait to see the accident scene pics when one of these get hit by a Yellow Cab in NYC.
What do I do with it when I have to go to Boston, Washington or beyond. Are these things even going to be allowed on the NJ Turnpike.
Here is the problem,this car is great for NYC right? The thing is though 99% of NYC residents take the subway, bus or hail a cab. Most of the cars in Manhattan are Cabs,Limos and out of towners, Most Manhattan residents who own cars, leave them parked and ride the modes of transport mentioned here earlier, except on special occasions or to get the hell out of town. Great car to take to the Hamptons for the weekend The cost of owning a car in NYC also includes the hefty parking garage fees. $300 - $700+ per month. Do I get a discount for owning one of these?
Eric D-J @ Nov 7th 2006 3:46PM
Who was driving the new topless one behind me on Crescent Heights here in Los Angeles early this weekend. Sadly the car turned before I could let them pass me so I could get the photo op.
Mehul Kamdar @ Nov 7th 2006 4:31PM
Lovely little car and I would buy one. Would be lovely to drive in downtown Chicago.
Tiago do Vale @ Nov 7th 2006 4:33PM
I think it would go through the NY cab... So is the smart rigidity (and the NY cab lack of stiffness).
C. McFeeny @ Nov 7th 2006 4:47PM
Just because its small doesn't mean that they haven't engineered it to withstand a mighty beating in the eventuality that the car will get into an accident. Before you yahoos fly off the handle with your ignorant comments why don't you look up some information on how the Smart is engineered? The whole of the body is practically a roll cage just like in a race car.
jim @ Nov 7th 2006 4:51PM
Let us hope that they bring in some of the interior and exterior color options you see in Europe. My fear is they will offer exteriors in only black, white, two shades of blue, beige, and a couple of reddish shades. With the interior in black, gray, and tan. With phony wood trim as an option.
Having a built to suit option similar to what exists for Mini would be nice.
pk @ Nov 7th 2006 4:57PM
Well, well, well, the stupidity and ignorance that has been ingrained for so long into the American car buying public is coming out once more. And the guy from GM in comment 10 (ken), thinks it's cool promoting it.
there were some issues with the first generation smart, like the shifter that was a bit slow (thank you DCX), and the car yawed a bit too much. But safety never was an issue.
The thing is safe in a crash against an S class (or M, or G), check out all th videos on the web, and the safety ratings the car gets.
The best news, is, for those who live in places where there is "parallel parking" (not Detroit, I guess), well, if you don't know how to parallel park, good news for you, it is legal to park this thing head on. Two fit in a north-east coast parking spot, three in a Texas sized spot.
Well, to be honest, in Texas I wouldn't want that car (although you are sitting almost at SUV height), it's probably still not a highway cruiser.
But the rest of the world is not Detroit, or Texas...
CJ @ Nov 7th 2006 4:59PM
Bring out the tiny car haters! Let's start the SUV vs. Smart comments!
If you don't like 'em, don't buy 'em! It's about time we started to get some of the automobiling options other countries get. Although they are a bit less useful than in Europe, since we don't park on the sidewalks.
Dave Thomas @ Nov 7th 2006 5:15PM
pk
I think the sane point some people are making is that most of the country commutes and doesn't live in large urban areas that make this a viable option.
Take Chicago. This would be ok if you lived in the city. But try commuting on 90/94 or worse the Dan Ryan in this thing and it would be bad. I'm testing a Suzuki SX4 this week and it feels small on the highway. Both it and the Fit I drove recently don't stand up to heavy highway driving like a larger compact would, and this has an even smaller footprint.
Sorry, this won't sell in the U.S. The Mini is a full size in comparison and has style. this does not. I have a feeling the Smart brand will fail miserably in the U.S.
Dave Thomas @ Nov 7th 2006 5:20PM
also smart car sales in Europe are at a very low level. Down 30% in october at 8300 or so units.
the dude @ Nov 7th 2006 5:26PM
Haha #17. I own an barely modded xB (which is 4" shorter than a Fit). I also regularly commute on one of the most congested freeways in world, the 405 in orange county. I have no problems with all the assholes around here in their BMWs, MBs, and the occasional lifted truck.