Wise Choice: The not-so-Smart ForMore SUV that never was
2005 Smart ForMore concept – Click above for an image gallery
Nearly every automaker on the planet has suffered from bouts of over-reaching and Smart is hardly an exception. Daimler's micro-car division succumbed to the desire to fill every conceivable niche a few years back, unsuccessfully adding roadsters and four-door models to its iconic two-door city car. But before the Smart Roadster and ForFour were sent off to camp, another model was in the works. Yes, Smart was planning a sport-utility vehicle. And someone's snagged some photos of the wisely canceled show car sitting in the back of a Mercedes warehouse in Germany.
Although it looks like a ForFour with some extra bits tacked on (note the unsuitable low-profile tires), sources suggest that this Smart crossover was actually based on the Mercedes GLK. Called the ForMore, the concept car was scheduled to make its debut at the 2005 Frankfurt show before Daimler pulled the plug on the entire program at the last minute. We can't help wonder if a similar initiative from BMW's Mini division will end up with the same fate.
[Source: Cardisiac via Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Johnson 3:04PM (5/05/2009)
Wheels/tires/suspension height made me poop a little.
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DiRF 3:07PM (5/05/2009)
"We can't help wonder if a similar initiative from BMW's Mini division will end up with the same fate."
One can only hope.
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Shiftright 3:22PM (5/05/2009)
I dunno, I kinda like it. It makes more sense than the upcoming Mini CUV.
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D Fisk 3:29PM (5/05/2009)
This is a cool looking truck. They should build it. They build it people will buy it.
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Protzenegger 8:46PM (5/05/2009)
I would sure as hell not mind driving that. It's got character and looks worlds better than pretty much anything else in the segment. Though maybe not with those headlights.
Asswipe 3:29PM (5/05/2009)
it doesn't look any more ridiculous than the current Smart thing.
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X3S2000 3:30PM (5/05/2009)
I think it's kinda cute. They should have called it ForDirt.
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Rich 3:34PM (5/05/2009)
Or ForChrissakes.
fugin777 3:31PM (5/05/2009)
why not just call it a Mercedes and price it at 20k??
ForMore just sounds lame to me...ForMe, ForU,4ever, ForGoodness sake whos coming up with the names? a 10 year old?
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Rich 3:33PM (5/05/2009)
No. A German.
JDM Life 4:18PM (5/05/2009)
@ Rich
LMAO
Rich 3:33PM (5/05/2009)
The roadster was actually quite a capable little car. It seems it was just poorly marketed, and hit exactly the wrong price point, at nearly twice the price of the bubble car. It should have been cheaper, without being any simpler.
The dependence on Mercedes is choking the life out of Smart. Let's hope it goes the way of Chrysler, eh? Smart under Fiat's control would make a lot more sense.
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Typesbad 3:59PM (5/05/2009)
Agreed, I was quite saddened to see the roadster go before Smart crossed the pond. I was a Miata driver at the time and the idea of something that made even my car seem fat and excessive in comparison was fascinating. Given your icon, we were probably attracted to the roadster for the same reasons.
Rocketboy 3:59PM (5/05/2009)
" It should have been cheaper, without being any simpler."
So it would lose more money?
Rich 5:12PM (5/05/2009)
Rocketboy: Nice one. Now try reading the other paragraph.
Jake B 5:18PM (5/05/2009)
The car was just rushed. If they would have had the car ready to go with durability in mind from day 1 then it wouldn't have been such an issue. It just cost the company far too much to even have it around. Wiki says 3000 euro per vehicle warranty costs were realistic estimates, that is a lot.
Redline 4:01PM (5/05/2009)
Looks like a modified ForFour to me? Was the Roadster ever sold in North America?
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Mike 4:08PM (5/05/2009)
I LIKE IT!
The looks could be better, but the concept is smart (uuuugh).
You can call it an "SUV", but its really a 5-door with a raised
suspension. In Europe and many other countries, you don't need a
Grand Cherokee (nor do you want to pay the fuel bill).
Lets face it, Mercedes can make a vehicle like this and out their
badge on it. Having Smart as the sub-brand would give them the
ability to compete at the upper end of the non-luxury segement and
not tarnish the Mercedes brand (anymore than they did).
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cooperaaaron 5:04PM (5/05/2009)
I like it also, just make it simple, drop the pretend suv bits....
Other Man 4:48PM (5/05/2009)
A bit off topic, but I always thought it'd be cool to have Smart or a spin-off brand have a full lineup of mainstream products. With eventual hand-me-downs from big brother Mercedes, they could build some world-class products.
RWD-only platforms pose an issue though (AWD-only lineup like Subaru perhaps?).
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