Report: Launch of next-gen Smart Fortwo, Renault Twingo pushed back to 2014

Jun 13th 2011 at 11:04AM

2009 Smart Fortwo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in February of 2010, the Daimler duo of Dieter Zetsche and Thomas Weber struck a deal with Renault-Nissan to develop a pair of next-generation vehicles that was to be due in 2013. Under the agreement, Daimler gets a next-gen Smart Fortwo, while the Franco-Japanese conglomerate gets a completely worked over Renault Twingo.

However, according to the French newspaper, La Tribune, there's been a bit of a setback. Citing industry sources, La Tribune says that the launches of both vehicles have been pushed back until 2014, a move which will likely delay the upcoming electric Twingo too.

The next Fortwo, as well as the third-gen Twingo, will share Renault's A platform, with the Fortwo rolling out of Smart's facility in Hambach, France and the Twingo whizzing down the lines at Renault's Novo Mesto factory in Slovenia.