Smart Forfour

The Smart Forfour (stylized as "smart forfour") is a city car (A-segment in Europe) presented and produced by Smart over two generations. The first generation was marketed in Europe from 2004 to 2006 (5-door, front-engine) and the second generation was marketed in Europe from 2014 onwards (5-door, rear-engine).

Smart Forfour
Overview
ManufacturerDaimlerChrysler (2004-2006)
Daimler AG (2014-present)
Production2004–2006 (Mk I)
2014–present (Mk II)
Body and chassis
ClassCity car (A)
Body style5-door hatchback

The first generation Forfour was marketed only in Europe from 2004 to 2006 and in Australia as a 4-door, 5-seat hatchback, sharing its platform with the Mitsubishi Colt. After an eight-year hiatus, the second-generation Forfour debuted in July 2014, sharing its platform with the forthcoming third generation Renault Twingo (four-door, rear engine) and mechanicals with the third generation Smart Fortwo (two-door, rear engine).

First generation (W454; 2004–2006)
First generation
Overview
ManufacturerDaimlerChrysler
Production2004–2006
AssemblyBorn, Netherlands (NedCar)
Body and chassis
Body style5-door hatchback
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
RelatedMitsubishi Colt
Senova D20
Senova X25
Changhe Q25
Powertrain
Engine1.1 L I3 12-valve (petrol)[1]
1.3 L I4 16-valve (petrol)
1.5 L I4 16-valve (petrol)
1.5 L I3 12-valve cdi (diesel)
Transmission5-speed Getrag 452 manual
6-speed Getrag 452 AMT automated manual (Softouch)[2]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,500 mm (98.4 in)
Length3,752 mm (147.7 in)
Width1,684 mm (66.3 in)
Height1,450 mm (57.1 in)

Production
Rear view

The car was produced at the NedCar factory in the Netherlands in conjunction with Mitsubishi Motors. This is the same factory that produced Volvo 300s in the 1970s and 1980s and the Volvo V40s in the 1990s. To save production costs, the Smart Forfour shared almost all of its components with the 2003 Mitsubishi Colt. This includes the chassis, suspension and a new generation of MIVEC petrol engines, ranging from the three-cylinder 1.1 L (67 in3) to the four-cylinder with power up to 80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp).

The Smart Forfour was phased out from production due to slow sales.[3]

Equipment

Depending on the version, it came equipped with ESP, ABS (standard on all models), 14-inch or 15-inch alloy wheels or, optional, 16-inch ones (17-inch on the Brabus model), safety cell, a panoramic sunroof (or, optional, electric sunroof), height-adjustable driver seat, illuminated glove box, radio/CD-player, fog lights, front and side airbags (standard on all models), alarm, automatic air conditioning, electric front windows, and as options - multifunctional steering wheel, shift paddles, heated front seats, lounge seats, navigation and color display with telephone keypad or DVD navigation with a larger display, CD changer, window bags, rain sensor, automatic lights on the system (in poor visibility), leather package.[4]

Marketing

The sales brochures state that the interior "is designed around the concept of a lounge"; to test this, Top Gear presenters spent 24 hours inside the Forfour. They said they would not buy the car due to its high price and poor driving dynamics compared to its rivals.

Following Smart's initial success for the fortwo in the U.S., and due to surprisingly high popularity in the Forfour, former Mercedes-Benz exec Rainer Schmückle revealed that officials were considering relaunching the car.[5]

Forfour Brabus (2005)

Forfour Brabus is a version of Smart Forfour with a turbocharged Mitsubishi 4G15 engine rated 130 kW (177 PS; 174 hp), 27 PS (20 kW; 27 hp) more than the Mitsubishi Colt CZT. The Brabus Forfour requires higher than standard octane fuel to develop full power. It can reach a maximum speed of 221 km/h (137 mph) and accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds.

Engines
EngineCodeTypeDisplacementPowerTorqueTop speed0–100 km/h (0-62 mph)Combined consumptionCO2 emissionsProduction years
Petrol engines
1.0 12vM134 E11 red.I31,124 cc47 kW (64 PS; 63 hp) at 5500 rpm92 N⋅m (68 lb⋅ft) at 2500 rpm158 km/h (98 mph)15.3 s6.9 l/100 km (41 mpg‑imp)128 g/km2005–2006
1.1 12vM134 E11I31,124 cc55 kW (75 PS; 74 hp) at 6000 rpm100 N⋅m (74 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm165 km/h (103 mph)13.4 s7.0 l/100 km (40 mpg‑imp)130 g/km2004–2006
1.3 16vM135 E13I41,332 cc70 kW (95 PS; 94 hp) at 5250 rpm125 N⋅m (92 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm180 km/h (112 mph)10.8 s7.4 l/100 km (38 mpg‑imp)138 g/km2004–2006
1.5 16vM135 E15I41,499 cc80 kW (109 PS; 107 hp) at 6000 rpm145 N⋅m (107 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm190 km/h (118 mph)9.8 s7.8 l/100 km (36 mpg‑imp)145 g/km2004–2006
1.5 16v BrabusM122 E15 ALI4 turbo1,468 cc130 kW (177 PS; 174 hp) at 6000 rpm230 N⋅m (170 lb⋅ft) at 3500 rpm221 km/h (137 mph)6.9 s8.9 l/100 km (32 mpg‑imp)159 g/km2005–2006
Diesel engines
1.5 12v cdi 50 kWOM639 DE15 LA red.I31,493 cc50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) at 4000 rpm160 N⋅m (118 lb⋅ft) at 1800 rpm160 km/h (99 mph)13.9 s5.8 l/100 km (49 mpg‑imp)121 g/km2004–2006
1.5 12v cdi 70 kWOM639 DE15 LAI31,493 cc70 kW (95 PS; 94 hp) at 4000 rpm210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft) at 1800 rpm180 km/h (112 mph)10.5 s5.8 l/100 km (49 mpg‑imp)121 g/km2004–2006

The 1.5 L (92 in3) common direct injection (cdi) diesel engine, is a three-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine derived from the four-cylinder used in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and is available with either 68 PS (50 kW; 67 hp) or 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp).

Transmissions

All models could be equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic (Softouch) transmission, except the 1.0-liter version and the Brabus version, which could only use 5-speed manual transmissions.

Second generation (W453; 2014–present)
Second generation
Overview
Production2014–present
AssemblyNovo Mesto, Slovenia (Revoz)
Body and chassis
Body style5-door hatchback
LayoutRR layout
RelatedSmart Fortwo
Renault Twingo
Powertrain
Engine0.9 L M281 I3 turbocharged (petrol)
1.0 L M281 I3 (petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
6-speed dual-clutch
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,490 mm (98.0 in)
Length3,495 mm (137.6 in)
Width1,640 mm (64.6 in)
Height1,550 mm (61.0 in)

The second-generation Forfour is jointly developed with Renault. Motor Trend reported the second-generation Forfour shares approximately 70% of its parts with the third generation Renault Twingo. Smart CEO Annette Winkler has reported that the W453 will retain the second Generation Fortwo trademark hemispherical steel safety cell, marketed as the Tridion cell.[6] The Fortwo will continue to be assembled at Smartville, and the Forfour will be manufactured alongside the Renault Twingo 3 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.[7] Smartville, where the W450 and W451 build series have been manufactured, underwent a 200 million euro upgrade beginning in mid-2013, in preparation for the C453 Fortwo. The new Forfour, along with the new Fortwo went on sale in October, shortly after their public reveals at the Paris Motor Show.

Rear view

According to chief development engineer for the C453/W453, Markus Rieder (who had previously worked on development of the Mercedes ML and GL SUV's),[8] the Smart Fortwo and ForFour will be offered with a choice of manual transmission or double-clutch automatic[9] — and no longer with the Getrag automated manual. According to Rieder, both models will feature a wider track, overall width increased by 10 cm (over the 2nd generation Fortwo), improved ride and improved noise isolation.[10]

For the forthcoming third generation, Autoweek reported that Daimler consulted with Ford to learn about Ford's 1.0 Litre turbocharged inline 3-cylinder engine, in turn sharing information about its own Euro6 stratified lean-burn gasoline engines.[11]

The launch model "edition #1" is a limited period version, unveiled in Tempodrom, Berlin.[12][13] Delivery is scheduled to commence in November 2014 with the Forfour 52 kW and 66 kW models to follow in December 2014, and twinamic dual-clutch transmission models in the spring of 2015.[14]

Smart Fourjoy concept (2013)
Smart Fourjoy concept

Smart Fourjoy concept includes Smart's signature Tridion cell in polished full-aluminium, tail lights integrated in the Tridion cell, spherical instrument cluster, raised smart lettering milled from aluminium on the side skirts, pearlescent white on the bumpers, front bonnet and tailgate; headlamps without a glass cover, U-shaped daytime running lights, LED front and tail lights, transparent petroleum-coloured moulded wind deflector at the top of the front windscreen, on the A-pillars on the sides and on the rear roof spoiler; rear dark chrome seats, a piping-like line with the same petroleum colour as the plexiglass accents on the exterior, instrument panel with convex surface and touch-sensitive operating functions, spherical instrument cluster, single-spoke steering wheel, two smartphones mounted on the dashboard and on the centre tunnel, 55 kW magneto-electric motor, 17.6kWh lithium-ion battery, 22 kW onboard charger, two electrically driven skateboards on the roof, helmets under the rear seats, a high-definition camera.

The vehicle was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show (without doors and roof).[15][16]

Plug-in hybrid conversion

A Smart Forfour has been converted into a plug-in hybrid by Lithium Technology Corporation[17] and Zytek Systems. The lithium-ion battery can propel the vehicle up to 84 mph (135 km/h) and last on its own for up to 20 miles (32 km). The engine is a combination of a 68 hp (51 kW; 69 PS), 1.5 L (92 in3), three-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and two high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors. It received an award from the Energy Saving Trust for the "Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge" project.[18]

This version was never mass-produced.

Electric version
EQ forfour

Daimler has confirmed it will produce an electric version of the Smart Forfour during the second generation of production.[19]

As of 2018 an all-electric Smart Forfour (aka smart forfour electric drive) in being mass-produced, and available in Europe. It uses a 60 kW electric motor with 13.1 kWh/100 km power consumption (combined) and 160 kilometre NEDC range.[20]

This version is currently known as Smart EQ Forfour.

Engines
Petrol engines
ModelYearsType/codePower, torque@rpm
Forfour 45 kW2015–999 cc (61.0 cu in) I360 PS (44 kW; 59 hp)@?, ?@?
Forfour 52 kW2014–999 cc (61.0 cu in) I371 PS (52 kW; 70 hp)@?, 91 N⋅m (67 lbf⋅ft)@2850
Forfour 66 kW2014–898 cc (54.8 cu in) I3 turbo90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)@?, 135 N⋅m (100 lbf⋅ft)@2500
Forfour Brabus2016-898 cc (54.8 cu in) I3 turbo108 PS (79 kW; 107 hp)@?, 175 N⋅m (129 lbf⋅ft)@2500
Electric motor
ModelYearsType/codePower, torque@rpm
EQ Forfoursynchronous electric motor82 PS (60 kW), 160 N⋅m (118 lbf⋅ft)

All petrol models are available with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed twinamic dual-clutch transmission.

References
  1. "Smart forfour 66kW Perfect specs and photos • Auto Types". July 10, 2020.
  2. "forfour". www7.big.or.jp.
  3. John Neff. "SMART forfour production ends - Mitsubishi and DaimlerChrysler part ways". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  4. Smart Forfour, the prices 2005, Smart UK, 6 September 2005
  5. "Comeback planned for Smart ForFour". Motor Authority. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  6. "Das ist keine Geheimniskrämerei (in German)". Manager Magazine Online, Wilfried Eckl-Dorna, Nov 18, 2013.
  7. "New Renault Twingo spotted". Autocar.
  8. "AUTO UND TECHNIK: Das Kuckucksei (in German)". Focus Magazine, March 17, 2014.
  9. "The Smart rehearsing the Snow Waltz (in German)". Autobild, 3/17/2014.
  10. "Baptism by Fire in the Snow (in German)". Automobil Revue, 21 March 2014, Thomas Geiger. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014.
  11. "Daimler consults Ford on turbo three-cylinder engine development". Nick Gibbs, Automotive News, 5/24/2013.
  12. "World premiere of the new Smart Fortwo and Forfour on 16 July in Berlin - In the thick of the action: experience the new smart generation celebrating its debut via live stream from the Tempodrom".
  13. "Next Smart Fortwo, Forfour to debut July 16, previewed in design sketches". Autoblog.
  14. "Prices start at less than €11,000: At the starting line: the new smart generation".
  15. "FourJoy reveals stats of Smart ForFour". Automotive News. September 9, 2013.
  16. "Smart jumps Fourjoy in Germany [w/video]". Autoblog.
  17. "Gaia: Gaia". Gaia-akku.com. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  18. "A plug-in Hybrid that can go 84". Gadgetell.com. 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  19. Mike Szostech. "Smart ForFour Electric Drive confirmed for 2015". My Electric Car Forums. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  20. "smart forfour electric drive". smart.com. December 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017.

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