Smart is aiming to sell 50,000 copies of its new five-door, four-seat forfour hatchback this year, following the European launch in April, writes just-auto.com deputy editor Graeme Roberts. Other left-hook markets will see the new model line in summer while right-hand-drive markets, beginning with the UK and Japan, get the new model from September.
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In its first full year, 2005, the forfour is expected to sell 80,000.
Smart vice president of marketing and sales, Philipp Schiemer, expects diesel versions – 50kW and 70kW variants of a 1.5-litre Mercedes-designed unit built in Unterturkheim, Germany – to account for a higher proportion of orders than in the two-seat fortwo. Diesel engines in that city-sized tiddler account for about 20% of volume; Schiemer thinks 30-35% of forfours will leave the NedCar factory in the Netherlands with the 1.5-litre oil burner installed.
However, the most popular engine is expected to be the four-cylinder 1332cc, 70kW/95bhp Mitsubishi-designed petrol unit, built by the new Mitsubishi-DaimlerChrysler MDC Power joint-venture factory in Kolleda, Germany. The 1.3 is expected to account for somewhere between 40% and 50% of forfour orders with the balance (15%-30%) spilt roughly equally between the little three-cylinder 1124cc engine that develops 55kW/75bhp and the four-pot 1,499cc motor putting out 80kW/109bhp.
All engines offer the choice of a five-speed manual transmission (Smart’s first) or a six-speed unit with automated clutch and electronically-controlled manual shifting that proved a boon in the busy Rome traffic in which Smart chose to let journalists have their first go at the forfour. The smoother and faster shifts, compared to the similar transmission in the fourtwo, are attributed to an additional shift drum so one now disengages the current gear while the second lines up the next one. It’s good but still not as smooth or responsive as a conventional automatic or a CVT.
Schiemer isn’t too worried if engine order percentages don’t quite match initial forecasts. “We have the flexibility to react to customer demand,” he told just-auto.com.
Smart’s UK operation expects to sell 4,500 forfours this year, following a September launch, and “somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000” in 2005. The UK marketeers will price the range from around £9,000 to £12,500 and think that sales will be dividedly equally between the ‘pulse’ and ‘passion’ trim levels but reckon they’ll sell more cars fitted with the 1.1-litre petrol engine than their Continental counterparts.
For years it has been customary for car makers to launch a new model line, study the early sales returns, adjust the model balance to suit and, after a year or two, as the novelty of the new model wears off with potential customers, re-stimulate market interest with a limited edition model or two. Smart, however, plans to launch a low-volume “welcome edition” model in June, just two months after the main range arrives in April.
While the standard (Pulse) petrol models cost €12,990 to €15,140 in Germany, the limited edition “blackbasic” car, painted completely in black rather than the two-tone colours of other models, will cost €11,700. It’ll come only with the 1.1-litre engine and five-speed manual transmission and, though safety items such as electronic stability control and four-wheel disc brakes will be standard, the car will be as basically equipped as its name suggests, with even the radio costing extra. It’ll also be sold in the UK.
Standard equipment on the mainstream forfour models is pretty much the same across all markets in Europe. The ‘pulse’ models include ESP and electric power steering while the ‘passion’ adds a full-length glass roof, air conditioning, alloy wheels and fog lamps, amongst other items.
There is also plenty of scope to tailor a forfour to individual taste. Ten paint colours are available for the plastic exterior panels and there are three further choices for the exterior areas of the ‘tridion’ safety cell body structure so that’s effectively 30 exterior colour combinations. Then there are four upholstery colours plus a black leather option and a long list of extras such as audio and sat-nav systems, phone kits or integrated phones, a centre rear seatbelt and headrest for those who want to squeeze in the odd fifth passenger, an ingenious front centre armrest that swings through 180 degrees to provide rear passengers with a drinks holder, and even a ‘lounge’ pack that provides extra side cushions for the rear bench seat.
A sports pack with beefed up suspension is also optional and more powerful Brabus-fettled models are due next year.
For its first foray into the hard-fought European B-segment, where many good superminis already reside, Smart is targeting BMW’s Mini, the PSA Group’s Peugeot 206 and VW’s Polo in particular. It will have its work cut out, but confidentally claims the forfour is more practical and less fashion-sensitive than the Mini, more adventurously styled than the conservative Polo and much newer and fresher than the ageing 206.
As is now well known, the forfour was developed in DaimlerChrysler’s first joint project with Japanese partner Mitsubishi, who will build their version, the Colt on the same assembly line in Holland. The cars do not share platforms as such, the wheelbases differ for a start, but about 40% of components are shared, or 60% by value. That is largely accounted for by the engines, heat/vent/air conditioning unit and front suspension assembly. In appearance the two cars are quite different and not even internal door hardware is shared, according to Smart insiders.
