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Smart may be struggling both in financial terms and against the continued rumours that parent company DaimlerChrysler is to kill it off, but it has a second-generation version of the Fortwo city car on the way. Shown in Frankfurt in concept form, this is set to be a little larger than the original two-seat tiddler; the Crosstown show car is 18mm longer, 7mm wider and with a wheelbase 9mm longer, though this is hardly over-sized. It has been finished with accessories including a stowaway windscreen, which is unlikely to make production, as well as externally-hinged doors and bonnet, a titanium-look safety cell structure and matt metallic green bodypanels. It has a convertible roof, similar to that of the current production car.
New interior features include a large, lockable storage compartment, a control unit with PDA and USB ports, and a new-design dash which "gives an initial indication of how an instrument panel might look that meets US standards" - in other words, heavily hinting that the Smart is finally on its way to the USA, albeit in selected urban areas. Neither we Europeans or the Americans are likely to be able to buy a Smart with pedals like those of a mountain bike, though, as seen in this show car.
More exciting, though, is the Crosstown's powertrain: a hybrid powerplant similar to that first seen in a Fortwo concept at the 2001 motor show. "To what extent and when a drive concept of this kind will be available for the Smart Fortwo or the Smart Forfour has not yet been decided", says the company. However, in the meantime, fuel-savvy motorists (on the Continent) do have the option of the ultra-economical Fortwo CDI diesels, and as of next spring, these will be available with particulate filters to cut harmful emissions. German and Austrian Fortwo buyers making their purchase from 1st July 2005 until then will be entitled to free retro-fit of these filters. When - or perhaps if - this second-generation fortwo makes its debut, UK buyers are likely to be offered the diesel models; the hybrids could make production shortly after.
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