Is the forfour a performer, or is it more like its fortwo brother? The answer, without a doubt is yes. Its stiffened suspension is said to reveal little body roll, squat or dive. Buyers can also select a sport package which tosses in large (considering the size of the car) 16-inch alloy wheels, a stiffer, lower suspension and a leather-covered steering wheel. All is not perfect however, as the forfour's short wheelbase reportedly yields an inherently bouncy ride that has trouble dealing with rougher roads. Vibrations from the road's surface are passed to the cockpit, jarring passengers.
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| Unlike its fortwo sibling the forfour does pack some zip, but the short wheelbase can cause a rough ride. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
Although the forfour is larger it is also expected to be easier to drive, and thanks to the power steering parking is made easier. Also, although the car is not designed for ultimate enthusiast fun, its ESP traction and yaw control has been toned down to a less intrusive level as it does not have to deal as much with the threat of rolling over as with the fortwo.
The forfour gets two thumbs up for its additional safety equipment, which includes all-wheel discs, ABS brakes with brakeforce distribution, three-point safety belts for all passengers (though the center one is optional), and six airbags.
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| The forfour will feature smart's first four cylinder engine lineup. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
So far, all smarts have featured inline 3-cylinder turbocharged engines displacing less than a litre, diesel or not. I'm not counting the 10 test-run V6 models, mind you. The forfour ventures out of this bubble by offering smart's first four cylinder engine lineup. Three gasoline engines will be available at 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 liters. Basic models will get the smallest engine which produces 75 horsepower, while middle-line models will feature a 95 horse 1.3 liter unit. Lay your chequebook down for the best and you'll get a reasonably powerful 1.5 liter engine with 109 horses to play with, backed by 107 lb-ft of torque.