Getting smart Will Take on a Whole New Meaning When the DaimlerChrysler Brand Arrives in North America
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| This artist's rendering shows what the future smart forfour will most likely look like. (Photo: smart gmbh) |
DaimlerChrysler's tiniest brand is about to get much bigger. The purveyor of supermini city-cars is getting ready to launch an all-new 4-door model in 2004 it calls 'forfour'.
Why does this matter to North American's? Only because this continent is part of the DCX subsidiary's new global plan (see DaimlerChrysler's Smart Brand Coming to North America, January 8, 2003).
The upcoming four-seat car will offer more room than its city-coupé and cabrio models and better access to the rear seats, paramount for small families with child safety seats.
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| DaimlerChrysler's smart division has refined its city-coupé and cabrio for 2003, making them more powerful while increasing comfort and safety. (Photo: smart gmbh) |
The forfour also initiates a new naming strategy for smart. Future smart models will be given names that follow this pattern. That would mean that its smaller coupe sibling will soon be called fortwo.
Originally debuting in 1998, the little city-coupé and cabrio started the DaimlerChrysler's smart brand rolling while new roadster and roadster coupe models are just how appearing, broadening the line. The forfour will allow smart customers, traditionally young entry-level buyers, to stay with the brand as they grow into new family oriented lifestyles.
Being relatively new on the scene the smart division hasn't hit its break-even point yet, now targeted for 2004. The company's worldwide sales for 2002 reached over 122,000 units, 5% more than in 2001. The forfour should help smart to not only increase its yearly production, but achieve profitability within its slated timeframe.