Dai che TORNA... | La nuova Smart FORTWO in cerca di partner (Renault)

A partner is being sought for the successor to the smart ForTwo. Production of the third generation of the brand's iconic model ended on March 28 at the former Mercedes factory in Hambach, now owned by the British brand Ineos Automotive, but its future is still being built. According to Automotive News, smart Europe CEO Dirk Adelmann spoke of an "uncertain future" for the #2, the successor to the ForTwo. Formerly controlled by Mercedes, smart is now a 50/50 joint venture with Geely, which provides the platforms for the brand's two new models, the #1 crossover and the #3 compact crossover, both produced in China. "A couple of months ago," Adelmann explained, "we started working on a new dedicated platform on which to base a future smart electric city car. However, we need partners to make the project feasible." Adelman then explained that smart looked for existing platforms that could be shortened to create a two-seater model between 2.7 and 2.8 meters long, while maintaining high safety standards and a premium feel, but was unable to find any. "We want to maintain a four- or five-star rating in EuroNCAP and ADAS tests like the ones we offer on the #1 and #3, to have a good range. We absolutely must develop a platform, because unfortunately, one like this doesn't exist at the moment." After contacting several European manufacturers—including Mercedes, Renault, and Ineos—and Chinese suppliers, smart decided to proceed independently, working on an architecture called the Electric Compact Architecture. This platform could continue the story of the ForTwo, which began in 1998 and continued with subsequent generations introduced in 2006 and 2014.