| Almost everyone loves the cute Smart Fortwo | | | | same as Mitsubishi's MIVEC engines but that point |
| but let's face it - not everyone will buy one. | | | | is never publicized). The 1.5-litre version that we |
| Compact and fuel-sipping it may be, having just | | | | tested showed itself to be very zippy (0-100km |
| two seats does limit its appeal in practical terms. | | | | h in less than 10 seconds) although that's hardly a |
| Enter the Forfour, a five-seater 'conventional' car | | | | surprise when it produces 109bhp and has a kerb |
| that shares some 60 per cent of parts with the | | | | weight of just 980kgs. The top speed is claimed |
| Mitsubishi Colt. Yes, underneath the bodywork is a | | | | to be 190km/h. |
| platform that was jointly developed by Smart and | | | | The long-stroke engine gives the Forfour a |
| the Japanese company when the latter was still | | | | punchy feel and midrange is especially impressive. |
| allied with DaimlerChrysler, even the engines of | | | | However, you are very aware of the engine |
| both cars come from a joint-venture factory in | | | | working hard because the noise level is high. |
| Germany. | | | | Perhaps owners will come to accept this but |
| Yet you would not have guessed that the two | | | | many who sat in the Forfour felt that the engine |
| cars have similar genes because the Forfour | | | | noise was too intrusive considering that this is |
| stays true to the styling philosophy of Smart. Like | | | | positioned to be a 'premium' supermini. |
| the Fortwo, a different colour is used to | | | | Like the Fortwo, the Forfour also has an |
| emphasise the Tridion safety cell that protects | | | | Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), essentially |
| the occupants. You can pick a variety of colour | | | | a manual gearbox with an electric motor working |
| combinations (18 for the Malaysian market), | | | | the clutch. The one in the Forfour, called 'Softouch |
| thanks to the Smart concept of having | | | | plus', is an improved version made by Getrag and |
| interchangeable plastic body panels -just like the | | | | has six forward speeds. |
| casings for your hand phone. | | | | Transitions between ratios has been smoothened |
| The styling features of the Forfour provide an | | | | by two gear sets (1,3,5 and 2,4,6) so that as one |
| immediate link to the rest of the Smart range - | | | | gear is in use, the next one is ready to be |
| from the cheerful front grille to the high-mounted | | | | engaged In spite of the improvements, using the |
| rear light clusters and over-sized rear wheel | | | | AMT still needs a period of 'training' and it helps if |
| arches. The short overhangs front and rear also | | | | you rode a motorcycle before! For most people, |
| provide the same visual linkage. | | | | the initial driving experience can be awkward but |
| The same design DNA is also evident inside the | | | | with the AMT, however, you need to understand |
| car not only visually but also in the clever little | | | | that you are actually operating a manual |
| ideas and accessories available. Above the | | | | transmission and therefore there has to be a |
| fabric-covered dashboard are two auxiliary | | | | small lapse of time for the gears to change. |
| meters that can be rotated to face the | | | | Ideally, easing off a bit will induce an up shift |
| passenger or driver. The speedometer and | | | | otherwise the change will occur rather abruptly on |
| tachometer are housed in individual binnacles with | | | | its own. On deceleration, the transmission will |
| warning lights on opaque white faces, but the | | | | downshift sometimes, depending on conditions, to |
| additional warning lights lining the outer edge are | | | | provide engine braking. It can be disconcerting for |
| not so apparent under bright sunlight. | | | | many drivers used to automatic shifting but once |
| Our test car was an evaluation unit so it did not | | | | they get used to it, the AMT can be quite |
| have the multifunction steering wheel that allows | | | | enjoyable for brisk driving. |
| for the operation of the trip computer and audio | | | | And brisk is how many owners will be driving |
| system, as well as gear shift paddles. Adjustment | | | | much of the time because the car is agile and |
| of the door mirrors is a manual affair, | | | | encourages spirited cornering. However, the |
| unfortunately. Accommodation in front is | | | | trade-off for such agility is that the suspension is |
| comfortable enough and at the rear, there's | | | | on the firm side, not taking kindly to road |
| space for three persons with three-point seatbelts | | | | irregularities (Smart claims that 180 mm of travel |
| for everyone. The rear seat can be moved | | | | for the rear suspension to cope with bumpy |
| 150mm forward if more space is needed for | | | | roads). There's also Electronic Stability Program |
| cargo, and the divided backrests can be folded | | | | (ESP) to keep things in check. |
| down too. | | | | The listing price for the Forfour may sound like a |
| Boot volume is limited but for daily motoring, it is | | | | lot of money for a small hatchback but |
| adequate. The rear window does not open | | | | considering that it is not your typical hatchback, |
| individually, but the boot sill is fairly low so loading | | | | perhaps the premium price tag is justified. And |
| groceries is convenient. The 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre | | | | there's always the 'Mercedes-Benz connection' to |
| engines available are four-cylinder units and | | | | mention when you have to explain why you didn't |
| feature variable valve timing (actually they are the | | | | settle for a Jazz instead! |