www.thecarconnection.com

First came the fortwo, then the forfour - now here's the formore. Here is one of the first actual photos, and one of the first illustrations, of Smart's first go-anywhere SUV.

The illustration, based on information from within the German firm and pictures snapped by our spies, is believed to be a very accurate rendering of the 2007 formore, using the underpinnings of the re­cently launched forfour. The newcomer will feature a raised suspension, chun­kier styling, flared wheel arches, and lar­ger rims.

Tracing its heritage back to the TRIDION4 concept car unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2001, the formore follows Smart's favored de­sign technique - bolting interchange­able plastic panels to a steel frame.

The formore will boast the safety cell for which Smart has become famous, while the easy-swap panels will make any off-road knocks simple to repair. The look isn't the only talking point, though: the formore stands out from anything else Smart has offered before because it is expected to get a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and possibly even a V-6 option, as well as a full-time 4x4 system.

The all-wheel-drive setup has been co-developed with Mitsubishi and it will go on to underpin some of the Japanese company's products, starting with a Colt-based wagon, which is also due in 2006. The transmission will be mated to a choice of two boxes: a standard five-speed manual, or Smart's trademark six-speed sequential unit.

Inside, the formore will be given a more rough-and-ready appearance than the forfour on which it's based. The seats will be trimmed in a wipe-clean material to make mud stains easy to remove, while the dash will include a compass and an altitude meter as a nod to the model's off-road ambitions.

The formore is expected to make its first appearance at the 2005 Frank­furt Motor Show. It will go on sale in 2006, likely as a 2007 model and priced in the low $20,000 range.

Smart's newcomer is also likely to spearhead the company's assault on America . The next generation of the fortwo will arrive in the States around 2008, but it's the formore SUV that's expected to be­come the best-selling Smart.

Smart hopes that American buyers, whose love for SUVs is well known, would want an AWD model with off-road styling, and plans to launch the brand across the Atlantic are already well advanced. The move Stateside will also see further additions to the Smart range, with rumors of a six-seater people carrier, known as the forall, due to debut around 2007.

Allora arriva sul mercato questo suv... A prima vista non mi dispiace... :wink:

da www.autoscoops.be

Sono proprio sbadato... il post è aperto + giù sposto le foto...