Report: Nissan-based four-door Smart scrapped

Hot on the heels of news that Penske and Smart have split word comes that the smart / Nissan collaboration is dead. Automotive News reports that the project that was built to a four-door model from a platform, Nissan and sold under the banner of Smart yield will not happen. The reason is simple enough if Smart had continued to blaze his own trail in America, at least one other model would have to support needed. have now, it's part of the Mercedes-Benz network was that considerably reduced.
Meanwhile, there are some concerns that a separate Nissan / Renault joint project can call the Quattro also be deleted. have with the killing of several projects and Penske walk away, more than a few heads started to wonder if this is the end for Smart in the land of the free. According to the report, but Automotive News says Roger Penske, that's not the case.
Penske said that the fact that Smart is from the Mercedes-Benz presented the death of a lobster or Mercury, there is nothing in comparison, and that his company simply not the volume or the marketing muscle Smart effectively enforced.
Either way, one says that the shift towards Benz dealer that the smart dealer network will shrink significantly, so that only 58 dealers across the country. That's because 21 Smart showrooms, which are not coupled with Mercedes models do not get to keep their licenses.

Chicago 2011: With two new models coming, "There is a future for Smart"

Smart fortwo has delivered its first electric drive and the 2011 ForTwo is equipped with a range of early features such as cruise control, navigation, and eight airbags. But no matter accumulated progress in the sole brand ambasador now is the question many have: Is there a future?
"It is a commitment to the Smart brand of smart USA and Daimler also committed to" Rick Bourgoise, Smart, Director of Communications, says Autoblog. "There are two ways for product expansion. Daimler alliance with Nissan-Renault to a small car platform as part of the next Smart ForTwo and a four-seat model offers arrive by mid-decade" The car could, or at least something with the scale model four-door ForTwo two spied recently in Europe do. The car is being developed by Mercedes-Benz and built by Daimler.
"That was good in the near future," said Bourgois, "but we needed more products in the short term." If he says "we", he is to smart USA, the Penske-distribution partnership process, the U.S. and Puerto Rico areas for Smart relates.
"But having agreed with Smart USA Nissan of the Americas to a five-door, five-seat hatch that will arrive sometime in the 4th quarter of 2011." The car refers to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Nissan that Smart for a B-segment participants last October. This means that the car has been given official green light. The platform is assumed that the Micra as it is "a global vehicle for Nissan is not for sale" is, and they put them in a year. The design of the car is a collaboration between Smart and Nissan, but "it is a smart, be smart and have style elements remain true to the brand attributes," as a small footprint and high efficiency and recyclability. Burgoise also confirmed, "it will come in a standard manual and automatic transmissions." Bourgoise AB told the unnamed car sometime late Q1 or Q2 will be revealed.