Smart and Nissan Motor Corporation have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding for an all new hatchback car. The new hatch is actually a replacement for the ForFour but will be confined only to the US market. From the sketches it is evident that the new ForFour will be based on the Nissan Micra and Smart say that the new five door hatch will go into production in 2012. The new ForFour is the first fruit to emerge out of Renault-Nissan’s collaboration with Daimler Group. The new hatchback has been revealed in the form of these two sketches and Smart have also confirmed that this new hatchback is indeed based on Nissan’s V-platform.
Hit the jump for more details, images and press release.
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Nissan Micra India Review May 2010
Smart entered USA in 2008 with a promising start but sales have fallen 62% this year to just 4000 odd units. Smart’s dealers and customers have been asking for a larger car with Smart’s typical character and thanks to the new alliance, Smart might just have the product to hit US streets. The souped up Micra gets contrasting plastic inserts in the front and rear bumpers, doors and spoiler. The rear lights too look good while the front takes on a typical face found on Smart cars. No details on powertrains are available but we predict it could be the supercharged 1.2L producing 97bhp.
What’s more, the Micra’s cheeky character goes well with Smart’s ideology. This will also give Nissan a chance to sell their Micra in the US market, something that it was not meant for. This ForFour will fill the gap until an all new model based on an extended version of rear engined platform that will also underpin the ForTwo and Renault Twingo in 2012.
Press Release
Memorandum of Understanding Signed to Expand smart USA Product Lineup
Smart USA and Nissan to Collaborate on New Vehicle for the U. S. Market
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., (October 6, 2010) – smart USA Distributor LLC (“smart USA”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (“Nissan”) for the collaboration of a new vehicle for sale in the United States.
Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, smart USA would obtain the rights to procure and distribute a five-door, gasoline powered, B-segment vehicle from Nissan for sale through the smart USA retail dealership network in the United States. The new vehicle is expected to be available for retail sale in the fourth quarter of 2011. A sketch of the proposed vehicle can be viewed at the smart USA Media Newsroom.
Smart USA President Jill Lajdziak said, “The new vehicle will expand smart USA’s product lineup, offering five-seat capacity while maintaining the core principles of efficiency and conservation.”
Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske added, “We are proud to be a partner with both Daimler and Nissan, two companies focused on bringing high-quality, fuel efficient products to the U.S. market.”
Further details of the non-binding MOU are not being released at this time. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the completion of definitive agreements.
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