Three-seater Smart car patent drawings emerge

Smart car three-seater patent drawing

Could be named the Forthree

By Michael Gauthier
August 4, 2009 3:01 PM
Filed Under: European, Leaks, Rumours, Smart

Several patent drawings of an upcoming three-seat Smart model have emerged.

Although details are limited, the car is speculated to be a replacement for the Smart coupe/roadster that went out of production in 2005. If the reports are accurate, the three-seater would feature sporty styling with extreme flexibility.

Set to ride on a rear-engined platform, the car would adopt a McLaren F1-like seating arrangement with the driver centered in front with two passengers sitting behind them. As the sketches show, the car would apparently feature a unique swivel seat and a "runner" system which would move the seat closer to the door for improved access.

Power would likely come from a variety of three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with displacements ranging from 800cc to 1.4-litres. The engines will probably be connected to a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which should ensure quick responses and improved fuel efficiency.

Look for the new Smart to be launched sometime before 2014, possibly wearing the Forthree moniker.

Photos of Smart Roadster added for reference.

 

Source: autocar.co.uk

Comments

Prince_Ash
August 4, 2009 3:16 PM
so, instead of having two people die in this death trap, they want to kill three people ? wow.

X6M
August 4, 2009 5:09 PM
hahahah, that's good

Jo@Switzer
August 4, 2009 7:29 PM
This is a safety feature for US-market cars: put a pair of overweight "buffet enthusiasts" in the side seats and use them as airbags.

sideskraper
August 4, 2009 3:17 PM
love it! great interesting design.

jon_leong
August 4, 2009 3:24 PM
Saving up... I am getting one when it comes out. (only if its not stupid flappy paddle gear box)


Edited by user on August 4, 2009 at 3:33 PM
klitemaster1000
August 4, 2009 5:08 PM
Prince Ash, may be u should read the safety statistics for this car before u make comments about how unsafe this car is. Smart cars are one of the safest on the roads. this should be obvious coming from Mercedes Benz design.

sideskraper
August 4, 2009 5:46 PM
quite right, the fortwo and forfour are both four star NCAP rated cars

Dlaor
August 4, 2009 5:54 PM
I've driven the fortwo. The (semi-)automatic gearbox really sucked. I hope they won't use the same gearbox in this concept.

scratchy996
August 4, 2009 7:03 PM
i wonder why other car manufacturers didn't do this after the McLaren F1.

Jo@Switzer
August 4, 2009 7:31 PM
I worked at Mosler from 1997-2000, and they were looking into a 3-across pattern at the time (similar to the Ferrari Dino 3 seater, by the way - the F1 was not the first/only car set up like that). They abandoned it for the MT900 because everyone who saw the mock-up said "Oh, just like the McLaren F1."

Jo@Switzer
August 4, 2009 7:32 PM
http://www.qv500.com/ferrari365pp1.php

3-seat Ferrari.

scratchy996
August 5, 2009 2:13 AM
interesting , i didn't know about that.

Edison
August 4, 2009 7:05 PM
Maybe Gordon Murray got tired of working up to building his own city car and decided to defect to Smart :). JK. Would be interesting to see such a seating arrangement in a non-exotic car.

kmayb
August 5, 2009 1:17 AM
Must be a good Car as all the occupants look to be pleasuring themselves.....

Aesthetics
August 5, 2009 5:48 AM
im selling my mclaren f1 for this

scratchy996
August 5, 2009 11:05 AM
you mean for the whole company ? ;)

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