New smart roadster Prepares to Hit Showrooms in 2012

The smart roadster is coming “fast and mad”. We were tempted to say “fast and furious”, but let’s not forget that it is still a smart. Let's admit that the new roadster has a sleek fashionist design which will blend easily into the urban scenery.The smart roadster is getting ready to hit the showrooms next year, fallowed closely by a new 4X4. The manufacturer prepares the soft-roader model as a competitor for the MINI Countryman, as related by Auto Express.

The new smart roadster seems to be inspired from the forspeed concept revealed at Geneva Motor Show in March, and stays true to the 2003 original model with its distinctive low profile, while featuring modern design touches such as sculpted flanks. The chunkier five-door crossover goes back to the forfour supermini that was cut from production in 2006.The model retains smart’s trademark two-tone body, highlighting the central safety cell.

The new 4X4 has slight chances to be based on Mercedes’ new B-Klasse platform. However, the recent tie-up between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan alliance has already developed a joint rear-drive platform to be shared between the next fortwo and Renault Twingo.

Although there are no official details yet on what the new model will get under the hood, there is some comfort in knowing that since the original roadster was fueled by rear-mounted a 45/60 kW (61/82 PS) variants of the 3-cylinder turbocharged 698cc Suprex engine from Mercedes-Benz, the new Roadster can only be better.This is not the first time when the Smart Roadster has been redesigned for a comeback. There has been another attempt made in 2006, by a group called Project Kimber, who planned to sell revised versions of the car using the AC Ace badge. Unfortunately production was scheduled for 2007, but the project was swiftly dropped.