Smart is gearing up for the Frankfurt Motor Show by
releasing the first teaser images of the 2020 EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour. Sporting a “characteristically
reduced and grown-up design,” the facelifted models have a bold new look that
incorporates a number of styling cues from the ForEase and ForEase+ concepts.
The biggest changes occur up front as the grille and
lower air intake have been merged into one large component that features a
honeycomb mesh insert. The models also have circular fog lights and two
vertical intakes near the outside edges. Last but not least, the models feature
new LED headlights.
Additional styling changes are hard to make out, but
previous spy photos have shown they will be minor. However, we can expect
updated taillights and some possible revisions to the rear bumper. Since Smart is transitioning into
an electric-only brand, hopefully engineers have managed to upgrade the
underwhelming powertrain. As you may recall, the current models have a 17.6 kWh
lithium-ion battery which powers an electric motor that develops up to 80 hp and 160 Nm of torque.
This enables the ForTwo Coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 11.5 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 130 km/h. Even worse, the car has a dismal range of between 145-160 km on a single charge.
Unsurprisingly, the ForFour posts even worse numbers
as the dash to 100 km/h takes a mind numbing 12.7 seconds. The range
also drops to between 137-155 km. The 2020 Smart EQ ForTwo and EQ
ForFour will be unveiled on September 10th, so stay tuned for full details.
