(July 17, 2014) The revolution enters the next round — the smart fortwo has undergone improvements in virtually all areas and is markedly more comfortable. The hallmark smart rear engine concept is being offered for the first time in the four-seater smart forfour as well.

Drive power is supplied by state-of-the-art three-cylinder engines rated at 60 horsepower, 71 horsepower and 90 horsepower, while power transmission is performed by a five-speed manual transmission or the twinamic automatic dual clutch transmission.

A host of innovative details guarantee even more fun in the city. The new smart generation will be launched onto the market in Europe in November. The price for the smart fortwo with the 60-horsepower engine will be under 11,000 euros ($14,850), while the smart forfour will cost only around $810 more with the same engine.

"As Europe's youngest car brand, smart enjoys global success today. No-one combines functionality and emotionality as well as we do, as the inventors of individual urban mobility. The new smart fortwo and forfour adopt the proven concept while offering more of just about everything – more space, more color, more equipment ... and even more fun in the city! Only the vehicle length remains as unique as ever, at 2.69 meters," says smart boss Annette Winkler. "Our idea based on a total rethink of urban mobility has won through."

"In the planning phase we were clear that we wanted to retain the rear engine for the new smart, so as to continue to exploit the vehicles' strengths to the full in the city," explains Jörg Prigl, head of the product group Compact Cars at Mercedes-Benz. "On this basis, we then developed the new fortwo and forfour together with our partner, Renault."

"Despite increased safety requirements, we have managed to retain the smart fortwo's unique length of just 105.9 inches," adds Markus Riedel, head of development at smart. "It shares its architecture with the new forfour. We have tailored both of the vehicles to the needs of modern-day city traffic. My team is particularly proud of the turning circle, which sets a brand new benchmark at just 22.7 feet for the fortwo."

The brand appeals to the heart and mind in equal portion. An expressive design idiom and coloring embody pure joie de vivre. The compact proportions and clever details attest to unique functionality. The new smart fortwo and the new smart forfour are clearly recognizable as members of the same family. Many design features such as the headlamps, the cooling air grille in the front and the iconic tridion safety cell are identical, for example. And both vehicles are fitted with rear engines, making them particularly agile in urban traffic.

"smart stands for FUN.ctional design, as the brand is defined by two poles – the heart and mind. The design idiom is clear, purist and trendy, and the hallmark smart attributes are being adopted into a new era. These attributes include the characteristic silhouette with the ultra-short overhangs, the clear lines and forms, the tridion cell and the updated smart face," notes Gorden Wagener, head of Design at Daimler AG.