Further collaboration for Mitsubishi and smart

October 29, 2005 In 1998 the Smart City Coupe was launched with its three-cylinder engines anticipating what is now just emerging as a downsizing trend in other makes of car: a small and economical engine employing a turbocharger (and charge air cooling) to boost it to the sort of power level which is expected of small cars today. Though old in terms of leading edge automotive concepts, smart’s three-cylinder petrol engine remains one of the most economical petrol-engines available today. But time stands still for no automotive manufacturer and with the smart’s ultra-short two-seater now sold in 36 countries (as the smart fortwo), there’s no doubt a huge and growing market exists and smart is currently developing the next-generation model for launch in 2007. Given that the smart was so far ahead of the pack last time, it will be interesting to see what the innovative company comes up with next time, and a huge clue was dropped yesterday Mitsubishi announced it had signed an agreement with smart to supply the turbo-charged engine it had developed for use in its i concept minicar. The smart fortwo and the new MMC i are pictured - the fortwo is on top.

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