The Smart Forstars concept debuted today at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and--surprise--it actually seems like a fun little runabout.
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The Forstars features a very distinct face with puffy cheeks formed by flared fenders and angry eyes formed by the large headlight fixtures.
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LCD projector
Embedded in the Forstars' hood is an LCD projector that can be used to project video onto a nearby wall. Users control the projector with a Bluetooth paired iPhone.
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Exterior speakers
The Forstars also features an upgraded audio system for the passengers, as well as external speakers for sharing their favorite movie soundtrack with others nearby.
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Profile
The wheelbase and overall length have been stretched versus a standard Fortwo. The Forstars is also slightly lower. This, combined with the fully transparent roof, gives the Forstars a low, speedster profile.
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Massive wheels
Massive 21-inch wheels fill the bulging wheel wells. This is the sort of thing that you could only ever get away with on a concept car. Well, this and the whole projector gimmick.
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Interior
The interior is decidedly concepty, featuring glossy painted surfaces, shiny white plastic, and metallic trim. Like the Fortwo, the Forstars only features seating for two passengers.
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Electric drive
The Forstar's rear axle is twisted by a 60 kw lithium ion battery. In regular car numbers, that's about 80 horsepower and 99 pound-feet of torque.
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Rear hatch
The rear hatch opens in an unconventional way...
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Open hatchback
Part of the rear hatch slides back and down while the glass panel lifts up. Meanwhile, a section of the cargo area's floor slides back to facilitate easy loading.
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Rear storage area
Most of the Forstar's enlarged footprint is manifested in the storage area behind the passengers' seats.
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Transparent roof
When we say Forstar's entire roof is transparent, we mean the whole thing. Even the rear spoiler and the slight brim shade over the windshield are see-through.
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The future of Smart
The Fourstars actually seems like it would be a fun electric city car. Sans the projector gimmick, the colorful interior, and the clear roof, and I think this is a pretty good indicator of what we should expect from the future of Smart.
