Smart Renames Models

The original Smart cars built at DaimlerChrysler AG's Hambach plant in France will be renamed Fortwo on Jan. 1, which the auto maker says will help bring brand awareness to the Forfour models that go into production in the Netherlands next year for delivery starting in April.

The original CityCoupe becomes the Smart Fortwo coupe, and the CityCoupe cabrio becomes the Smart Fortwo cabrio. The Smart Roadster, Roadster-Coupe and Crossblade names remain unchanged.

Smart says the Forfour is the first time the name of a car has been directly related to its use, although that would seem to ignore the utlitity of “pickup.”

Smart says Forfour has met with positive customer feedback, so the company has decided to use the same logic for future smart models as well as the current ones.

“Changing the name of our CityCoupe to Smart Fortwo is a logical and consistent continuation of the naming strategy, which began with the Smart Forfour,” says marketing executive Philipp Schiemer.

“This approach is the first of its kind ever to be taken in the auto industry,” he adds. “The names of our models are snappy and directly associated with the benefits they offer and reflect the typical Smart feeling of effortlessness and joie de vivre.”