Nissan Smarty-Pants

The Smart ForTwo is one of the more unique looking cars on the market, and it’s entry into the market started a whole new trend of micro-micro cars. The only problem is that they’re relatively expensive for their size. Not unsurprising, given it’s parents are Mercedes-Benz. The price is one reason why the Smart ForTwo is finding it difficult to gain sales in the US. Another is it’s diminutive size. The sketches you see here are Smart’s attempts to solve both problems in one brand-diluting blow – basically take a Nissan and stick a bunch of hokey crap on it.

There’s several problems with this approach. The main issue is that the concept of this car goes against the original concept of the Smart car brand – the Smart ForTwo is unique because it's so small. Sure – there was the ForFour sedan. But it still maintained their clever packaging details of the ForTwo to keep it’s size at an absolute minimal. And in doing so it had proportions unlike the rest of the automotive landscape, which also was part of it’s appeal. Another safety and subsequent design feature of Smart cars are their Tridion safety shell.

The Nissan Micra based Smart is definitely a conventional passenger car layout, and lacks both the safety cell and proportions of a traditional Smart car. The end result trying to make the Nissan look like a Smart car is that it looks forced and superfluous. The Smart ForTwo had bulbous front fenders because the wheels were pushed to the absolute corners of the car. The Nissan’s bulbous “Smart fenders” look over-inflated (and ridiculous) because it’s wheels are set further back and the fenders are completely unnecessary.

The overall car ends up looking less like a Smart car and more like a cheap Chinese knock off of a Smart car. And perhaps the worst offense it that it looks much, much worse than the stock Nissan Micra on which it’s based. Sure it’s would be a cheaper option for those who want a Smart car. But know what would be even cheaper? Just bringing over the Nissan Micra. And you wouldn’t look like a tool driving an overpriced sales gimmick.