The next step for Smart is into normality, a five-door four-seater with the engine in the front driving the front wheels, like a normal hatchback.

The family-sized Smart is called Forfour (the original City-Coupé will become the Fortwo) and will be available next year. The company has issued only a sketch to accompany the announcement of its name but the grown-up Smart was accurately previewed by the 2001 Tridion 4 concept car shown here.

Expected to sell for less than £10,000 the Smart Forfour uses the same chassis platform as the forthcoming Mitsubishi Colt. Both cars will be built by Mitsubishi in Holland, with engines supplied by its new German factory. Smart says that like the current Smart some of the new car’s body parts will be removable so that the colour scheme can be changed.