Smart ForTwo and ForFour teased

German micro car company Smart is ramping up its pre-release teaser campaign for the new-generation ForTwo city car, releasing a preview video showing profile sketches of the new model.

The teaser video pre-empts the car's launch reported by the German media to be this month, and begins with a proverb from Ernst Bloch, a German philosopher and utopian thinker: "A big leap needs a big run up".

Based on the rudimentary silhouette sketches of the new models seen at the end of the video clip, including the two-door ForTwo and four-door ForFour model, it's clear the new micro car will lose its pointed, sloping snout in favour or a more traditional two-box design with a conventional bonnet.

Taking design cues from previous Smart concept cars, such as the FourJoy and ForStars, the new model will be wider and will sport a hexagonal motif inside and out. The teaser video also shows a larger Tridion safety cell, suggesting improved safety and interior space.

Given that the 2015 smart shares its underpinnings with the Renault Twingo (and based on spy shots snapped in 2013) the new Smart ForTwo will be slightly bigger than before and, again like the Twingo, will feature compact three-cylinder engines mounted in the rear, under the boot floor.

Developed in tandem with Renault, the Smart ForTwo is tipped to get the same 52kW 1.0-litre naturally aspirated and 66kW 0.9-litre three-cylinder engines as the French cars, although the Daimler (Mercedes)-owned company is likely to top the range with a hi-po Brabus model in due course.

The new model is expected to be offered in Australia through Mercedes-Benz dealerships as is already the case. Only the Smart ForTwo is offered locally at present, priced at $18,990, drive-away, with a 52kW 1.0-litre engine.