Grooviness On A Budget
by David Finlay (28 Jul 05)

The substantial and expensive changes that have taken place at smart in recent months - as an alternative to DaimlerChrysler pulling the plug on the marque altogether - have given new significance to the forfour range. These are almost the only cars to have emerged intact from the rival plan, which has led to the early death of the roadster and roadster-coupé and the abandonment of plans to develop the formore SUV, with the fortwo being due for replacement anyway in the near future.

But the forfour hatchback isn't continuing quite as before. The range is being extended in both directions, with a massive five-figure variation in prices at the new extremes. Right at the top sits the remarkable Brabus (see launch report), and at the bottom lurk the new purestyle and coolstyle.

Both of these cars use a detuned version (down from 75bhp to 64bhp) of the three-cylinder 1.1-litre petrol engine. Since the marque first came to the UK five years ago, "pure" has always been smartspeak for "entry-level", and sure enough the purestyle is the cheapest forfour of all at £7295. The coolstyle tested here is mechanically identical but costs £8595. Colour schemes aside, the obvious visual difference comes in the form of a set of 15" alloy wheels instead of the 14" steel ones used on the purestyle.

The coolstyle is also better-equipped. Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat and a cover for the small luggage compartment. It was always a mystery that the forfour did not have such a cover, but it's being introduced to the rest of the range at the same time as it appears on the coolstyle.

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