The new Smart Fortwo Cabrio has been unveiled ahead of its first public appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
With an innovative folding fabric top, the convertible version of the two-seater city car can have its roof pushed back like a conventional sunroof, or fully folded for the full convertible experience.
Available in a choice of blue, red or black colours, the roof can be fully opened in 12 seconds even when the car is travelling at top speed, and can also be retracted from outside using the key fob.
Compared with the last generation Fortwo Cabrio, the new version’s soft-top is around four per cent larger, with a rubber layer in the middle for weatherproofing and a heated glass rear windscreen.
Smart says that the new version is also the most rigid Smart Cabrio made yet, with a 15 per cent improvement in torsional strength to improve safety for occupants.
Safety equipment includes latest-generation stability control and hill start assist as standard, along with optional extras like a forward collision warning system and a lane keeping assistance feature.
Buyers can also choose from a wide range of extra features, including MirrorLink for smartphone integration and an Urban Style package which includes black wheel arch lining and a lowering kit.
Engine options include a choice of either a 70bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine or an 89bhp turbocharged 0.9-litre unit, both with a choice of either manual or dual-clutch automatic gearboxes.
Prices for the new Smart Fortwo Cabrio have yet to be revealed, but order books are due to open from November onwards, with first deliveries expected to arrive by February next year.
