What is it?
A long overdue solution to the Smart ForTwo’s tendency to abruptly bob its nose between gear changes in the form of a new slick shifting six-speed, twin-clutch gearbox.
Called the Twinamic, the Getrag-engineered unit replaces the old automated five-speed gearbox in the recently introduced third-generation ForTwo, providing the choice between manual and full automatic operation.
It will be offered as an option alongside the standard five-speed manual gearbox we sampled at the impressive new two-seat city car’s launch last year at a £995 premium.
The Twinamic will initially be available with the ForTwo’s base 70bhp naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine. However, there are plans to offer it in combination with the more convincing 89bhp turbocharged 898cc three-cylinder, direct-injection petrol engine driven here from mid-year.
Additionally, Smart says it will also make the new gearbox available on the larger ForFour in the not-too-distant future, bringing it into line with the mechanically identical Renault Twingo, which is also billed to get a twin-clutch gearbox option later this year.
Although it is based around the six-speed dual clutch gearbox used by Renault in the front-engine/front-wheel-drive Clio, the Twinamic has been heavily re-engineered for the ForTwo and ForFour’s space-saving rear-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout.
At 67kg, the new gearbox adds 34kg to the kerb weight of the pint-sized city car fitted with the standard five-speed manual unit – in the process negating any real gain in efficiency.
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Smart Interior Not Smart
The electronic paddle shift auto versions selector could be installed in the dash centre as it doesn't need any linkage to the trans. The manual versions stick could sprout from a mini console virtually even with the seat front edge.
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This has only recently happened.