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 The road for the Smart's U.S. launch had not been a smooth one with many road blocks and hurdles to overcome. Early in 2004, rumor had it that an SUV called the Smart ForMore would be introduced to the United States in 2006, by smartUSA, which was still a division of Mercedes-Benz. They began courting dealers to sell the Smart ForMore in the United States.
In 2005 they announced development on a SUV based on the Smart ForFour platform, called the Smart ForMore, targeted for the US market and was to go on sale in 2006. At that time thousands of our readers asked us why another SUV, and told us, I want a Smart car and we agreed.
The Smart, ForMore, a four-wheel- drive SUV, suited to all roads and driving conditions, was to represent Smart's official launch to the world's largest automotive market for the first time ever. That launch would never take place.
This Smart utility vehicle, originally scheduled for U.S. distribution was at one point, the only Smart model DaimlerChrysler had planned to bring to the United States, bearing the name Smart "ForMore." The Smart ForMore was to be built in the DaimlerChrysler plant in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The plant (Mitsubishi) had a capacity of 60,000 cars per year. In a full sales year, Smart had planned to sell half of these unique vehicles in the U.S.A, Canada, and other core markets.
Gone are the Smart Roadster and Roadster Coupe, the Crossblade, Smart ForFour (below left) and the Smart ForMore SUV project never materialized!
 In May 2003 they launched their Smart Roadster and Roadster-coupe. Following this a Smart called the Forfour was introduced to the media in Zürich, Switzerland, on "ForFour Day," June 26, 2003 and went on sale in Europe in May 2004.
In 2002 smart GmbH presented the Smart Crossblade as a production car at the International Motor Show in Geneva and launch the car with a production of only 2,000 units.
All Smart Crossblade's were numbered consecutively in order to emphasize their exclusiveness.
The Smart CrossBlade turned heads at every corner. Five inches longer and three inches wider than the Smart Cabrio, the Crossblade is still small enough to park on the back of your yacht. The Smart Crossblade is equipped with the SUPREX turbo with a power output which has been electronically increased to 70 hp. The Crossblade is a unique car. It has no roof, no windscreen and no doors. These cars are sure to be a collector's item.
The radical Crossblade was first shown as a concept in 2001 and then made its launch as a limited-production model at the Geneva show in 2002. This is one vehicle that can only be described as truly topless.
The avant-garde CrossBlade has neither a roof, nor doors, nor a windscreen crossblade drivers sit under the open sky, and a narrow, transparent wind deflector is all that stands in front of the cockpit area. The TRIDION safety cell, which is reinforced with numerous high-strength panels, has sturdy steel safety bars at the sides instead of doors. A maximum of 2,000 will be produced in the next few years, and they will be numbered consecutively in order to 'emphasize their exclusiveness'.
An open-air runabout powered by a Mercedes-built 3-cylinder rear-mounted engine (turbo charged for your pleasure), the Cross-Blade is described as a "motorcycle on four wheels," eschewing traditional styling (like, you know, a roof) for a wind-in-your-hair driving experience.
Like some other smart cars, don't expect to see the Cross-Blade in the U.S. anytime soon, unless you've got the money to import. It's a shame; too, it looks like a blast to drive. In addition to reinforcements in the floor, and A and B-pillars, the integrated roll bar also gives the car the desired flexural strength and torsion rigidity. This means that the smart Crossblade has almost the same demanding safety engineering as the Cabriolet and the City-Coupe.
In addition to this the sporty two-seater is equipped with the restraint system familiar from these cars, which includes full-size airbags for driver and passenger in addition to belt tensioners and belt-force limiters. Based on the existing structure of the Smart For-Two Cabriolet, the Cross-Blade is designed to give a feeling of unbounded freedom to the driver and passenger alike. And since it’s intended to be very fun car, important enclosing components normally found on most vehicles, like doors and the windscreen surround, don’t exist on the Cross-Blade. Neither does a roof.
So the interior trim of the Cross-Blade is made from water resistant materials, while there are drain-holes in the floor and the seats. Stored away in the boot there is a full car cover for use when parking the Cross-Blade for extended periods.
The Cross-Blade is usefully, compact and gives lower CO2 emissions than any other car on the road. Just like the whole Smart For-Two series.
At the same time though, it gives its driver and passenger that wind-in-the-hair feeling of freedom.
MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS . Smart Crossblade . Type GH-MC01X . Steering wheel version left . Overall length 104 inches . Overall width 64 inches . Overall height 60 inches . Wheelbase 72 inches . Track (front) 51 inches . Track (rear) 49 inches . Curb Weight 1660 lbs . Seating capacity persons 2 . Gasoline Unleaded premium . Fuel tank capacity 8.7 gallons . Steering system Rack and pinion .Transmission Electronic six-speed automatic transmission with auto clutch, manual mode switchable
After Robbie Williams purchased Crossblade number 001, Smart began a marketing association with the British singer, using Williams to promote the brand.
The car came with the following equipment:
ACTIVE SAFETY & CHASSIS
• ABS Anti-Lock Braking System • Electronic traction and stability control • Passive safety • TRIDION safety cell • SRS full-size dual airbag • Seatbelt tensioner with belt-force limiter • Integral safety seats with belt guidance • Roll bar
EXTERIOR
• Body panels in Jet black (exclusively used for the Crossblade) • Metal radiator grille • Front/rear wheelarches • Matte titanium-color TRIDION safety cover • Fog lights (rear) • High-mounted stop lights • Twin-section tailgate • 3-spoke aluminum wheels (available only in the Crossblade) • Emblem with serial number
INTERIOR
• Color: Fire red + black (water-repellent plastic) • Foldable passenger seat • Leather steering wheel and shift knob • Special cup holders (available only in the Crossblade) • Special decorative trim (available only in the Crossblade) • Single-piece plastic floor panel • Waterproof instrument cluster
FUNCTIONS
• Front wind deflectors • Side safety bars with cushioned pads (with gas-operated dampers) • Waterproof luggage compartment • Nylon tonneau cover • Antenna integrated in Luggage cover • Lockable drawer under driver's seat • Seat belt warning • Remote controlled central lock • Immobiliser • Tire repair kit
AUDIO
• AM/FM radio cassette player • Sound package • 6-disc CD-changer • Number of loudspeakers 4
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