Smart is doubling up on electric vehicles with its next generation small cars--as its Electric Drive will come in both two- and four-seat formats.

It's been known for a while that Smart would revive the ForFour name with its next city car.

The company previously sold a car with this name in Europe between 2004 and 2006, but the Mitsubishi-based hatchback lacked innovation next to other Smart models, with a conventional front-engined, front-wheel drive layout.

The next model is being co-developed with Renault, which recently showed of hints of its own version in the rear-engined electric Twin'Z concept.

The French automaker is thought to have dropped its version of the ForTwo, but progress on both four-seat cars continues unabated.

The two new Smart electric vehicles will line up alongside other Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles, including the B-Class Electric Drive unveiled at the 2013 New York Auto Show.

They're part of a wider range of electric vehicles offered by the brand, which starts with the Smart eBike electric bicycle, and goes all the way to the SLS AMG Electric Drive supercar and a range of electric and fuel-cell cargo vans.

Mercedes-Benz also confirmed that sales of the Smart Electric Drive have so far been strong, with over 1,000 units produced and output expected to increase throughout 2013.

The model currently has a 20 percent share of the German electric vehicle market, and is a market-leader among vehicles with a purely battery-electric drive system.

Would the addition of a couple extra seats (and doors) convince you to buy Smart's next electric car? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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