Press Release
smart fortwo: “The smart” in (almost) endless variations
At a glance
- smart fortwo coupé cdi 30 kW pure
- smart fortwo cabrio cdi 30 kW pure
- smart fortwo coupé cdi 30 kW passion
- smart fortwo cabrio cdi 30 kW passion
- smart fortwo coupé 37 kW pure
- smart fortwo coupé 45 kW pure
- smart fortwo cabrio 45 kW pure
- smart fortwo coupé 45 kW pulse
- smart fortwo cabrio 45 kW pulse
- smart fortwo coupé 45 kW passion
- smart fortwo cabrio 45 kW passion
- smart fortwo coupé 55 kW BRABUS
- smart fortwo cabrio 55 kW BRABUS
The two-seater smart fortwo, the ‘classic’ smart, has quickly evolved into a cult car, with some 750,000 having been sold to date. It now enjoys a special place in motorists’ hearts in 36 markets.
Whichever city you lived in – Munich, Rome, Barcelona, London, Vancouver or Tokyo – the “city-coupé”, as the smart fortwo was initially known, promised a totally new approach to city driving. It was economical, environmentally friendly, particularly easy to drive, at home in the smallest of parking spaces and on the narrowest of streets, had a characteristic, cheerful design, was built by the Mercedes Car Group, and came with the very latest safety features.
Although the follow-up model has already been announced for the coming year, the original smart fortwo has lost none of its appeal. Sales figures remain at a high level – above target, in fact, as smart boss Ulrich Walker is pleased to point out. The smart fortwo continues to sell so well in its eighth year that the planned production output for 2006 has been raised once again.
Safe and robust
The smart fortwo established the unique smart body concept featuring two materials that are also manifested in the visual design. High-strength steel for all safety-related components, reassuring and visible in the tridion safety cell, and plastic for all exterior parts – robust and scratch-proof. The flexible bodypanels are an innovation offering the utmost utility value in busy city traffic. They withstand minor knocks unscathed. And plastic does not rust, either.
The exterior parts are available in a wide range of different colours. Most of them form a striking contrast to the tridion safety cell, which is always painted either black or silver. Anyone wishing to change the colour of their smart fortwo can do so without the help of a paintshop. The bodypanels are easily replaceable within just an hour. The same applies in case of damage: Replacing a wing costs less than 100 euros, and all the exterior parts can be replaced for barely 700 euros - for a complete make-over in the right colour. The ecologically-minded will be pleased to hear that the bodypanels are fully recyclable.
Three equipment variants and the BRABUS top model
The smart fortwo is to be seen at smart centres - and increasingly at Mercedes-Benz showrooms, too - in three equipment lines and the exclusive BRABUS version. The basic model already incorporates all the essential safety and comfort features, including standard esp (which many rival makes of small car do not even offer at an extra charge), hill start assist (which prevents the car from rolling back when moving off on an uphill slope), electric windows, central locking with remote control and a sequential six-speed transmission without clutch pedal (softip).
Additional features on the sporty smart fortwo pulse include a glass roof (with sun blind), alloy wheels with wider tyres, additional storage nets and compartments and a sports steering wheel with paddles for gear shifting. The comfortably-equipped smart fortwo passion features an air conditioning system and glass roof as standard. It also has alloy wheels and an automatic gearshift programme for the six-speed transmission (softouch).
Low fuel consumption
In 1998, smart's turbo engine anticipated what is now just emerging as a downsizing trend in other makes of car: A small and particularly economical engine employing a turbocharger (and charge air cooling) to boost it to the sort of power level which is expected even of small cars today. The three-cylinder petrol engine has a capacity of 698 cc. Power ratings of 37 kW / 50 bhp or 45 kW / 61 bhp are available (cabrio: 45 kW only). The maximum speed of both variants is limited to 135 km/h. With a fuel consumption level under standard conditions of 4.7 l/100 km, the smart fortwo is one of the most economical petrol-engine cars available.
The smart fortwo cdi embodies three superlatives: It is powered by the world’s smallest turbodiesel engine, featuring state-of-the-art common-rail technology. It is the smallest vehicle to be fitted with a particle filter as standard. And it is by far the most successful “three-litre” car worldwide, i.e. consuming less than 4 litres of fuel over 100 km.
In figures: The three-cylinder engine has a capacity of 799 cc and generates a power output of 30 kW/41 bhp. This is sufficient for a top speed (limited) of 135 km/h, and the fuel consumption under standard conditions stands at only 3.8 l per 100 km. The smart fortwo cdi has notched up sales of 140,000 to date – several times the figures attained by the “three-litre” models once offered (and since discontinued) by several competitors. smart additionally offers retrofitting of the particle filter on older cars, irrespective of when they were built.
Portable navigation system
A new feature for the smart fortwo is a portable navigation system which is fitted securely on the instrument panel and provides clear directions via the car radio and its loudspeakers. The radio is muted while the directions are announced. The optionally available smart sound system additionally incorporates an MP3 interface, enabling connection of an MP3 player, for example. The smart fortwo BRABUS demonstrates once again just what a pleasure driving an ultra-short two-seater can be. Designed for particularly active driving, it delivers 55 kW/75 bhp from an unchanged engine capacity of 689cc. A top speed of 150 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.3 seconds mean lots of oomph - as often as not to the amazement of other motorists.
Icon with a future
Referring to market research results, Ulrich Walker is convinced that “the market for small cars is a strategically important segment which will continue to grow in the coming years, not least because of current discussion surrounding the issue of depleting resources. Small cars are in keeping with the spirit of the times. They offer value-for-money transport, low consumption and are also a factor in the environmental debate which has now also reached the USA.” This is confirmed by the brilliant start that the fortwo has made in Canada: The planned production figures have had to be increased a number of times, and the smart fortwo is well on its way to achieving cult status here, too.
Walker is convinced that “smart is in an excellent position with the smart fortwo and its successor, whose development is progressing according to plan.”
