Smart Car - for real life

The idea behind the "Smart car" was to create a vehicle easy to park and short enough to allow "nose-in" parking. Its length of 250 centimeters would equal the width of a regular parking slot, allowing two or three Smarts to park in the space as one normal car.

The project, started by Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch, was nicknamed the "Swatchmobile". The name Smart is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART. Intended to use innovative features (such as a hybrid engine) and be affordable for young people, the Smart had similar design objective to the Citroën 2CV of the 1940s.

Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek sought an established car maker to produce his Swatch car. After General Motors reviewed and rejected the project as potentially unprofitable, Hayek found a partner in Volkswagen. Due to VW's own financial weakness at the time, plans never reached a final stage so Swatch teamed up with Daimler-Benz. The purpose-built factory complex Smartville in Hambach, France, was established in 1994 as a joint-venture of Daimler-Benz and Swatch.

An Australian dealer web site provides the following summary of the beginnings of the product:

"How everything began: In 1993 Mercedes-Benz started a feasibility study on a subcompact car. Together with the Swatch Group Ltd. they founded the Micro Compact Car AG in 1994. The Smart city-coupé celebrates its world première at the IAA in Frankfurt (Germany) in 1997 and is one year successfully launched in nine European countries. By now, the Smart is available in 25 countries all over the world and was sold over 750,000 times."

The final car design proved to be far from Hayek's expectations: its engine eco-technology was outside of Mercedes' goal. The joint venture experienced heavy losses and dispute then Swatch pulled out.

In 2005, DaimlerChrysler decided against purchasing a 50% share in the Dutch NedCar plant used to manufacture the Forfour supermini. DC also halted development on the Formore and decided to discontinue production of the Roadster.

In 2006, after dwindling sales, Smart GmbH was liquidated and its operations were absorbed within the Mercedes-Benz automobile group. It was later revealed that Smart GmbH lost nearly 4 billion euros from 2003 to 2006

1998-2003
smart City-Coupé & City-Cabrio* (*from 2000)


2002
smart Crossblade


2003-2007

smart City-Coupé & City-Cabrio (renamed Fortwo in 2004)


2003-2005
smart Roadster


2004-2006
smart Forfour



2007-present
smart Fortwo


2008-present (At the moment only trialling, expected for Q4 2008 in UK)

smart Fortwo EV (also known as ED)


smart K (Japan only)

An electric, rechargeable version is being released in the UK as a lease vehicle on a limited basis. At the Smart Car Brooklands event in July 1998, a Smart EV was on display within "MercedesWorld" and a representative stated that the car would be for sale in the UK in 2010. Daimler will start the production of the electric Smart equipped with lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and production will ramp up to mass production by 2012. A Smart Forfour has been converted into a plug-in hybrid by Lithium Technology Corporation and Zytek Systems. The lithium-ion battery can propel the vehicle up to 84 mph (135 km/h) and last on its own for up to 20 miles (32 km). The engine is a combination of a 68 horsepower, 1.5 liter, 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine and two high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors. It was awarded by the Energy Saving Trust for the "Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge" project.

Daimler AG and RWE AG have launched the world's largest joint project for environmentally friendly electric cars. Daimler will provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and smart as well as the vehicle service.The new generation of smart ed (electric drive) and electric-battery driven vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will come in use within the "e-mobility Berlin" project. RWE is handling the development, installation and operation of the charging infrastructure". The new project is also benefiting from the experience gained by Daimler during the current pilot project involving electro-mobility in London. Since last year, there has been a test fleet of first-generation Smart Fortwo ed cars . The start of serial production of battery-powered vehicles by Mercedes-Benz and smart is in 2010

The Smart Fortwo Cabriolet offers all the rewards of a Smart Passion ForTwo coupé, but with impressive styling that radiates sunshine and fresh air and in keeping with the Smart tradition of presenting different styles for different people, the Smart ForTwo Cabriolet is offered in the Passion model. The Cabriolet offers changeable body panels, available in 3 standard colors that include black, yellow and white, while blue metallic, red metallic and silver metallic are optional. Yellow will not be offerd for 2009!

Unfortunately, for America the MHD (mild hybrid system) that comes standard on all gas-powered 2009 Smart ForTwos sold in Europe will not be available in the U.S.A.

The Smart Cabriolet was introduced in 2000, restyled in 2002 and is by far the smart choice. The Cabriolet offers changeable body panels, available in 3 standard colors that include black, yellow and white, while blue metallic, red metallic and silver metallic are optional. Yellow will not be offered for 2009! smart_fortwo_passioncabriol.jpg

Like most convertible vehicles, the Smart ForTwo Cabriolet features a soft, plastic rear window that folds along with the top.

The new Fortwo is better tailored to American drivers, and we know it will capture the hearts and imagination of drivers who insist on a unique, classy car that's environmentally friendly.

Having established itself as a frontrunner in America's mini car market for many years, the Smart ForTwo make its appearance last year with a sassy new design and a solid reputation for smart performance in crowded metropolitan areas.

While the unique and beautiful styling of the Smart Cabriolet ForTwo isn't best suited to long trips or mountain roads, it performs miracles in congested metro traffic and busy city centers, where it beats the heat with zippiness and verve.09_red_smart_fortwo_conv.jpg

The 2009 Cabriolet ForTwo, with its eye-catching, innovative design, will be launched with a new, three-cylinder, 71 hp Mitsubishi engine.

The engine is combined with an automated manual five-speed transmission from Getrag, replacing the previous laborious, six-speed model.

Getrag Corporate Group is the systems supplier and integration partner for transmission and drive-train systems. The group is the largest independent manufacturer of transmissions in the world.

The smart engineering provides for a smoother driving experience and, despite the extra power, fuel consumption ranges are good. The changed running gear and slightly larger body (from 2007) make the Smart Cabriolet Fortwo more comfortable and safer.

While standard safety and optional equipment differs from model to model, all smart vehicles share the same Smart concept: high fuel efficiency, no emissions, and incredible styling.

DaimlerChrysler claims that the Fortwo's safety rating matches that of the Mercedes Benz C-class sedan.

The Smart Cabriolet is manufactured at Smartville, a purpose-built factory complex in Hambach, France. It takes about 4.5 hours to make a Smart, compared to around 20 hours for a small sedan.

Following its triumphant launch in the US, this Smart will make its debut in China this year.

People love the Smart Cabriolet for many reasons, including its ability to park almost anywhere, its economical fuel consumption, its cost, and, of course, its knockout lookssmart_fortwo_rear.jpg.

The 2009 Smart comes with a 61 cubic inch, 3-cylinder, 71hp aluminum Mitsubishi motor and runs on premium gas. The 2009 Smart gets 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway and gets some of the highest gas mileage for any car on the road today.

The warranty is 2-year and 24,000 miles and you have the option of procuring a 5 year and 60,000 mile warranty for additional cost.

The Smart features removable plastic panels. So, you can change your cars entire color for around $1,000 and if have an accident, you simply change the panel. The cars are assembled in Hambach, France which is on the border of Germany.

This vehicle is sold in 37 countries and over 1,000,000 Smart cars are on roads around the world.

The Smart Passion coupé starts at under $14,000. The Smart Passion is suited for you, the discerning driver, the 2009 Smart Passion Fortwo accomplishes in styling and design what no other subcompact has. The Smart ForTwo for 2009 received no major changes and is fundamentally untouched since it was introduce in early 2008. Its fuel efficient, very safe and cost of ownership is low. If you want a car solution for a short commute, then this is the answer.

This car always makes you smile!

America has embraced the Smart Passion for many years. The Smart Fortwo's Passion - so aptly-named, this dynamic, elegant expression of a car is ready to roll. The Passion is a gorgeous feat of engineering combined with a luxury that's befits the savvy tastes of the Smart driver.

The 2009 Smart Passion offers power, options, safety features, and a distinctive cockpit. This Smart is available in six interior color trims and six color choices, and comes as a coupé or cabriolet.

Responsive, luxurious, and keen to thrill, the Passion offers you a choice of three different and special interior fabrics.

The Smart Passion is a gorgeous feat of engineering that dynamically and elegantly expresses the spirit of a car that's ready to roll.

The 2009 Smart Passion ForTwo is still three feet shorter than the Mini Cooper.

Roll with the Passion!

Not surprisingly, the 2009 Smart Car Fortwo will be one of the most sought- after vehicles to come to our shores in many years. Not only is it one of the more futuristic looking vehicles available, but it is also an acclaimed work of design and art.

08_blue-smart_passion.jpg
The Fortwo Passion coupé starts at under $14,000. This model comes with alloy wheels, climate control air-conditioning, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel, power windows, electric and heated side mirrors, and an AM/FM radio with a CD player, all of which are standard. As well as a remote keyless entry, temperature control, a fully programmed, automatic soft-touch gear system, and the comfort of a steering wheel embraced in supple leather. All prices exclude taxes and destination charges.

All models are equipped with a one-liter, three-cylinder, 71 hp engine that will get about 40 miles per gallon on premium gas.

The 2008 Smart comes with a new Mitsubishi three-cylinder engine in three versions, delivering 61 hp, 71 hp, and 84 hp respectively, or, in the case of the Brabus, 101 horsepower.

It has a DOHC 12-valve, inline-3 aluminum block and head, port fuel injection. The car has a five-speed transmission built by Getrag.

Getrag Corporate produces transmission for all the leading automobile manufacturers. Its customers include Volvo Car Corporation, Ford, and Chrysler.

Production on the 2009 Smart Fortwo started this past September, at the Smartville, eco-friendly plant in Hambach, France. smart-2009-limited.jpg

Sales of the Smart Fortwo Passion will remain strong for 2009 and Smart car sales totaled over 25,000 cars for 2008 since going on sale last year in the American marketplace.

The 2009 Smart ForTwo received no major changes and is fundamentally the same since it was introduce in early 2008.

The base cost for the 2009 Smart increased by $400. This signifies a two and a half percent increase on available models. Its fuel efficient, very safe and cost of ownership is still low. If you want a car solution for a short commute, then this is the answer.

The 2009 Smart is now available at your local smart center in mid-November.

The 2009 Smart comes with a 61 cubic inch, 3-cylinder, 71hp aluminum Mitsubishi motor and runs on premium gas. The 2009 Smart gets 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway and gets some of the highest gas mileage for any car on the road today.

The warranty is 2-year and 24,000 miles and you have the option of procuring a 5 year and 60,000 mile warranty for additional cost.

The Smart features removable plastic panels. So, you can change your cars entire color for around $1,000 and if have an accident, you simply change the panel. The cars are assembled in Hambach, France which is on the border of Germany.

This vehicle is sold in 37 countries and over 1,000,000 Smart cars are on roads around the world.

While a small number of changes have been reported, the Smart cars characteristics, which have made the Smart so distinctive and popular, will remain the same.

Changes are very minor and include a new stock color their calling rally red, which will replace last years yellow and an optional color, now called metallic gray, will substitute for the optional red metallic from last year.

The Smart Pure model is priced at under $12,000 and is available in the coupe configuration. Folks with limited resources, but still wanting that up-to-the-minute transporter, have been drawn to the Smart car in a way we haven't seen since the VW bug. The majority of metropolitan drivers love the Smart car Pure for numerous reasons.

Such as the cars ability to park almost anywhere, its fuel savings and cost and of course its knockout looks.

The Smart car is truly innovative in the sense that it is the most contemporary automotive interpretation of current social trends in big cities, where many people's lifestyle mean they don't need more than two seats, and they prefer something that's small, stylish and fun.

Smart fans from around the world (37 countries) have made the Smart Pure outrageously popular and a common fixture in the lives of drivers worldwide.

The 2009 Smart Fortwo will appeal to several components of the car buying segment and for several different reasons.

Priced at the south end of $12,000 will make the Smart Fortwo one of the least expensive cars available for sale in the U.S. for 2009. All prices exclude tax and destination charges.

The Smart Pure model measures 106 inches in length, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide. The Smart can reach a maximum speed of 90 mph.

The 2009 Smart Pure comes with a 3-cylinder (71HP) engine, an automated manual five-speed transmission. This is the same engine and transmission that comes in the Passion models. 2008pure_white_side.jpg

The basic Smart Pure specifications include a 5-speed transmission, remote locking management, leather steering wheel, and a radio-ready console.

The Smart cars cockpit offers a distinctive sensation of spaciousness and manages to find a comfort zone for any size driver or passenger. The cockpit compartment is big and the Smart ForTwo is truly a metro car for our crowded metropolitan areas that has two seats and is in reality a sports car. Once behind the wheel of the new Smart things feel remarkably full-sized.

Though ultra-tiny, the Smart Car provides space, luxury and protection features found in high end luxury cars.

The Pure will get roughly 40 miles per gallon and it requires premium gas.

However, if you need creature comforts, you would be better off buying the Passion.

All Smart Cars are manufactured from recyclable materials - 80 percent of all materials that go into the Pure are recyclable - the Smart Pure is green, lean and mean.

The cars removable body panels are light, flexible and well made. You can change the panels, thus changing the colors, as you would your watchband.

Now America can realize why the modified Brabus Smart car became a top seller in Europe and countries around the world. First launched in early 2001, as a BRABUS Smart City-Coupe and later made available in the Cabriolet version, the BRABUS offers absolute individuality. Soon you too can leap into a Smart Brabus and rocket down the street with safety, comfort and speed to spare.

New for 2009 will be the availability of the BRABUS version, a special limited edition version of the standard model, and prices for the Brabus start at $20,000.

First launched in early 2001, as a BRABUS Smart City-Coupe and later made available in the Cabriolet version, the BRABUS offers absolute individuality.

For 25 years BRABUS GmbH has been enhancing fine automobiles and is one of the best-recognized aftermarket tuner accessory companies in the world and creates a super clever Smart Fortwo from either the Coupe or the Cabriolet model.

Founded in 1977 and once owned by Baron Martin von Brabus, BRABUS, GmbH has become one of the largest aftermarket tuners for Maybach, Mercedes and did the first aftermarket tuning for smart GmbH. The BRABUS Company is based near Düsseldorf in Germany.

BRABUS creates automotive works of art with their custom paint and their use of the finest leathers.

The 2009 BRABUS offers distinctively developed chassis and suspension components, as well as BRABUS's special exhaust tuning. The car includes over-sized alloy wheels and one-of-a-kind BRABUS exterior treatments.

Prices for the Smart BRABUS coupe start at $17,990 and the BRABUS cabriolet has a MSRP of $20,990.

BRABUS concentrates on two elements for their aftermarket cars. Their mission is simply to energize an already fine cars performance, while upgrading the exterior appearance, giving the car owner an exclusive creation.

The new 2009 Smart Fortwo BRABUS's are available only in the color combinations of black with the black tridon shell or silver ($400.00 option) with a silver tridon shell.
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However, only current reservation holders who have not yet configured their Smart can take advantage of this offer and pre-order a 2009 Smart Brabus.

This is an illustration of an email from smart USA (Internet Brands) converting an existing Smart reservation into a 2009 Smart BRABUS reservation. Allowing you to be one of the initially consumers to own this incredibly individual Smart Fortwo.

At the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, smart brand and Brabus celebrated the world debut of an all electric drive BRABUS Fortwo that featured their Smart Fortwo Brabus, powered by state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. Telling the world when being environmentally friendly you don't need to ride a bike!

Smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive: Exclusive, innovative and environmentally friendly

* Exclusive show car with electric drive
* Top model with superior style

Environmental friendliness does not mean making sacrifices. The smart fortwo with its high quality equipment proves that a car that makes environmental sense can also have charm and be fun to drive - otherwise the innovative two-seater would never have attained its popular status.



Environmental friendliness does not mean making sacrifices. The smart fortwo with its high quality equipment proves that a car that makes environmental sense can also have charm and be fun to drive - otherwise the innovative two-seater would never have attained its popular status.

smart-BRABUS takes the smart fortwo to an even higher level.

In Geneva near-series smart-BRABUS show car featuring electric drive and a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery will celebrate its world premiere. Here, ecology and a feast for the senses go hand in hand. ev_brabus_badge.jpg

The light and airy design of the smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive coupled with fine natural materials demonstrate harmony with the environment and at the same time elevate the pleasure of owning and driving such a high quality custom-tailored vehicle to an even higher level.

Exclusive matt green paintwork gives the vehicle a very elegant and trendy appearance. A white cabriolet soft top and LED daytime driving lights round off the harmonious appearance of the exterior. The matching interior features leather and fabrics in the colours green and white.

The sports suspension with BRABUS "Monoblock VII" alloy wheels in a five double-spoke design and matt white exterior and interior applications convey a sporty and functional impression.



For reasons of active safety the smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive is additionally equipped with a BRABUS sound generator which generates a sound specially developed for the smart electric drive via the power output.

The show car provides a look ahead at the series production. And as with all smarts to date, a smart-BRABUS variant will have a firm place here.