Dallas man is 20,000th to get Smart car in U.S.

Dallas resident Patrick Zipper on Thursday became the 20,000th buyer of a Smart car since the micro vehicle was introduced in the United States 10 months ago.
Dave Schembri, president of Smart USA, presented the keys to Mr. Zipper at Smart Center Dallas.

Smart reached the 20,000 mark sooner than it had anticipated, and Mr. Schembri said the company expects sales of the two-seat car to continue growing despite a substantial dip in gas prices. The tiny, distinctly styled Smart gets 33 miles per gallon in the city and costs about $12,000.

“We’ll see a bit of an increase next year,” Mr. Schembri said. “People are buying for more reasons than fuel consumption. We are selling a lifestyle, a journey.”

Smart Center Dallas, one of the Park Place dealerships on Lemmon Avenue, has consistently been among the top-selling Smart dealerships in the U.S., Mr. Schembri said.

But it was just coincidence that the 20,000th sale occurred here, he said.
“It could have happened in four or five other regions,” Mr. Schembri said. “It just turned out that everything came together, and it happened here.”

Hermès releases custom Smart ForTwo

Customers can pick from ten different color combinations for the interior, including Hermes’ trademark orange

French design house Hermes is known in the fashion world for its premium leather goods, and now the luxury label has used its unique sense of style and material for the Smart ForTwo minicar, with the release of a new special edition model.

The new model takes advantage of Hermes' specialization in leather goods, with the interior receiving a generous helping of leather trim to give it a more fashionable look compared to the standard cloth seats found in the Smart ForTwo. The leather covers the door panels, dashboard and seats, as well as other minor details such as the handbrake. The use of leather is accompanied by a special canvas, known as 'Toile H' (French for 'Canvas H'), on other surfaces of the cabin.

Customers will be able to choose from a range of ten color combinations, with yellow, teal, black, red, green, and Hermes' signature orange among the list of options.

Given the nature of Hermes' reputation as a luxury goods manufacturer, the Hermes Smart ForTwo commands a steep premium over the standard model. While the base Smart ForTwo retails for around $13,990, the Hermes edition is almost three and half more expensive, coming in at a heady $48,500.

Interestingly, the Smart ForTwo is not the first car enhanced by Hermes. The company has previously worked with one special car that sits on the complete other side of the automotive spectrum, the Bugatti Veyron supercar.

Via: Classic Driver

Brabus Meets Smart in the US

In automotive circles, the name ‘Brabus’ does not evoke images of small, fuel-efficient cars. Just the opposite. The renowned German performance tuner is famous for turning high-end European automobiles from Mercedes and BMW into vicious street machines. So when SmartUSA recently teamed up with Brabus, there appeared to be a disconnect.

In reality, Smart has been working with Brabus on its European ForTwo for years. Daimler is recognized the American success of its Smart ForTwo —and is looking to further propel the standing of its half-pint urban car. So SmartUSA will produce a Brabus-modified model to the ForTwo lineup beginning in early 2009. And though the variant will bring with it a number of cosmetic and mechanical upgrades, the US ForTwo will retain its current 71-horsepower three-cylinder engine. Thus, efficiency will remain its top priority.

The Brabus ForTwo will offer a custom body kit defined by a black or silver exterior with specialized sill treatments and badging to give the car a unique outward show. The niche ForTwo will be outfitted with an electronically boosted power steering, and a lower, more tightly tuned suspension to increase handling prowess. It will ride on larger, six-spoke alloy wheels with 17-inch tires. The larger rotating mass of these tires may have a slight adverse effect on fuel economy. The Brabus ForTwo will display a new center-mounted dual exhaust designed to intensify the sound of the engine—just for effect.

Inside, the new model will feature black leather seats and steering wheel, metallic dash trim, a newly configured gauge cluster, and bright aluminum pedals.

In European markets, the Brabus ForTwo is upgraded with a 98-horsepower turbocharged engine for increased performance. This model is three seconds faster than the standard model in the zero to 100 kph run. Unlike the upcoming US version, both fuel economy and emissions have been compromised with the Eurospec model.

Only 1,500 Brabus models will be made for the US market. Those who have already reserved a ForTwo will have the opportunity to upgrade to the Brabus model, even before new customer orders are accepted. Pricing will start at around $18,000 for the coupe and $22,000 for the convertible. That’s approximately a $5,000 premium over standard ForTwo models.

Smart diesel will become UK's lowest CO2 car

It may be small, but the latest Smart ForTwo looks bound to win a big prize next year by becoming the UK's lowest emission car. While the diesel supermini has already hit German and Italian roads, February 2009 will be the first time British drivers can try the right-hand drive version. Thanks to its 88g/km CO2, they won't have to pay for vehicle excise duty either.
The latest Smart achieves its low carbon rating mainly due to its new ultra efficient motor. The car's size -- a fraction of CO2 rivals like the BlueMotion Polo and Prius -- doesn't hurt either. The other big green feature is the inclusion of a closed particulate filter to cut down on diesel air pollution.

Smart's new uber eco car does have a downside: performance. With a 0-60mph of 19.8 seconds, it's much slower to accelerate than the petrol ForTwo. Of course, if you're in the market for this new Smart, you're probably already practising eco driving techniques so you'll be accelerating gently and smoothly.

Tests for journalists are starting now -- I'm hoping to trial one for SmartPlanet later this month, so watch this space. The production version's due February 2009 for £8,000. If you really can't wait, there's a left-hand drive version on eBay right now.

Fifth Gear - The Monster Smart Car

Tom Ford is taking the Smart car to off-roading, not the standard Smart but the monster truck version of the Smart. In this Fifth Gear segment after the break.

[via Techeblog]

Smart Car Dyno Run

Got a Smart car? Want it to sound meaner? It might be time for an exhaust upgrade!

Daimler EV Smart coming in two years time

Daimler was not so forthcoming about their EV Smart till it didn't pass around a hundred tests or so, and apparently since the car has done sufficiently well in those tests, the car will be on the roads by 2010. This tit-bit was announced by none other than the company CEO Dieter Zetsche. Hopefully this announcement has nothing to do with the fact that the Chevy Volt is scheduled to come out in 2010 as well. Little else is known, except that the company is undecided whether it wants to sell or lease the batteries. Leasing does lower the up-front cost, but continued cost of ownership may be an issue. Neither pricing nor US release has been indicated.

Via - Greenlaunches

Smart’s Slim Poster

You can easily find a parking space with Smart Car as it is short and small sized. It fits in anywhere so its ad poster.

[via Fubiz Notcot]

2009 Smart Fortwo Test Drive: With Li-Ion Smart Two Years Out, European Eco Trifecta Gives Preview

SEVILLE, Spain — With prices starting at $11,590 for the basic Pure model, the Smart Fortwo is one of the most economical rides in the States—even if it's a long way from being the cheapest. The tiny, 70-hp Smart car was introduced in the United States this January and has sold like wildfire through Penske Automotive Group dealers. It's good for 90 mph and 0-60 mph times around 12.8 seconds. No, it's not going to embarrass your neighbor's AMG—unless you're competing for fuel economy, that is. The Smart delivered a rather frugal 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway in the 2008 EPA tests. And that's not good enough, says Smart's parents at Mercedes-Benz, which recently unveiled a trio of even more economical Smart cars. We recently drove all three over here across the pond.

And maybe even better news: Mercedes-Benz's head honcho Dieter Zetsche announced this week that the German company will sell an electric Smart for 2010, along with an electric Mercedes-branded vehicle. It's likely that both will use lithium-ion battery technology. But 2010 seems like an awfully long time to wait these days, so we slid behind the wheel of the first-gen Smart EVs—part of a research project in conjunction with British electronic specialists Zytek. Closer to reality is the new the micro-hybrid-drive gasoline Smart with a stop/start system. It will be introduced into all gasoline Smart models with the exception of the tuned-up Brabus version (Europe only), beginning in September.­ The new Smart diesel will be introduced in Europe this year, but probably won't make the jump over to the States. —Andrew English


The EV
Based on the previous Smart model, over 100 of these battery-electric vehicles have been converted in Fradley, Staffordshire and are on test all over the UK. The 30kW/41hp brushless, liquid-cooled, DC motor is designed and built by Zytek, with the motor, inverter and controlling electronics in one housing. All that fits onto the conventional engine's three mounting points. The conventional transmission is locked into second gear, as there's no need for more given the torque delivery characteristics and 12,000-rpm peak operating speed of the electric motor. The high-temperature salt battery is a natrium-nickel chloride unit made by MES-DEA of Switzerland, which is mounted under the floor where the fuel tank sits in a conventional Smart.

Top speed is 75 mph and the 0-37 mph acceleration is quoted at 5.7sec, about the same as that achievable with the petrol Smart. Maximum range (with very gentle driving) is 70 miles. But you need to avoid fast acceleration and hard braking to achieve this. Brake gently, and the kinetic energy is recycled as electricity; brake hard, and the friction linings are brought into play, wasting energy as useless heat. The battery can be recharged via a conventional British 220/240 volt socket, and it takes eight hours for a full charge from empty. But it takes three and a half hours to recoup from 30 to 80 percent of its capacity. On the European Combined cycle, power consumption is about 12kW/hrs per 62 miles and at current values this costs around 0.02 Euros per kilometre ($0.05 per mile). The battery can be recharged at least 1,000 times, which in normal use gives a life of about 10 years. Currently, British firms are paying about $750 per month in leasing costs to use these little cars—plus the recharging costs, of course.

Inside, the EV Smart is almost identical to its gas sister, although there's only a two-position gearlever (Drive and Reverse). The charge-level indicator is in the middle of the instrument binnacle. The battery remains hot all the time, so starting takes no more than five seconds after a systems check. Then you simply press the throttle and go.

The little car is quick off the mark as the traction motor delivers all of its 88.5 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels from zero revs. As a result, it's difficult to maneuver in tight places as the car tends to surge forward. You need to keep your left foot covering the brake. You also need to keep your hand on the horn, as pedestrians don't hear the little Smart coming and will step off the sidewalk right into its path—this is going to be an ongoing problem for electric vehicles in built-up areas.

The standard Smart is hardly the acme of ride quality, and with 242 pounds more weight, the electric version is worse. On smooth roads, this electric-powered two seater is fine, but the individual wheel rates are high and the wheels crash into pot holes and sleeping policeman. It's an experience best forgotten. In addition, the electricity-powered air conditioning system is, frankly, a joke.

On suburban roads, though, the electric Smart is a hoot. The limited top speed never seems to be a problem, and there's always enough instant surge to go to for the gaps. Of course, the emissions-free operation only applies to the tail pipe, and fans of pure battery technology always seem to have a blind spot about what lies beyond the plug and where the electricity comes from, but for polluted city centers, the advantages of this silent-running bollide are obvious—even if you end up driving around pedestrians like cones on a slalom course.


The Diesel
In the European Combined economy tests, the standard Smart delivers 50.0 mpg (US) and emits just 116 grams of carbon dioxide on the EU combined cycle. Crikey, is it possible to save more fuel than that? Apparently so. Mercedes is claiming the Smart fortwo CDI's 799cc three-cylinder engine is the world's smallest direct-injection diesel, and that the CDI Smart is the world's most economical series production vehicle. It's also the noisiest.

Compared to the previous oil-burning Smart, this new model has common-rail fuel injection at higher pressures (up to 23,200 psi), new seven-hole fuel injectors and a particulate filter that captures 40 percent of particulate emissions. Power and torque are up 10 percent to 44 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque respectively. Mercedes says it will deliver 71.3mpg (US) and emit just 88g/km in the EU Combined cycle, which comfortably puts it at the forefront of any list of production economy cars. In fact this little car can do 621 miles on a brimmed tank, enough to travel the 1,200 miles between the farthest points on mainland Britain with just one tank fill.

But there's a hitch.

You'll need earplugs. The car, particularly after a cold start, sounds like a cement mixer on methanphetamine. That's from the sidewalk. From inside, the well-insulated cabin is more tolerable. The noise isn't the only disadvantage: top speed is 84mph and 0-62 mph takes nearly 20 seconds. So the diesel Smart isn't going to set the world alight. But for off-the-line bursts, it doesn't feel too bad.

The bête noir of the Smart range has always been its automated five-speed gearbox. While this new model is better, the transmission still blunts the performance by taking so long to swap ratios and occasionally disengaging drive for seconds at a time. You see the traffic gaps open, you bury your right foot and before the car has done anything, the gap closes again ­ it's very frustrating. The Obox is also programmed to rev out towards the 4,000 rpm redline more strongly than suits the engine's torque curve. On occasions it might be better to short shift manually and let the torque do the work. In the end, however, you do learn to make reasonable progress in the diesel Smart by never lifting off, looking as far down the road as possible and anticipating traffic flows to avoid using the brakes.

This latest-model Smart is vastly improved over its predecessor, which was never sold in the US. The trunk has a proper external release, the door mirrors are now big enough to let you spot stuff smaller than a truck behind you and the facia is better made and less toy like. The cabin is more than big enough for two large adults and the trunk will take a couple of small suitcases. The car is also a great deal more stable at freeway speeds, although it still feels top heavy in corners and the brakes are overly sharp. The two-seat cabin also restricts its practicality and makes this something of an urban eco toy for the wealthy middle classes and their nannies. When we get the diesel here in Britain, it will cost about $1,300 more than the standard gasoline model. And unfortunately, we'll not get the new start/stop function that comes to all gas models this September.

You do suffer for the diesel and not just in the sticker price. It's slower, a lot less refined and downright noisy. The upside is the fuel consumption. Over here, diesel costs about $10 a (US) gallon at the moment. A diesel Smart returning this sort of fuel economy is pretty much immune from the effects of the oil-price crisis, which leaves you lots of spare money to buy a nice pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones for when you're in the car—or a high-tech hearing aid for when you leave it.


The Micro Hybrid Drive
The Micro Hybrid Drive (MHD) isn't a hybrid in the accepted sense of the word. The drive doesn't "drive" the car, and doesn't power the air conditioning. This "hybrid" unit is a beefed-up, belt-driven alternator/starter, which simply powers the stop/start function by recharging the battery on over-run and restarting the car quickly. The 70 horsepower, one-liter gas engine cuts out as the car rolls to a stop at under 5mph. And it automatically starts again as soon as you take your foot off the brake pedal.

It's a simple system that has a big fuel consumption benefit. Mercedes reckons the MHD Smart will return 54.7 mpg (US) in the EU Combined cycle, which is an eight percent improvement. Fuel savings could be as high as 19 percent in crowded city streets. In use, it's almost pain-free. Restarting involves a little more noise and vibration than the equivalent system on BMW's bigger diesel MINI. This is not such a bad thing, however, as there is at least the confidence that the engine is actually running when the lights change and you put your foot on the throttle.

The system will be fitted to all non-diesel Smarts from September this year, although the company is vague as to whether US Smarts will get the drive immediately.

We hope they do: it seems like such an eco no brainer. Just imagine if every engine in Los Angeles was stopped as soon as its speed dropped below 5 mph.

What would that do for fuel consumption? Or air-born particulate emissions?

How much sweeter the air would be, how much quieter the sidewalk