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Smart at the Geneva Motor Show
Sales of the Smart Fortwo rose by 39 per cent in the past year, and by the end of the year the Smart will be represented in 41 countries worldwide. Smart is the intelligent combination of lasting, future-oriented technology and individual, urban mobility, with joie de vivre. The Smart story is a success story as the two-seater Smart Fortwo is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Last year sales rose to a record 134,700 cars - this corresponds to an increase of 39 per cent on the previous year. These figures are first and foremost due to the great success of the Smart Fortwo in the USA and two-digit growth rates in the established European markets. In the USA 24,600 vehicles were delivered to customers in the first year of sales alone. This makes the United States the third largest market for Smart after Italy (33,800) and Germany (32,000). Smart in 41 countries More than a million Smart Fortwos have been delivered to customers since the launch of the first model in 1998. Today, customers on five continents and in 37 countries are able to enjoy the car. In the course of 2009 the Smart Fortwo will be introduced in Brazil, China, Denmark and Serbia. Smart will then be represented in 41 countries around the globe. Intelligent technology and low fuel consumption The current models boast low fuel consumption and minimum carbon dioxide emissions. The Smart model range also includes the Smart Fortwo cdi which is the CO2 champion with its unparalleled low emissions of just 88 g/km. Furthermore, since October 2008 the two Smart Fortwo mhd petrol models with 52 kW and 45 kW engines have been equipped with an intelligent and user-friendly start/stop system that further reduces fuel consumption. This means that 7 out of 10 customers in Europe who opt for a petrol model are able to take advantage of this environmentally friendly technology. The Smart Fortwo can therefore demonstrate an impressive track record on the way to a ecologically-friendly future.
Smart electric drive A development focus for Smart: in September 2008 the brand presented the second generation Smart Fortwo electric drive. From the end of 2009 a small series of the new electric vehicle featuring an innovative lithium-ion battery will roll off the production line. Anders Sundt Jensen, responsible for the Smart brand, describes the special position of the Smart Fortwo: "Smart sets standards in many respects. The Smart Fortwo has not just become a popular car worldwide as the only 88 g/km CO2 city car with compact dimensions meeting urban mobility needs and an innovative concept combining functionality with joie de vivre - it has established an entire new class of cars and sets the benchmark that all others have to live up to." Smart tests electric drive in numerous cities around the world
The Smart Fortwo electric drive has long since rung in the era of zero emission motoring with battery-driven vehicles. The electric Smart concept celebrated its world premiere in 2006. As early as 2007 the first pilot phase of practical customer operation started for the Smart Fortwo electric drive with its quiet and highly efficient electric drive that produces no local emissions. Since then a fleet of 100 Smart Fortwo electric drives of the first generation has been tested in everyday operation in London. The electric Smarts are leased to private customers for four years and have to demonstrate that they can cope with the tough demands of daily city use in real-world conditions. Smart regularly invites the customers to workshops where they report their experience, enabling Smart to gather valuable feedback.
Encouraging results for the Smart Fortwo electric drive The environmentally friendly sodium-nickel-chloride battery has a range of approximately 100 kilometres. After covering an average daily distance of 40 kilometres it can be fully charged again in four hours at any standard 230 volt socket. When the battery is almost empty the maximum performance is reached after a charging time of eight hours. The battery installed under the vehicle's floor supplies energy for an electric motor that is fitted at the rear of the vehicle in place of the usual three-cylinder combustion engine. This enables the Smart Fortwo electric drive to reach a top speed of 100 km/h. Even with the relatively high prices for electricity in Germany compared with other countries costs of just two euros per 100 kilometres are incurred – less than the price for two litres of diesel. Second generation with lithium-ion battery The London customers have given very encouraging feedback on the first generation Fortwo electric drive models which are still fitted with sodium-nickel-chloride batteries. This is why Smart confidently presented the current Smart Fortwo series with a further-improved electric drive at the Paris Motor Show in 2008. This second generation of the Smart electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including better performance, shorter charging times, a longer life and high reliability. Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche says "From the end of 2009 we will start producing the Smart Fortwo electric drive with a lithium-ion battery." Smart Fortwo electric drive in major cities in Europe and the USA The Smart Fortwo electric drive will initially be produced as a limited series. In addition to gathering further technical experience with the new battery, this phase will first and foremost be used to gather practical experience from customers who will then be incorporated in the further development of the zero emission vehicle concept. In Europe the vehicles will initially take to the roads of Berlin, Paris, Rome, Milan and Pisa, with further cities planned. Several cities are also being considered in the USA. e-mobility Berlin and e-mobility Italy As electric vehicles are expected to spread rapidly (also from other manufacturers), Daimler is actively engaged in extending the charging infrastructure in order to make widespread operation easy and straightforward. This is why the projects "e-mobility Berlin" in cooperation with RWE and "e-mobility Italy" in cooperation with ENEL have been set-up. In "e-mobility Berlin" with the support and cooperation of the Federal Government and the City of Berlin, the two companies aim to devise ideal conditions in Berlin for driving battery-powered electric vehicles that do not produce any local emissions. RWE is providing 500 electricity charging stations and Daimler is providing more than 100 electric Smart and Mercedes-Benz cars. The aim is to provide an intelligent overall system. Ultimately, intelligent communication between the electric vehicle and the power network should be made possible so that the battery can be automatically charged with low-cost electricity when the network is not being used to full capacity, for example off-peak electricity. The project "e-mobility Italy" which will start in the cities of Rome, Milan and Pisa follows the same concept. Here, Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Italia and the Italian utility company ENEL are working closely together. Smart Fortwo electric drive offers innovative driving fun with a clear conscience With the small series production of the Smart Fortwo electric drive from the end of 2009, the various fields of application in population centres in major Smart markets and the planned marketing of larger volumes from 2012, the car brand is underlining its pioneering role in developing environmentally friendly, sustainable concepts for individual mobility of the future.
Smart Fortwo BRABUS electric drive
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 a near-series Smart-BRABUS show car, featuring electric drive and a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery, has celebrated its world premiere. Here, ecology and a feast for the senses go hand in hand. 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.
Smart Fortwo "edition limited three"
A special edition of the Smart Fortwo is celebrating its world premiere at the 79th Geneva Motor Show. Smart is welcoming the (northern) spring with a special series featuring melon green metallic paintwork and extensive equipment, thus continuing the tradition of unique and successful Smart special models. The new special finish of the spring model injects a fresh shot of colour for the new season and harmonises extremely well with the tridion safety cell. The 15 inch alloy wheels in a sporty six-spoke design fitted with tyres measuring 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear are a further eye-catching feature. The exterior look is rounded off by exclusive aluminium-effect "limited three" logos in the mirror triangle. The interior also boasts an unusual, fresh design concept in terms of colours and materials. Here, the melon green metallic colour scheme is continued in an exclusive fabric design with shades of brown providing a stylish contrast, for example on the seats and in the door trim. The instrument panel featuring dark brown leather-effect details also continues the fresh play of colours that contrast with the green fabric. The 3-spoke sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift is covered with dark brown leather, as is the gear knob. Shimmering matt silver trim parts round off the harmonious impression of the interior. The new edition, which is available as a coupé and a cabriolet, is based on the "passion" equipment variant. Among other features this comes with softouch automatic gear programme, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and for the coupé a panoramic roof with sunblind. The standard equipment of the "edition limited three" also includes dashboard instruments and the radio 9. Power steering, heated seats, a lockable glove compartment and the Smart sound system with five high quality loud speakers and a Smart MP3 interface are optionally available. The special series of the new Smart Fortwo also places a focus on "green" when it comes to the environment thanks to micro hybrid drive (mhd) technology as standard with an intelligent and user-friendly automatic start/stop system. The control electronics shut down the 52 kW engine as soon as the driver brakes and the vehicle's speed falls below 8 km/h – for example when approaching traffic lights. The engine starts again in the fraction of a second when the driver releases the brake pedal. The system is perfectly tailored to the automated manual transmission of the Smart Fortwo and is fully automatic. The automatic start/stop system reduces the combined fuel consumption by approximately eight per cent (NEDC consumption per 100 km: coupé: 4.4 litres, cabriolet: 4.5 litres). It also reduces the CO2 emissions to 104 grammes per kilometre for the coupé and 106 grammes per kilometre for the cabriolet version. Fuel savings of up to almost 20 per cent are possible in urban traffic with frequent stop-and-go situations. The vehicle will remain a rare pleasure as the limited production run makes virtually every car a one-off item. The Smart “edition limited three” is not planned for the Australian market. More Smart News ..... here | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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