At the beginning of the 1990s, research showed that each car carried an average of only 1.2 people. Commuters stuck in rush-hour traffic can look around to confirm this claim.

In addition to increased urban congestion vehicles are driven, on average fewer than 18 miles per day. Vehicles are also parked 90 percent of the time. Finding a parking space can also be a challenge in many cities across the country. The smart fortwo offers a perfect solution to many challenges facing today’s cities while at the same time provides a unique transportation solution for others living outside of a city center.
Joint Venture with Swatch

In 1972 Mercedes-Benz developed the concept of a super compact automobile measuring less than 100 inches. However, at that time technical implementation of the concept was not possible because of the strict safety standards of Mercedes-Benz.

In 1989 Nicolas G. Hayek, the inventor of Swatch watches, announced that he wanted to bring a small city car onto the market. Hayek’s vision was to create a car that could be changed as easily as a Swatch watch. To this day smart owners interchange body panels easily creating a new look to their vehicle in a matter of hours. To realize this idea, Hayek searched for an experienced automotive partner. The joint venture founded in 1994 united the creative strength of Swatch with a hundred years of Mercedes-Benz engineerig experience. The cooperation led to a unique vehicle concept and to a new automotive brand: smart.
Three years after vehicle development work began in 1994, the smart fortwo made its world debut at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 1997. Production began in July 1998 in a new plant in Hambach, France.

The following October saw the new car being sold for the first time in nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland). During the same year, smart became a wholly-owned subsidiary of what is now Daimler AG. The smart fortwo is now available in 36 countries. The USA will be the 37th country to sell the smart fortwo.

The concept and the features of the smart fortwo are ideal for the automotive landscape in the United States that is currently in a stage of brand awareness. The American consumers have become more accepting of smaller vehicles – they seek more fuel efficient options and seek out vehicles that are better for the environment.

During 2007, smart USA executed various non-traditional, experiential marketing tactics. A $99 reservation program began in March which allowed smart enthusiasts to place a reservation on a vehicle that would go into production in the fall. A 50-city road show brought the smart fortwo to reservation holders and enthusiasts across the country. Test drive events were conducted at various venues such as shopping centers, city festivals, Whole Foods Markets, parks and other highly visible areas.

smart was also the exclusive automotive partner of Live Earth, a benefit concert series held in 8 cities around the world on July 7, 2007, to create awareness of global warming and the its impact on the environment. New York City hosted the United States concert. In 2008 smart USA will continue to explore non-traditional, experiential marketing opportunities.

Below are key facts and figures from smart USA’s 2007 marketing initiatives…

* Number of www.smartusa.com website visits – more than 3 million
* Number of registered smart “insiders” – over 95,000
* Average time spent on www.smartusa.com – 5 minutes, 30 seconds
* Number of reservation holders to date – over 30,000
* Number of states registering reservations – 50
* Number of cities visited on the smart USA “street smarts” road show – 50
* Target marketing groups – first time buyers, urban dwellers, baby boomers and empty nesters
* Number of consumer road show test drives – approximately 50,000
* Number of road show “street team” intercepts – approximately 30,000
* Percentage of road show attendees “that could see themselves driving a fortwo” – 90
* Percentage of road show attendees “wanting dealership follow-up” – 71
* Percentage of road show attendees “becoming insiders” – 77
* Why road show attendees would consider a smart – its design, functionality, price, green attributes, fun to drive and solutions to urban issues

smart has its own house

As smart prepares for the launch of the smart fortwo a unique “smart” environment has been created in Venice Beach, California, to express the brand in unconventional ways. Between October 11, 2007 and January 31, 2008, “smart house” will be open to the public as a temporary showroom in Venice Beach. The town villa, furnished in the style of a typical smart driver or “thought leader” is located in the trendy district of Los Angeles that is famous for its role as a trendsetter in culture, design, architecture and lifestyle.

smart house is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Visitors can experience the smart fortwo in a stylish atmosphere and take a test drive. The smart house will regularly host special events such as private concerts, exhibitions, photo shoots and project presentations.

smart dealerships

smart USA will open about 70 dealerships in 2008. Approximately two thirds of the dealerships will be “store in store” concepts with existing Mercedes-Benz dealerships. These stores will have a wall separating the brands and will have a separate entrance, sales and service staffs. The balance of the stores will be stand-alone facilities.

Consumers will experience a unique retail experience. Dealerships will share aspects of their European sister stores. A black faà§ade will wrap around the building and a large smart sign will be placed above the door. Inside the dealership the floor will be white tile and walls will also be white with yellow and black accents. All dealership staff will reflect the brand and embody the smart enthusiast’s forward thinking attitude. Staff will be certified as smart specialists and will have undergone extensive product knowledge training. All staff will have a focus on the smart customer service and satisfaction.

smart USA will open dealerships in the following United States metropolitan areas:
Birmingham, Alabama

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Phoenix, Arizona

Albany, New York
Los Angeles, California

Buffalo, New York
Sacremento, California

New York City, New York
San Diego, California

Charlotte, North Carolina
San Francisco, California

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
San Jose, California

Cleveland, Ohio
Denver, Colorado

Columbus, Ohio
Hartford, Connecticut

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jacksonville, Florida

Portland, Oregon
Miami, Florida

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Orlando, Florida

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Tampa, Florida

Providence, Rhode Island
Atlanta, Georgia

Charleston, South Carolina
Chicago, Illinois

Knoxville, Tennessee
Indianapolis, Indiana

Austin, Texas
Kansas City, Kansas

Dallas, Texas
Louisville, Kentucky

Houston, Texas
Baltimore, Maryland

San Antonio, Texas
Boston, Massachusetts

Salt Lake City, Utah
Detroit, Michigan

Virginia Beach, Virginia
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Seattle, Washington
Jackson, Mississippi

Washington DC
St. Louis, Missouri

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Omaha, Nebraska

Las Vegas, Nevada

The smart fortwo is one of the most economical cars on the world’s roads today. And it is very ecological as an ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV). A state-of-the-art compact three-cylinder gasoline engine sits at the rear of the new smart fortwo. The engine capacity is 61 cubic inches, the output is 52 kW (70 hp).

The gasoline engine achieves an average of 40/45 miles to the gallon (city/highway) under 2007 provisions (EPA 2007). Beginning in 2008 the EPA will recalculate gas milage across the industry. The smart fortwo will achieve an average of 33/40 miles to the gallon (city/highway) according to 2008 regulations (EPA 2008).

The smart fortwo is also classified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) on account of its extremely low exhaust emissions. The catalytic converter is positioned close to the engine for a quick response. An electric pump blows fresh air into the exhaust port when the engine is cold to almost completely oxidize the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) and render them harmless.
Low emissions, low consumption

To ensure adherence to the low emission and consumption values, even with different fuel qualities, the US versions have a lower compression ratio (10.0:1 instead of 11.4:1). This measure enables the engine to run closer to optimum combustion under a high load, resulting in low emissions and low consumption coupled with maximum driving fun.

The sandwich tank made of multi-layer plastic (high density polyethylene) minimizes the fuel vapors escaping into the atmosphere. Emissions are below 0.5 grams of HC per day. The tank module has an active charcoal filter that returns fuel vapors to the tank.
The engine is mounted transversally in front of the rear axle, and is slanted at an angle of 45 degrees towards the rear. Gas exchange is controlled by four valves per combustion chamber. The variable spread angle of the camshafts is controlled electronically for better torque at low revolutions. The camshafts are driven via a maintenance-free chain.

Because the masses being moved are low, there is no need for a balancer shaft which would reduce the output of the engine and consumption efficiency.

Change gears without the need to press a clutch-pedal

The smart fortwo is fitted with an automated five-speed manual transmission as a standard feature. There is no need for a clutch pedal what sets the smart fortwo apart from other small cars. This is because the smart fortwo is desinged for metropolitan areas with stop-and-go-traffic and other characteristics of urban driving making this transmission ideal for a city environment.
Changing the gears does not longer than a conventional manual transmission. Even shift delays (interruptions in tractive power) are on the same level as with a manual gearbox. Nevertheless, the smart fortwo is even more convenient: Instead of stepping on a clutch pedal, one simply can change gears with the shift lever.

The gear shifter

The gear shifter in the smart fortwo reflects a standard American selector lever with Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive (PRND) clearly marked. In addition, from drive mode the gear lever can be moved into a second driving option that allows gears to be changed manually. The gear lever is moved forward to shift up or backward to shift down. The passion coupe and cabriolet models also come equipped with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters that allow for gears to be changed while keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

The automated manual transmission of the U.S. version of the smart fortwo is specially configured for use in the United States. First gear has a somewhat shorter ratio than the European versions to enable the smart fortwo to better demonstrate its spirited nature when pulling away at traffic lights. By contrast, fifth gear has a longer ratio for low revs and a low noise level when cruising.
Like an automatic transmission with a torque converter, the smart fortwo will also creep slowly when the driver removes his or her foot from the brake pedal in reverse or drive. This function facilitates parking or driving in stop-and-go traffic. In creep mode the car moves along at walking speed and can take uphill gradients of a five percent maximum. Creep mode is stopped as soon as the handbrake is engaged.

To improve comfort , the transmission has a kickdown function. This allows the driver to use the accelerator pedal to immediately shift down one or two gears at once, in both manual and automatic mode. In addition incorrect gear changing and over-revving are impossible in either mode because the electronics will only accept logical gear changes.

The parking lock (a standard feature) can only be released when the driver steps on the brake and presses the release button on the front of the selector lever. To ensure that the smart fortwo cannot roll away unintentionally, the ignition key can only be removed in transmission position “Park”.

To facilitate moving off on an uphill slope, the smart fortwo features Hill Start Assist (HSA). When the driver releases the brake pedal when the vehicle is stationary, HSA keeps the wheels braked for a short time. This gives the driver sufficient time to move his or her foot from the brake to the accelerator without the smart fortwo rolling backward. The brake is released as soon as the driver accelerates. HSA makes it easy to drive uphill without the assistance of the handbrake, even on steep slopes.

Environmentally-friendly production

The smart fortwo is produced at “smartville” in Hambach, France. System partners on site deliver the prefabricated modules directly to the production line.

Environmental protection is a high priority in Hambach. For example, only water-soluble paints are used for the smart’s three basic colors – black, white and yellow. Painting the tridion safety cell is done by the powder-coating process. This removes the need for solvents. The body panels with molded-in color, are fully recyclable.

Parts of the underbody and the inner wheelhouses are produced entirely from recyclates. In addition the instrument panel is made partly from the renewable raw material flax.

Protection of the environment is an integral part of all the company’s fields of activity. This does not only apply to the production facility in Hambach, France – it also applies to the smart fortwo itself, from the development and production of the vehicle to its operational period and later recycling.

For this reason, in October 2006, the German à–ko-Trend institute for environmental research certified the smart fortwo as offering a high degree of environment friendliness. In addition to fuel consumption and noise and pollutant emissions, ecological criteria from production, procurement, logistics and recycling to environmental management were all also included in the assessment.

The smart fortwo is a car designed with a high level of safety and technology. It is a trendsetter in terms of safety developments in small cars. The smart fortwo has been subjected to extensive crash and safety tests. The smart fortwo is one of the safest cars in the super mini segment.

During the development of the new smart all worldwide safety requirements, regulations and ratings were considered. Additionally, the new smart was designed and engineered by the safety experts of Mercedes-Benz Cars and meets very strict internal requirements.

Even the first generation of the smart fortwo was the leader among all super minis in a crash test carried out by a major German car magazine. The two-seater also received top marks for its seats and headrests in the whiplash test. In developing the new model, smart was able to build on ten years of experience with the first fortwo generation and, in addition to performing crash tests, numerous real-life accidents were also analyzed.

The tridion safety cell protects its occupants like the hard shell of a walnut. Furthermore, the metal body is additionally reinforced at strategically important points with high-strength steel. Further panel stiffening has also been integrated. For example the side skirts have solid reinforcements reaching from wheelhouse to wheelhouse that offer added protection in the event of a side crash. A small additional bulkhead bolted into the B-pillar has the same function. A double plate made of high-strength steel in the floor supports the pedals and protects the driver’s feet. Connecting plates in the cross members distribute impact energy in a targeted manner.

The tridion safety cell’s longitudinal and transverse members are designed to activate the crumple zone of the other vehicle involved in the accident and distribute the impact energy over the car’s body. The front wheels are designed as a part of the crumple zone and are supported by the side members during certain front crashes.

The U.S. version has a wider front bumper. The crash boxes are 2.5 inches longer than for the European model. They are bolted to the tridion safety cell which enables them to be replaced inexpensively following minor collisions.

The high seating position offers advantages in an offset frontal impact and a side impact. The engine, tank and starter battery are housed in impact-protected zones which makes it nearly impossible for them to penetrate the interior. The rear-mounted engine absorbs impact energy in a targeted manner in the event of a rear crash. The crash management system at the rear also features two crash boxes and the bumper in the new smart fortwo is made of high-strength steel.

Restraint system with four airbags

Every smart comes standard with full-size airbags for the driver and passenger. These are dual-stage airbags that are activated according to the severity of the impact. To predict the severity of an accident even better and activate the front airbags earlier in certain types of impact, the U.S. version of the smart fortwo has two additional satellite sensors in the front end structure.
In addition, the U.S. version of the smart fortwo comes standard with two head/thorax (neck) side airbags, seat occupancy sensor and a knee pad as standard. The passenger airbag (volume: 34 gallons) is located at the top of the instrument panel. It is only triggered when certain parameters are fulfilled and an adult is detected in the passenger seat.

Belt tensioners and belt-force limiters are standard features in the smart. In case of a frontal impact greater than a defined level of severity, the belt tensioners fire to reduce safety belt slack in a matter of milliseconds. The belt force-limiter is designed to reduce the forces on the occupants by permitting additional belt slack thereby allowing the occupants to decelerate at reduced rate.
The seat belt buckle detection reminds the driver and passenger to fasten seat belts with visual and acoustic signals. The passenger seat offers an additional safety function when a child seat is fitted. After the belt strap has been fully extended the belt locks in the desired position when retracted. It can then no longer be loosened, but only pulled tightly. This child seat function is deactivated when the seat belt is fully retracted again. To fix any additional belts (top tether) on the child seat, the smart fortwo has a special anchor point on a cross member in the floor.

The knee pad reaches across the whole width of the instrument panel and additionally reduces the risk of injury in a frontal impact by helping to prevent excessive forward movement of the lower torso and cushioning the knees and lower legs.
esp and abs standard

After seat belts, esp is the safety feature that saves the most lives. Even so, many micro cars do not offer the electronic stability program (esp) even at an additional charge. The smart fortwo comes equipped with esp as standard equipment. The system ensures that the smart follows the course set by the driver. esp uses selective brake intervention and throttles the engine power in order to stabilize the vehicle. In addition, esp also offers a few important additional features: Traction control system, brake assist, differential lock and hill start assist. The latter prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards while on a slope. Furthermore, the anti-lock braking system (abs) is integrated in the esp.

abs prevents the wheels from blocking during emergency braking. This allows the smart to remain controllable in critical driving situations. The hydraulic brake assist automatically initiates controlled emergency braking as soon as the electronics register that the driver has pressed the brake pedal quickly, but not firmly enough. The brake assist function can help considerably to reduce the car’s braking distance.

Side crash

Sitting approximately 8 inches higher than in a comparable small car usually means better protection in car-to-car crashes. Thanks to the sandwich-type design of the tridion safety cell, passengers are usually above the danger zone in the event of a side impact collision.

The smart’s wheels perform a safety function as well. If the smart fortwo is hit from the side, its compact design is of considerable advantage. Thanks to the smart’s relatively short wheelbase of 73.5 inches, the other car will almost always hit an axle, which can then absorb a part of the impact energy.

Side satellite sensors can detect a side crash at an early stage and report this to the airbag control mechanism – this in turn triggers the head/thorax side airbags. The airbag control mechanisms are housed in the side supports of the seats and protect the upper part of the body and the head. Thanks to special gas generators, these airbags inflate more quickly and firmly than their European counterparts. This is advantageous in part due to the large number Sport Utility Vehicles and other large vehicles in the United States. The door frames are made of steel and have solid cross-bracing supports. The seat shells, too, are even sturdier than in the predecessor model. All interior trims have been enhanced to further reduce the risk of occupant injury.

These extensive safety measures have succeeded in achieving a high level of safety for the smart fortwo and its occupants. The smart fortwo safety record is confirmed by numerous crash tests which the new model has passed. These include:

- A frontal impact at 40 mph (64 km/h) and 40 percent overlap against a deformable barrier

- A frontal impact at 35 mph (56 km/h) against a rigid barrier with 100 percent overlap in accordance with US-NCAP

- A car-to-car compatibility test with a current Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 50 percent overlap and each with an impact speed of 31 mph (50 km/h). Despite the high relative speed of 62 mph (100 km/h), all values measured in the smart fortwo are far below the limit values defined by law

- A side impact at 31 mph (50 km/h) against a deformable barrier

- A side impact at 31 mph (50 km/h) against a deformable SUV barrier

- A side impact at 20 mph (32 km/h) against a solid post

- A rear impact at 50 mph (80 km/h) and 70 percent overlap with a deformable barrier in accordance with FMVSS 301

- A dynamic rollover test at 31 mph (50 km/h) and two full overturns.