My-Dream-Cars reviews : Mercedes-Benz Smart Fortwo
Drive the streets of Paris, Rome, Barcelona or London and you’ll see the smart fortwo has become more than just fuel efficient transportation – it has become the “it” car in many countries throughout the world. In fact, we could say that the over one million smart fortwos sold in 36 other countries are now a worldwide statement on innovation, intelligence, functionality and the simple joy of driving.

Now the United States has joined the party. In January 2008 smart arrived to the States leaving its exhibit space at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (it is one of only six cars in the world to achieve this distinction and the only one still in production and on sale today).

Preparations for the smart fortwo began in the early 1990′s with a Joint Venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the makers of Swatch watches known for their wide array of colorful designs. Nicolas Hayek, the inventor of the Swatch watch brought his ideas for an “ultra-urban” car to Mercedes-Benz.

• smart remains a vital member of Mercedes-Benz Cars, a Daimler AG Company.
• smart USA, a division of Penske Automotive Group [NYSE:PAG], is the exclusive distributor for smart in the United States and Puerto Rico. smart USA is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Mercedes-Benz took on this engineering challenge with the outcome of one of the most innovative cars ever introduced. Full development of the concept started in 1994 and the smart fortwo debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1997. The response was fantastic. The smart fortwo garnered more print space and TV coverage than any other car at the show. Production began in 1998 in Hambach, France. That same year, smart became a 100% owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG.

Smart Fortwo
Good things come in small packages and the smart fortwo is no exception. Each model’s revolutionary design conveys innovation, functionality and joy of life.

The base pure model comes standard with convenience features such as a 5-speed automated manual transmission with manual or automatic mode, central remote locking system, 2-spoke leather steering wheel, radio-ready console, and more. Air conditioning, power windows and alloy wheels are optional. Be sure to check out the passion coupe and passion cabriolet that offer more standard features at an outstanding value.

The value packed, sporty and well-equipped passion coupe includes all the features described on the pure, plus much more. Additional standard equipment includes a panorama roof, alloy wheels, air conditioning with climate control, 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles, power windows, electric and heated side mirrors, and AM/FM radio with CD player.

The passion cabriolet has all the features of the passion coupe plus an upgraded radio and sound system that includes an mp3 compatible in-dash 6-disk CD changer. The main difference lies in the soft top with a heated rear glass window that is fully automatic and can be infinitely adjusted to any position while driving at any speed. For the full cabriolet experience, simply remove the side roof bars – taken out in no time – and stow them in a special compartment in the tailgate.

SMART FORTWO PURE
All smart fortwos come packed with standard safety features that are more likely to be found in luxury vehicles. This includes the protective “tridion safety cell”, developed especially for the smart fortwo to help ensure crash compatibility with larger passenger cars, electronic stability program (esp®), anti-lock braking system (abs), and four airbags, to name a few.

The base pure model comes standard with convenience features such as a 5-speed automated manual transmission with manual or automatic mode, central remote locking system, 2-spoke leather steering wheel, and more. Be sure to check out the passion coupe and passion cabriolet that offer more standard features at an outstanding value.

Standard Equipment
Engine / drivetrain

• 1.0 L, 70 HP, 3 cylinder engine
• 5 speed automated manual transmission

Wheels / tires

• Steel wheels with front tires: 155/60 R15; rear tires 175/55 R15
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Exterior

• Solid roof
• Projector beam halogen headlights
• Side indicators in yellow
• Exterior mirror trim in tridion color

Interior

• 2-spoke leather steering wheel and leather gearshift knob
• Basic seat with weight detection and seatbelt recognition
• Flat folding passenger seat with backrest adjustment
• Storage areas beside the steering wheel and in both doors
• Coin holder
• Dome light
• Mirror in passenger sun visor

Storage

• Lockable glove compartment

Audio

• Provision for radio installation (incl. antenna, 2 speakers, aux input jack)

Safety

• Full-size driver and passenger airbags
• Head/Neck side airbags
• esp® – electronic stability program with hill start assist
• Anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution
• Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system
• Integral safety seats
• Seat belts with belt tensioner and belt-force limiter
• Drive lock – auto-activation of the central locking when driving
• Top Tether for child restraint system
• Panic button on key
• Tire repair kit

Functional / electrical equipment

• Manual windows
• Manual side mirrors
• Central locking system with remote control
• Instrument cluster with multifunctional display (fuel-level indicator, coolant-level indicator, residual fuel indicator, service interval indicator, trip mileage indicator, clock, loose gas cap indicator)
• Outside temperature indicator
• Indicators with lane changer function
• Front windshield wiper with speed-dependent interval wiping and wiper-/wash function
• Intermittent rear windshield wiper with wiper-/wash function
• Electric rear window defroster
• Electric tailgate release
• Locking gas cap
• 12-volt socket, with cover

Factory installed options:    

• Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (incl. dust, pollen filter)     $600
• Metallic paint (gray, blue, silver)     $225
• Silver metallic tridion safety cell     $175
• Alarm system     $160
• Power steering     $450
• Heated seats     $220
• smart radio (AM/FM, single CD; incl. 2 speakers, aux input jack [radio 9])     $350
• smart premium radio (AM/FM, mp3-compatible 6 disc CD changer; incl. 2 speakers, aux input jack [radio 10])     $495

SMART FORTWO PASSION COUPE
The value packed, sporty and well-equipped passion coupe includes a panorama roof, alloy wheels, air conditioning with climate control, 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles, power windows, electric and heated side mirrors, and AM/FM radio with CD player.

Standard Equipment
Engine/ drivetrain

• 1.0 L, 70 HP, 3 cylinder engine
• 5 speed automated manual transmission
• Paddle shifters

Wheels / tires

• 9-spokes alloy wheels (15″) with front tires: 155/60 R15; rear tires 175/55 R15
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Exterior

• Panorama roof (sun screen included)
• Projector beam halogen headlights
• Side indicators in yellow
• Exterior mirror trim in tridion color

Interior

• 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with steering wheel shift paddles (incl. leather gear knob)
• Basic seat with weight detection and seatbelt recognition
• Flat folding passenger seat with backrest adjustment
• Storage areas beside the steering wheel and in both doors
• Coin holder
• Dome light
• Mirror in passenger sun visor

Storage

• Lockable glove compartment

Audio

• smart radio (AM/FM, single CD; incl. 2 speakers, aux input jack [radio 9])

Safety

• Full-size driver and passenger airbags
• Head/Neck side airbags
• esp® – electronic stability program with hill start assist
• Anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution
• Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system
• Integral safety seats
• Seat belts with belt tensioner and belt-force limiter
• Drive lock – auto-activation of the central locking when driving
• Top Tether for child restraint system
• Panic button on key
• Tire repair kit

Functional / electrical equipment

• Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (incl. dust, pollen filter)
• Power windows with one-touch lowering function
• Electronic and heated side mirrors
• Central locking system with remote control
• Instrument cluster with multifunctional display (fuel-level indicator, coolant-level indicator, residual fuel indicator, service interval indicator, trip mileage indicator, clock, loose gas cap indicator)
• Outside temperature indicator
• Turn indicators with lane changer function
• Front windshield wiper with speed-dependent interval wiping and wiper-/wash function
• Intermittent rear windshield wiper with wiper-/wash function
• Electric rear window defroster
• Electric tailgate release
• Locking gas cap
• 12-volt socket, with cover

Factory installed options

• Metallic paint (gray, blue, silver)     $225
• Silver metallic tridion safety cell     $175
• Alarm system     $160
• Power steering     $450
• Heated seats     $220
• Fog lamps     $110
• Additional instruments     $120
• Solid roof     NC
• smart premium radio (AM/FM, mp3-compatible 6 disc CD changer; incl. 2 speakers, aux input jack [radio 10])     $150

Option packages
smart premium sound system     $350

• smart premium radio (AM/FM, mp3-compatible 6 disc CD changer; aux input jack [radio 10])
• smart sound system (2 tweeters, 2 mid range, and subwoofer)

Comfort Package     $850

• Power steering
• Leather seats
• Heated seats
• Rain and light sensor
• Auto-off headlamps with exit delay

SMART FORTWO PASSION CABRIOLET
The passion cabriolet has all the features of the passion coupe plus an upgraded radio and sound system that includes an mp3 compatible in-dash 6-disk CD changer. The main difference lies in the soft top, with a heated rear glass window, that is fully automatic and can be infinitely adjusted to any position while driving at any speed. For the full cabriolet experience, simply remove the side roof bars – taken out in no time – and stow them in a special compartment in the tailgate.

Standard Equipment
Engine/ Drivetrain

• 1.0 L, 70 HP, 3 cylinder engine
• 5 speed automated manual transmission
• Paddle shifters

Wheels/tires

• 9-spokes alloy wheels (15″) with front tires: 155/60 R15; rear tires 175/55 R15
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Exterior

• Fully automatic convertible top with glass rear window
• Projector beam halogen headlights
• Side indicators in yellow
• Exterior mirror trim in tridion color

Interior

• 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with steering wheel shift paddles (incl. leather gear knob)
• Basic seat with weight detection and seatbelt recognition
• Flat folding passenger seat with backrest adjustment
• Storage areas beside the steering wheel and in both doors
• Coin holder
• Dome light
• Mirror in passenger sun visor

Storage

• Lockable glove compartment

Audio

• smart premium radio (AM/FM, mp3-compatible 6 disc CD changer; aux input jack [radio 10])
• smart sound system (2 tweeters, 2 mid range, subwoofer)

Safety

• Full-size driver and passenger airbags
• Head/Neck side airbags
• esp® – electronic stability program with hill start assist
• Anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution
• Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system
• Integral safety seats
• Seat belts with belt tensioner and belt-force limiter
• Drive lock – auto-activation of the central locking when driving
• Top Tether for child restraint system
• Panic button on key
• Tire repair kit

Functional/electrical equipment

• Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (incl. dust, pollen filter)
• Power windows with one-touch lowering function
• Electronic and heated side mirrors
• Central locking system with remote control
• Instrument cluster with multifunctional display (fuel-level indicator, coolant-level indicator, residual fuel indicator, service interval indicator, trip mileage indicator, clock, loose gas cap indicator)
• Outside temperature indicator
• Indicators with lane changer function
• Front windshield wiper with speed-dependent interval wiping and wiper-/wash function
• Electric rear window defroster
• Electric tailgate release
• Locking gas cap
• 12-volt socket, with cover

Factory installed options
Single options

• Metallic paint (gray, blue, silver)     $225
• Silver metallic tridion safety cell     $175
• Alarm system     $160
• Power steering     $450
• Heated seats     $220
• Fog lamps     $110
• Additional instruments     $120

Option packages
Comfort Package     $850

• Power steering
• Leather seats
• Heated seats
• Rain and light sensor
• Auto-off headlamps with exit delay

My-Dream-Cars reviews : Mercedes-Benz Smart Fortwo