Britain is set for Automotive Revolution

25 February 2010

From January 2011, motorists will be entitled to a ‘Plug-In Car Grant’ of up to £5,000* when buying an electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell car that meets safety, reliability, performance and warranty standards set by the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) in consultation with industry.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) welcomed the announcement from OLEV that detailed how cars will qualify for the incentives and the grant amount. Also announced were the winners (London, Milton Keynes, North East England) of the Plugged-In Places scheme which saw UK cities and regions bid for investment to further the development of infrastructure required to support ultra-low carbon vehicles.

“This incentive scheme signals a significant commitment by government and industry to promote ultra-low carbon vehicles and is great news for motorists. The UK is determined to be a world-leader in developing ultra-low carbon vehicles, sustaining and creating high-skill jobs, attracting inward investment and producing cutting-edge products,” said SMMT chief executive, Paul Everitt.  “Manufacturers develop and produce new technology where demand exists.  This incentive will help encourage international investment in the UK as well as reducing motorists’ CO2 emissions.”

The Plugged-In Places investment will see the installation of over 11,000 charging posts in London, Milton Keynes and North East England.  There will be another opportunity, in June 2010, for additional cities and regions to bid for Plugged-In Places funding.  Already confirmed as intending to bid are the West Midlands, Cornwall, Sheffield, the Lake District, Greater Manchester, and Northern Ireland.

Since its creation in mid-2009, OLEV has worked with industry to promote the manufacture of, and infrastructure for, ultra-low carbon vehicles.  The £230 million Plug-In Car Grant and £30 million Plugged-In Places scheme were initially announced in March 2009 before being formalised in Budget 2009.

* Motorists will be entitled to a 25% discount from the list price of the eligible car, up to the value of £5,000.  Offer of the ‘Plug-In Car Grant’ will be subject to notification of technical requirements to, and state aid approval from, the European Commission.

Smart fortwo limited three edition    (10 March 2009)

The smart fortwo edition “limited three” is being premiered at the current Geneva Motor Show and can be ordered in coupé and cabrio body styles at the UK’s smart retailers now.

Based on the ever-popular 71hp smart fortwo passion, the new smart is refreshing in every respect and stands out from the crowd thanks to a vibrant melon green metallic paint finish and silver tridion safety cell. Its distinctive exterior is enhanced by sporty six-spoke alloy wheels and aluminium-look limited three logos.

There is a fresh and funky feel to the limited three edition’s cabin too. The car’s colourful exterior is complemented by a luxurious interior featuring a unique upholstery design and subtly contrasting brown leather-effect accents in the door trim and instrument panel.

Extra appeal is provided by a dark brown leather finish to the three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift and the gear knob. The instrument panel, plus dashboard-mounted cockpit clock and rev counter, incorporate matt silver components to add another eye-catching touch.

A smart radio 9 that includes RDS radio, CD player and MP3 compatibility comes as standard although owners can upgrade to a complete smart sound system if they desire. Other optional extras include heated seats, glove compartment and electric power steering.

The fortwo limited three edition also features smart’s innovative micro hybrid drive technology, which is an automatic start/stop function. The engine stops when it senses that the smart’s speed drops below 5mph and the driver is braking.  When the driver releases the brake pedal the engine is instantly restarted.  This system delivers staggering fuel economy; coupé 72.4mpg; cabrio 70.6mpg on the extra-urban cycle and low emissions; coupé 103g/km; cabrio 105g/km.

There will only be limited numbers of the smart fortwo edition “limited three” made available to UK buyers. On-the-road pricing is £9,950 for the coupé and £11,900 for the cabrio.

A motoring marriage made in heaven  (10 November 2008)

And the Kearins are a happy couple as they are benefiting from not only considerably lower motoring costs but also the distinction of owning what could be Britain’s rarest smart pairing – an open-top crossblade and a special edition limited two fortwo.

Seeking improved fuel economy over their previous vehicles, the couple bought the cars after visiting their local smart retailer in Stevenage, and both are suitably impressed.

Jason’s crossblade, which has no roof, doors or conventional windscreen, was one of only 100 examples sold in the UK. Even with winter fast approaching, the keen motorcyclist is savouring the ‘open air’ experience.

“I just love the freedom that it offers and having the open sky above me,” said Jason, who uses the crossblade for his daily commute to Ware where he works as an engineer. “Being exposed to the elements is just part of the attraction and I have full waterproofs or warm clothing to wear when the weather turns nasty.”

Meanwhile Amanda’s limited two was introduced earlier this year as part of a small production run to retain the model’s exclusivity – the car featuring a special light blue metallic paint finish as well as a host of additional extras.

“We only visited smart of Stevenage to look at the crossblade initially but I was taken by the limited two as soon as I saw it in the showroom,” explained Amanda.

“When we did the sums, we decided that I could have a smart of my own too and I’m thrilled to bits as I’ve never had a brand new car before – not least one that includes air conditioning and brown leather heated seats.”

Whilst the couple love their smarts for different reasons, both have been won over by their car’s frugal fuel economy.

“My previous two-litre saloon was costing me £62 per week to run,” added Jason. “However as I’ve been keeping a record, I know that I’m getting an entire month’s worth of fuel for approximately the same amount from my crossblade, which is returning up to 49 miles per gallon.

“Amanda has noticed a significant saving in her petrol outlay too,” he continued. “What’s more, we are both able to tax our new cars for less than what we were paying for one of our previous vehicles.”

Daimler starts car2go mobility concept for the city  (23 October 2008)

On 24 October 2008 the first pilot phase with 50 cars will start in the southern German city of Ulm where car2go will be tested in real-life conditions.

Diminutive smart sizes up big savings for 6ft 7in owner (03 Sept 2008)

A 6ft 7in motorist has found that his new smart fortwo certainly doesn’t fall short when it comes to space or saving money.

Keith Edwards, who is a member of the Tall Persons Club GB & Ireland, opted to downsize to his smart fortwo passion cabrio when he could no longer justify the running costs, or the need, of a large saloon as his company vehicle.

The Business Development Manager has found his 71hp model to be a perfect fit for both him and the 20,000 miles that he covers in a year.

“With air con, CD player and automatic transmission it ticks all the right boxes and I find it remarkably comfortable, even when I’ve completed my regular round trip from Devon to my firm’s headquarters in Cambridge,” said Keith, 42.

“It also only takes 10 minutes to wash and I never tire of people’s reactions when I climb out, but it is the smart’s running costs that have really impressed and as well as saving hundreds of pounds on insurance and tax I’m using about £30 less fuel a month.”

New smart fortwo special edition packed with additions (15 Aug 2008)

smart enthusiasts searching for that certain something extra need look no further than the exclusive smart fortwo special edition - limited two.

Based on the popular 71bhp smart fortwo passion this special edition will be available in coupé and cabrio body styles when it goes on sale on 1st September 2008.

Boasting a wealth of additional equipment and a unique paint finish, which varies between different shades according to the light, the model is destined to become one of the most stylish and luxurious smarts ever produced.

The limited two’s frugal fuel economy of up to 70.6mpg on the extra urban cycle is complemented by a lavish interior featuring cognac brown leather heated seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gearshift, leather gear knob and velour floor mats with leather trim. A rev counter and clock are also added.

As well as limited two badging and six-spoke alloy wheels with 15-inch tyres, the newcomer is distinguished by its special light blue metallic paint finish which displays subtle silver and beige tones depending on the prevailing light conditions.

Owners can also choose to enhance their car’s impressive specification with a trio of optional extras – electric power steering, a lockable glove compartment or a smart sound system.

Prospective buyers will need to act quickly to get their hands on smart’s new edition limited two as numbers of this special edition will be limited in order to retain its exclusivity.  

On-the-road pricing is £9,575 for the coupé and £11,525 for the cabrio.

smart car blasts away opposition in Cannonball Run (07 Aug 2008)

A smart fortwo gave its high-powered opposition plenty of ‘fuel for thought’ when it sprinted to victory in the Cannonball Run – a 3,000-mile dash across Europe inspired by the famous 80s film starring Burt Reynolds.

Life-long friends David Ward and Adrian Hull, from Essex, beat a long list of six-figure supercars in their five-year-old, second-hand smart fortwo BRABUS, which was the smallest car in the 40-vehicle field.

The event, which started at Sandown Park and took in France, Portugal and Spain with a finish in Brighton, saw the duo awarded first place for completing the route at the exact stipulated requirement of an average of 61mph.

It was the smart’s impressive fuel economy that really provided the edge for the 46-year-olds and their Union Jack-liveried smart. The performance version of the iconic smart range, which features a 700cc, 74bhp, three-cylinder turbo engine, is capable of 53.3 miles per gallon when driven on the combined fuel cycle – a factor that enabled the car to spend less time at the petrol pumps than its thirstier rivals.

“The downfall of the bigger cars was that they were forced to stop so often, so while they kept overtaking us, we eventually went past them at the next petrol station when they needed to fill up again,” said David, who runs an estate agency in South Woodford. “We kept at a decent speed and still averaged around 35 miles per gallon.”

What made David and Adrian’s victory even more remarkable was the fact that their smart has all of its original specification apart from a re-mapping kit and upgraded suspension. Competing in their first event of this kind, they were also the only entrants without an in-car satellite navigation system – preferring a traditional European road guide instead.

“Having entered for fun and to raise money for the NSPCC, it’s fair to say that we were surprised to win and I suppose there is a ‘David and Goliath’ element to our victory,” admitted David. “I think the other drivers initially thought it was a hoax that a smart had entered but they gave us more and more credit as the week went on and, at the end, they were genuinely pleased that we won.

“Whilst I think I’ve converted quite a few of them to the merits of smart ownership, the event has just strengthened my admiration for the car,” added David. “The ride and economy are outstanding, you can park it anywhere and there is room for my golf clubs – it’s just a great little car.”

David and Adrian have automatically gained entry into next year’s Cannonball Run but are now planning further adventures in their smart car including next year’s Gumball Rally from Los Angeles to Miami and a drive from Land’s End to John o’Groat’s in just 12 hours.

10 Years of the smart fortwo — a Vehicle with Cult Status Celebrates its Birthday (27 July 2008)

On July 2, 1998, a vehicle with an entirely new concept first rolled off the assembly line: the smart fortwo. On that date an extraordinary success story commenced in Hambach, France. Until now, the compact two-seater has become the vehicle of choice of more than 900,000 customers in 37 countries. The smart fortwo soon got cult status and is the only automobile which is still in production to be displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Since beginning of 2008 the smart is being successfully sold in the U.S. and starting from mid 2009 it will also be available in China. For 2010 the first smart electric drive of the current vehicle generation is planned.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The smart fortwo is a unique car that combines driving pleasure with lifestyle and exemplary fuel efficiency. The two-seater convinces customers worldwide, thanks to its outstanding safety features, the distinctive smart design, as well as top quality, reliability, and economy.  The smart fortwo is a clever solution and fun to drive. Had we not invented it ten years ago, we would have to do so now.”

smart sales approaching the one million mark

In the tenth year since its market launch, the smart fortwo can look back on an impressive sales development. The trendy two-seater has not only become successfully established on the market during this time; over 150,000 customers have purchased a second-generation smart fortwo since the model was introduced in March 2007. All in all, far more than 900,000 smart fortwos have been delivered to customers since the two-seater was launched in 1998.

The smart fortwo in particular is the choice of customers with an individual lifestyle in many major cities all over the world. Whereas the car was initially offered in Germany and eight other European countries, the innovative two-seater is now sold in 37 countries on five continents, including in the U.S., South Africa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, and Canada.

smart fortwo electric drive to be introduced in 2010

At the end of last year, smart launched a pilot project in London, for which the company and selected fleet customers are jointly testing 100 smart fortwo electric drive to determine how the vehicles perform under conditions encountered in everyday use. “We are currently developing a smart fortwo with electric drive and lithium-ion batteries, and we plan to introduce an electric drive version of the current smart generation in 2010,” said Zetsche. “

The success story — 10 years of the smart fortwo

The vehicle developers at Mercedes-Benz began designing the “Car of the Future” back in the 1970s, when they thought of taking revolutionary approaches to create a super-compact automobile. In 1989, Nicolas G. Hayek, the inventor of the Swatch, won the interest of Mercedes-Benz to create a small car for city driving. The two partners established the Micro Compact Car AG, headquartered in Biel, Switzerland. The smart fortwo (known as the city coupe at the time) celebrated its world premiere at the 1997 IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt. In a move that expressed the company’s commitment to Europe, the French town of Hambach was chosen as the production location for smart. The smart plant (also known as “smartville”) commenced production in 1997. The assembly line, which is shaped like a “plus” symbol, optimally fulfills all logistical and assembly requirements. The efficient design of the plant’s production processes reduces transport and logistics effort to a minimum. But that’s not the only reason the location in Lothringen is known for its environmentally friendly production processes: the facility supports the brand’s environmentally responsible nature by means of its environmentally friendly painting process, an energy management concept featuring numerous energy-saving measures, and the design of the vehicles themselves. Sales of the fortwo commenced in October 1998. In the same year, smart became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG (now Daimler AG).

In subsequent years, smart launched the smart roadster and smart roadster-coupe (2003) as well as the compact four-seat smart forfour (2004). After the decision to cease production of the smart roadster and the smart forfour, at the end of 2005 and in mid-2006 respectively, smart focused its efforts exclusively on the smart fortwo. Europe’s youngest automobile brand has also repeatedly demonstrated its creative strengths. For example, it presented the smart crossblade (2002), which was designed without a roof, doors and windshield, and the smart crosstown show car (2005), which featured a trendsetting hybrid drive.

smart today

Whatever their lifestyles or origins may be, customers from all over the world today are enthusiastic about the smart. For many, the smart fortwo is a kind of ‘automotive declaration of independence’. Measuring barely over two-and-a-half meters in length, the car even fits into parking spaces crosswise. The vehicle safely and comfortably transports two passengers, while also having enough room for their luggage. The car is also climate-friendly as it is very fuel efficient and exemplary in terms of CO₂ emissions. Even ten years ago, the smart was thus already providing solutions to many urgent questions related to urban mobility.

The fortwo is a unique car with an eye-catching exterior. Its unmistakable features include a mix of materials that is a hallmark of the brand. The components consist of a steel core known as the tridion safety cell and a flexible bodyshell made of dyed thermoplastic body panels. The smart fortwo’s distinctive design therefore combines various functional, aesthetic, and safety requirements to create something totally new. That makes the two-seater not only a visual trendsetter among micro cars, but also an automotive icon that embodies functionality and the enjoyment of life.

The success story continues with the second generation

The second generation of the smart fortwo was launched in April 2007. The new model follows in the footsteps of its predecessor and once again sets new standards when it comes to safety features for small cars. The vehicle’s tridion safety cell acts like the hard shell of a nut to protect the car’s occupants. Not only does this allow the smart fortwo to meet the very demanding safety standards of Mercedes-Benz Cars, it also fulfills the requirements of EuroNCAP and of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Standard safety equipment in the smart fortwo includes full-size airbags for the driver and passenger as well as seat-belt tensioners and belt force limiters. Head-thorax sidebags are available as an option. Another standard feature is esp, which is not even available at a surcharge in many other micro cars. esp incorporates hill start assist and the abs anti-lock braking system. The hydraulic Brake Assist system is also fitted as standard.

The diesel-powered smart is the world champion for low CO₂ emissions

In the rear of the smart fortwo is a compact, cutting-edge three-cylinder engine with a displacement of 999 cubic centimeters. The engine versions currently available in Western Europe consist of two naturally aspirated engines generating 45 and 52 kW (61 and 71 hp), respectively, as well as a turbocharged engine with an output of 62 kW (84 hp). A three-cylinder turbo engine also powers the smart fortwo BRABUS, generating 72 kW (98 hp).

The brand also offers a diesel variant — the smart fortwo cdi, which is the world champion in terms of low CO₂ emissions. The 33 kW/45 hp two-seater consumes an average of 3.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (NEDC) and can travel for about 1,000 kilometers before having to be refueled. At 88 grams per kilometer, the car also has the world’s lowest CO₂ emissions of a series-production vehicle. Twenty percent of smart drivers in Germany and Italy take to the road in the fuel-efficient diesel variant.

To further reduce CO₂ emissions of the gasoline engines, smart also offers the smart fortwo mhd (micro hybrid drive) in Europe. The vehicle has an output of 52 kW/71 hp and is equipped with an intelligent start/stop system that automatically turns off the engine when the car moves at less than 8 km/h and the driver applies the brakes. The engine turns on again as soon as the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal. The start/stop function reduces standard consumption by about 0.4 litres — from 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres to around 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres. CO₂ emissions meanwhile are reduced from an average of 112 grams to approx. 103 grams per kilometre.
 

Thirteen proves lucky for smart (25 June 2008)

How many people can you fit into a diminutive smart fortwo?

The amazing answer is 13 following a car cram staged to help celebrate smart’s 10th anniversary. Owners and visitors to the annual smart Destination Brooklands event held at Mercedes-Benz World, the UK’s leading automotive brand experience centre at Weybridge, were invited to take up the smart-packing challenge.

With the drivers and passengers of 1,200 smarts attending the event there was no shortage of potential participants but the winners proved to be the aptly-named ‘smart car-tortionists’, a group of body-bending specialists chosen for their gymnastic feats. They included Iona Luvsandorj, semi-finalist in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent TV series.

With remarkable flexibility, a total of 13 contortionists managed to climb aboard the micro smart which measures just 2.7 metres long by 1.6 metres wide, proving that the fortwo is small on the outside and big on the inside.

Said Iona afterwards: The interior of the smart is tardis-like and I think we exceeded the crowd’s expectations of how many people we could fit inside it.”

New smart TV advertising campaign reinforces safety credentials (02 May 2008)

smart will be the subject of a new television advertising campaign starting on Sunday 4 May.

The three adverts dramatise some amazing facts about smart and show how safe, practical and economical the smart fortwo is. 

The “Wrecking Ball” advert challenges people’s preconceptions and shows smart’s market-leading safety credentials by daring to smash a one-tonne wrecking ball at 25mph (40kph) into the car.  During filming, the steel tridion safety cell, that protects occupants in the event of an accident, absorbed most of the impact and the car emerged virtually unscathed, with minimal damage.

The “Space” ad shows the versatility and practicality of the fortwo as a normal sized tumble dryer is loaded into the back of the car and “Fuel Efficiency” highlights how economical the car is, travelling 433 miles from London to Edinburgh on just one 33 litre tank of fuel. 

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “The ads highlight incredible facts about the car in a uniquely smart way.  For example, the “Wrecking Ball” ad shows how well the fortwo stands up to a collision and proves that, in the case of smart, size is no barrier to occupant protection.”

During the filming of the safety advert, a stuntman sits in the car.  After seeing how well the car performed under testing, he declined to wear a safety helmet and harness.  After filming he was able to open both doors and the car could be driven away.

Kelly continued:  “The car used in the filming of the safety advert will be on display at Mercedes-Benz World during the television campaign and the smart Festival, taking place on Saturday 21 June.”

The advertising campaign will be supported by a direct mail campaign and online advertising.  Enquiries will be directed to a smart microsite where people can find out more about smart’s credentials in a fun and interactive way.  For more information log onto www.truthaboutsmart.co.uk