Smartster's Posts - 451 smart fortwo

May 5th Update from the Road...

2008-05-05T04:00:00.000Z

Sorry this is a multi-post as life on the road is a LOT harder then I had figured, haven't even had the chance to figure out how to get the 5 web cams I now have in the car to work with my lap top, but there is hope to figure that out for tomorrows events.

So I will combine a few things in this post, later i will create posts for each of the different days, but here goes what I have:

At smart USA headquarters on the 1st was great, meet some of the management of smart USA, they tech'ed my project car and prepped it ready for the Cannonball / One Lap of America. While we tried to install the new header and exhaust system the parts didn't fit perfectly and need a few more hours work then we had that day, so those will be put on when I get back from the Cannonball.

Some photos taken out front of the dealership and wow they sure have a lot of smarts on the lot, but none as pretty as my forfiveone :)

The next day is was registration and the day that I had to put all the stickers on the smart, there are photos from members that came out to the tracks here http://www.451s.com/photo and I'll post them along with many others when I get the chance.

While there where over 70 vehicles entered into the event almost everyone wanted to sit in the smart, ask a million questions and/or make a joke and have a good smile over the smart in this event, nobody said anything bad they all where very happy to see the car in the event.

May 2nd, no track evens where held but it was a great fun day.

May 3rd there were 2 track events, the first was the wet scid pad text, where you drive around a circle as quick as you can creating gforce while turning, this was my first ever time doing this type of event and the first time the smart was being timed and watched. So I'm happy to say I did good, I beat at least 10 cars out of the 71 that where entered :)

Then it was off to Road America race track and man what a bad drive, not as bad as hitting the snow storm in Canada on the way to the the event but 2 hours of bumper to bumper traffic sucks. Arrived at the track, had a few smart people out was great to see you, will post more on that all soon.

This would be the first time the smart would be on a track and no idea what will happen. Got video from the car all around the track, and happy to say I didn't have any issues, the smart and I ran great! I finished down but overall I was still not in last place :)

Then it was off for my first long drive with my new co-driver who I didn't know anymore then I know anyone in this forum, is strange to have someone you never met and no nothing about in charge of my baby (the smart) and my own life, but I have faith it will work out...

We headed off to Iowa, was a long drive, we got 3 hours sleep in the hotel and then it was off to the track where we ran the track, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This time the smart did good, was a shorter track and easier to keep my speed, again have all the in car video coming soon. After these 2 events I was back down to last place, but there has been 7 cars that have broken or crashed, so the smart is doing good :)

After the event is now as I write this, on the road heading from Iowa to just outside of Houston, Texas, nearly 1,000 miles.

We left the event with 2 other cars the GameXchange BMW and one other BMW we cam a cross a few other drivers along the first part of the drive, then we had a nice little meeting with the Kansas police, they where so nice to have a bunch of police cars come out and meet us and have a tuned BMW coming behind us at over 120mph to come and say hi to us. I guess they really wanted to say hi, after introductions and a good ecommendation on how to drive we said goodbye and set back on our journey. You can read what you want into the above, NOBODY was arrested, NO tickets where given.

Then it was back to driving, many people giving the thumbs on, flashing and cell phones are common, I sure in the coming weeks there will be a few flickr and youtube postings of cars on the highway.

Ok so right now I am at mile marker 50 in Oklahoma and in 5:47 based on what TomTom says I'll be in my hotel room sleeping for 3 hours before I have to head off to the track, where we will have someone from smart USA, someone from the smart aftermarket world in attendance.

Again I'll divide this post up in the coming days, but like I said its really hard to get anything out as during the day we are so busy and in the nights we are driving or sleeping and since I'm not driving its time for me to sleep...

April 30: smart Event @ smart Canada

2008-05-01T16:02:51.000Z

Whats better then free pizza and drinks, how about free pizza and free drinks with a bunch of fellow smart enthusiasts, well thats what we had thanks to smart center Kitchener.

There was a great turn out, people drove from all over the place, even one special member Randy Zimmer who drove up from New York. Why is he special well he drove back with one less part of his smart, he actually had build a full carbon fiber hood flap for me to use during this years Cannonball/One Lap. Many many photos of that are coming soon.

It was really nice to meet many of the people that I've been talking with via the forums, it makes this smart site a little more real and fun for me and I think for many like Randy it was a great chance to meet and talk shop with people outside of just the salesman/parts department manager.

We had a great couple hours at the dealership, most of the smarts that showed up were the old 450 model and was great to see what they all have done with those cars, gives me hope for the 451 in the after market world.

I'll post photos from the event and if my video camera was working I have some video of the mini-cruise that we did with our smarts, that was a fun part of it all.

Updating this post with more details, but just a little tired, going for a nap, have a few more hours of driving before I'm back at a hotel to relax and get a good rest in a bed.

April 29: Halifax to Ontario

2008-05-01T15:53:07.000Z

Well I headed out from Halifax at 5pm, was a little late getting out as needed to make a stop at BestBuy to get a few extra camera parts and a whole lot of memories cards, but was out on the road at 5.

This would be the first time that I put the smart on the highway for longer then 30 minutes, so a lot of unknowns, but after the first 2 hours I was smiling as the smart handles and was for me no different then driving any other vehicle.

I drove and drove, first thing that got me on the brakes where some dear crossing the highway, was a nice reminder to think about animals and a nice test of the brakes, they passed the test.

After that was getting some heavy rain, had to slow down a bit but wasn't concerned as the tires are designed to handle the weather. It wasn't till the rain turned into snow that I started to worry, it was the end of April and it was snowing and it was night, so slow and cautious I went.

I got into Quebec and was very disappointed by the roads they are single lane and not well kept, add to that about an hour into Quebec I hit a full on blizzard, if it wasn't for my HID fog lights I wouldn't have even been able to see the road. I drove about 5 minutes to the first off ramp, took the off ramp and ended up pulling behind a building and curling into a ball across the seats to try and get some rest and wait out the storm. BTW the smart has daytime running lights and they can't be turned off, even with the e-brake up, so with the car on to keep the heat I had a nice glare, which is why I parked the smart behind a building.

After just over an hour of a very unique way of sleeping I was back on the road, the snow storm had passed and I was back to lite rain. About another 5 hours on the road then it was enough driving for me and my body, just outside of Montreal I grabbed a hotel room and had 4 hours of nice sleep.

Back on the road at around 7am and into morning rush hour in Montreal, wasn't a pleasant part of the trip, never liked stop and go traffic when you can also see miles ahead of you with nothing but traffic.

After Montreal it was easy driving straight into smart Canada, which was a nice sight to see, will blog about that shortly...

(photos and videos yet to be uploaded)

2008 smart car Manual

2008-03-01T16:00:00.000Z

Thanks to David here in the smart commuity we have a copy of the 2008 smart fortwo owners manual, this is the US / Canada version, if there are members with the European version plesae post it into the community.

Here is the PDF in an online/web PDF viewer, its large file over 300 pages, but its full of really smart information ;)

Enjoy:

451 smart fortwo Passion Review After 200km

2007-12-18T01:00:00.000Z

Driving around the city and out on the freeway for the last couple weeks has given me some more things to praise the smart on and things that should be mentioned to future owners.

There is really no complaints about the car as while the shift delay is there and isn’t going away after just 200 km’s I’m used to it and able to control where/when it has the shift delay but I still wish it would go away completely.

Something that I should mention to people buying the new 451 is that you will notice a burning smell coming from the intake vent and from the rear of the car. This for my car was really strong for the first week but has almost completely disappeared now. So don’t worry your car isn’t burning its just cooking off the residue that’s left on the engine during production.

Something that I didn’t notice at first but one of the mechanics at the smart dealership pointed out is the needle on the speedo actually drops down and out of view when you turn the car off. This gives a really clean and professional look to the speedo as it means when you turn the car on you see the speedo come to life.

It has gotten very cold here in Canada often minus 5 or below so I’ve had the chance to put the car’s heater and heating seats to test. The heater on the car can get warm within 3 minutes but within the first minute you’ll be nice and warm thanks to the heated seats. The seats warm up really quickly and on the full setting, so much that it is actually hard to keep it on the full setting.

Every morning I have to cross a very high and long bridge that has major crosswinds and while the smart does move around a little nothing that makes it hard to drive. The real issue in terms of floating around is doing 120+ on the freeways as while it has enough power to get there the power steering is a little effective for my liking. At high speeds the steering movements become far too easy and it feels like if you let the wheel go it would just spin around in a circle. Maybe I can remove the power steering belt, but judging by the manual it’s on a serpentine belt.

I do have the upgraded stereo package which does have a sub under the drivers seat but you’d never notice it and its at a point when I do some of my work on the car next weekend I’m going to remove the seat and see if its actually connected. Oh I’m also removing the seat as I dropped an SD card down the side of the seat and there is absolutely no way to get it out without actually removing the seat as it is really packed in under the driver’s seat.

Something that was a pleasant surprise was the smart alarm system that I opted in for. When I ordered it I knew nothing about what it would be, didn’t even know the price. But the price was cheap $210, which is cheaper then I paid for the brabus pedals and well worth the money. The alarm system has your standard if someone opens the door or trunk it will go off but the part that really shocked me was it has a motion senor for the interior. This means if you happen to leave your window down on a hot day and leave someone on the seat or in the glove box they’re somewhat safer as if someone puts their hand in the window the alarm goes off. In my test I put my hand in about 4 inches and the alarm went off, so it is nicely sensitive. This should also mean that if someone breaks the glass the alarm would go off, but I don’t know and not going to test that out.

I’ve done 300km on the car and I’m still on my first tank of gas, so no idea what the gas mileage will be but its far better then my old X5 and I’m sure that I’m not going to take $100 to fill the tank as it did on my X5. I really didn’t buy the car for ultra low gas mileage so I’m happy with what ever results I get and won’t be meticulously keeping track of my mileage.

The best part of my smart is that it’s my smart, I’ve wanted one for so many years that like a new born baby its perfect even with the little imperfections it has. I really think I made the right choice with silver on silver as it’s the most neutral yet sport design but I will probably end up buying a yellow panel set to bring some color to the smart once and awhile. The other color combination that I really like is black on black as it makes everything match so well and if it wasn’t so hard to keep clean I’d probably think about buying a black on black, but if you like to wash you car then I’d say black on black is a really great color combination.

Smart Car Dealership Now Selling the Smart 451

2007-12-16T01:00:00.000Z

I’ve opened up the first International smart dealership, that’s right I have the 451, fortwo, forfour, and crossblade all in stock in my very own smart tower. Be one of the first people in the US to own a 451 smart car or grow your smart collection.

If you are confused you need to take a look at the photos a little closer as yes those are just smart 451 toy cars and that smart tower is a model of the smart tower’s they have in Europe. As for the cars being available for sale, their not but if you drop me an email and have been a good boy/girl maybe Santa will send you one for Christmas.

If you haven't noticed I'm a smart fanatic, so far I've gotten a bunch of the toys, smartware shirts and accessories. I have even gotten some really cool smart books (yet to arrive) and will be posting details on the rest of my smart collection in the coming months.

2008 smart Pricing and Accessory Guide

2007-12-12T01:00:00.000Z

This is the Canadian price guide for the 2008 smart, while its missing a few recent additions to the accessories catalog it does have all the factory and dealer installed options listed.

I myself wasn't able to get any better deals then the prices listed, some have said they can get 15% off but the pricing is still reasonable enough and if you can get them to add it to your car loan then might as well stock up.

There are a lot more accessories that will find there way into Canada and the US over the next year and I found out recently that smart Canada plans to import as many of the options from Europe as possible, hopefully that means it will be cheaper then going directly to European dealership to order parts (which I've been having to do at this point).

Text from PDF

open your mind.

>> The all-new 2008 smart fortwo coupé & cabriolet. The 2008 prices.

>> Optional equipment.
Exterior
tridion safety cell in black (in conjunction with door mirror caps & radiator grille in black) tridion safety cell in silver (in conjunction with door mirror caps & radiator grille in silver) bodypanels in deep black crystal white light yellow silver metallic red metallic blue metallic Panoramic roof (includes sunscreen) Solid roof (coupé)
l l l l l l l l l l

pure coupé $14,990 
—

passion coupé $18,250

passion cabriolet $21,250

MSRP ($)





430 430 430 540


—


—



Wheels/tires
15” steel wheels with wheel covers Design 5, 15” 9-spoke alloy wheels


—

—

—





Interior
Upholstery colours: grey design black design red design beige Leather seats Dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter)


— — — —

—

—

l l

l l

750 160

l

Functional/electrical equipment
Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (includes dust and pollen filter) Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors Heated seats Front fog lights Anti-theft alarm system Electronic power steering (eps) Sound system
 Standard ● Optional Available as an option at no extra cost l l l l l l
—

  
l l

  
l l

850 250 350 145 210 700

 

 

— Not available

>> Standard equipment.
Safety:
esp® - electronic stability program with hill start assist Anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution Full-size driver and passenger air bag Head/thorax side air bags tridion safety cell Safety seats with integral seat belts Seat belts with belt tensioners and belt force limiters Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with servo assistance Hydraulic brake assist Crash elements at front and rear Drive lock – automatic door locking when driving Passenger seat occupancy recognition system Tire pressure monitors

Interior:
Passenger seat backrest can be folded right down for through-loading Storage compartments on passenger side, next to the steering wheel and in the doors Storage compartment in tailgate (coupé) Coin holder (coupé) Interior lighting Make-up mirror in passenger sun visor Lockable glove compartment

Functional/electrical equipment:
5-speed automatic with manual shift mode Central locking with radio remote control, immobiliser and panic function. Power windows Instrument cluster with multifunctional display (digital gear display, fuel gauge with reserve indicator, coolant display, service interval indicator, trip recorder, clock) Radio 9 (pure), Radio 10 (passion) Exterior temperature indicator Indicators with lanechanger function Comfort windscreen wipers with speed-sensitive interval wiping and automatic wipe/wash function Rear window wiper with interval wiping and automatic wipe/wash function (coupé) Heated rear window Electric tailgate release Rear window release (coupé) or remote roof release (cabriolet) via 3-button key Tank cap integrated in the central locking system 12 volt socket Single tone horn Auxillary jack in glove compartment

Exterior:
bodypanels in deep black, light yellow or crystal white H7 projection headlights Side indicators Door mirror caps in tridion colour Third brake light

>> Equipment lines.
pure
Solid roof 2-spoke leather steering wheel and gear knob Radio 9 Steel wheels with wheel covers (15”) front: 155/60 R 15; rear: 175/55 R 15, all season tires tridion safety cell in black Door mirror caps & radiator grille in black Colour of upholstery: Grey Contrast components in the colour: Pearl grey Fabric elements on instrument panel; colour-coordinated with upholstery

passion
Panoramic roof (includes sunscreen) Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (includes dust and pollen filter) Electrically adjustable heated mirrors Electronic power steering (eps) Heated seats Radio 10 with 6-disc CD changer Sound system 3-spoke leather sport steering wheel and leather gear knob Design 5, 9-spoke alloy wheels (15”) front: 155/60 R 15; rear: 175/55 R 15, all season tires Luggage compartment cover (retractable includes net bag) tridion safety cell in silver Door mirror caps & radiator grille in silver Colour of upholstery: Design black, design red or design beige Contrast components in the colours: Pearl grey, pearl red or pearl beige; colour-coordinated with upholstery Fabric elements on instrument panel, door trim and knee pad; colour-coordinated with upholstery passion logo in mirror triangle

Specific equipment for the cabriolet: Electric tritop fabric soft top (fully automatic) with heated glass rear window and headlining. Removable roof bars, storage compartment for roof bars in tailgate.

>> Accessories.1
pure coupé $14,990
All-weather floor mats Bike rack 2,4 bodypanel fresh up kit Car cover CD box (for 6 CDs) Chrome fog light rings Chrome Package Luggage net set 3 Ski rack 4 Snowboard rack 4 smart sound system (2 tweeters, 2 midwoofers) smart design sticker (black or silver) Storage box for sunglasses Subwoofer Trunk tray 5 Wheel lock set
l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

passion coupé $18,250
l l l l l l l l l l
—

passion cabriolet MSRP ($) $21,250
l l l l l l l l l l
—

60 85 1630 215 60 150 500 85 230 75 305 215 55 385 110 110

l l l l l

l l l l l

1 Suggested pricing only. Dealer may sell for less. Installation is extra. 2 Single bike only, holder for second bike available separately. 3 Not available in conjunction with the trunk tray. 4 Requires the separate purchase of the basic rack. 5 Not available in conjunction with the trunk net set.

>> Warranty/service.
New car warranty: 48 months or 80,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. Adjustment period: 12 months or 20,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. Emission warranty: 24 months or 40,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. On certain parts, 96 months or 130,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. Surface corrosion: 48 months or 80,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first. Perforation: 60 months unlimited kilometres. The smartmove Assistance Program provides 24-hour breakdown assistance within Canada, free of charge for 4 years after the vehicle’s initial registration. Services include battery boost, flat tire inflation, winching/extrication, and towing.

Cert no. SW-COC-002293

thesmart.ca
Prices do not include transportation charges, GST and provincial sales taxes, if any. Prices valid on date of delivery apply. Dealers are under no obligation to accept the suggested retail prices. If the dealer elects to sell at a price other than the suggested retail price, they will in no way suffer in his business relations with Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. or any other person. All data in this price list is based on the latest information available at the time of publication. Mercedes-Benz reserves the right to make changes at any time, without notice. Some vehicles may be shown with non-Canadian equipment. Some vehicles are shown with optional equipment.

smart Canada Division 98 Vanderhoof Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9 1-877-627-8004 © 2007 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. smart-07-PCSCD-43 10/07

Photos from smart - Frankfurt 2007

2007-12-11T01:00:00.000Z

While I have had this press kit for a couple weeks I'd forgot to upload the photos till today. Sorry about that as know many of you have request more high res photos.

If you've already looked at the Geneva photo's these will not be much different, but they do have some nice action shots of the the Brabus. Again if you are looking over these and if you find one that you like you can download it from Picasa or contact me for a high res version.

Here is my favorite from the batch, I really love the Brabus headlights and looking forward to when they arrive from Europe next month.

IAA Frankfurt 2007

Photos from smart - Geneva 2007

2007-12-11T01:00:00.000Z

The good people at smart created a wonderful kit full of information on the smart 451, which I received today.

It contains a 108 amazing high quality photos of all the models and even has a inside look at the different parts that makes up the new smart.

The kit also had all the technical data for the models that are sold here in North American as well as in Europe, but for the site what I've done is upload all the photos from the kit.

You can take a look at the many photos at the link below and here is my favorite photo out of the kit:

International Motor Show Geneva 2007

2008 smart one of Playboy's 2008 Cars of the Year

2007-12-10T01:00:00.000Z

This will go a long way in helping show that the smart while small and often referred to as "cute" is definitely something any man can be proud of owning.

I'm far from ashamed that I own and drive a smart daily, in fact before I bought my 2008 smart I was driving a $70,000 BMW X5 and very happily switched into the smart. As it's not about the price or the name on the car, it's about what you get and with the smart you get one amazing vechile.

Owning a smart is something to be proud of as not only are you making an environmental and culture statement but the styling is very sporty and elegant at the same time. I love cars and have owned a few but my smart is definitely one of my favorites.

While style is always subjective to different view points, if you are still undecided about the smart all you need to do is drive it for 5 minutes and you'll become a smart enthusiast. thinking of the smart as a "car" is like thinking of Vegas as a "city" yes the smart is a car but its much more then that and until you've actually driven/seen one its hard to understand what the hype is about.

Delivery Delay & Recall on Canadian 2008 Smart's

2007-12-05T01:00:00.000Z

The thousand plus smart's sitting lonely at the dock's here in Halifax is the first sign that something is wrong at smart Canada. Dealers were not told of any issues when orders where places and even when the very first batch of cars arriving into the country dealers where kept unaware of any issues. Only shortly after the arrival of the 2008 smart (end of October) did smart Canada say that there was an issue, but blamed it on Transport Canada not getting paper work processed quick enough.

This maybe was believable for a few days, but weeks went on and I myself even saw Transport Canada approval stickers on the 2008 smart's at the dock so really questionedthis reason. There was even more wild speculation of why the cars have been delayed by over 1 month, ideas from a rebate issue, actual Transportation Canada issue or smart International simply holding thing up till the US smart was ready.

While all those seemed logically possible this last week an undisclosed source (one of the smart dealership owners) released a copy of the email from smart Canada to all dealerships as to why the delay. The reason quoted from smart Canada:

"I'd like to update you on the smart situation. All vehicles currently on ground in Canada require a new SRS control module before delivery. Units at VPC will all be reflashed starting week of Dec 3rd and released. In order to reflash the units already at your dealership (including the launch units), you will receive (next week) new SRS control modules which must be exchanged with the new version control module before the unit can be RDR/delivered. Please discuss with your Service & Parts Manager to ensure they are aware of the shipment & aware of the labour required. Control modules will be delivered free of charge and in the event you issue a warranty claim, you can only charge the labour. Work instruction are presented in WIS, with document number AR91.60-P-0623MCU, if a you require additional information, please call technical service. Important: Next week, our National Sales Department will announce the date you can start deliveries. Do not RDR/Deliver any smart until this notice. Please keep this info confidential between Sales Managers and Fixed Ops managers until we announce delivery dates. "

While I can understand smart Canada wanting to ensure the public didn't hear about a safety issue related to the smart as people already fear they are unsafe, but those who believe in the smart have been hit a little hard with all this smoke and mirrors. Not to mention the fact people who've bought and paid for their smart are still waiting on deliver which should have happened over a month ago.

It would be very disappointing for smart to launch publicly this way, but luckily the media attention is focused on the US launch of the smart and what happens here in Canada doesn't really take much notice. Now if something should delay the US launch of the smart, especially something related to the safety it would most defiantly cause some negative effects, so lets all hope the US launch goes smoothly all all those smart's here in Canada can spend a white Christmas with their new owners.

Follow-up on this: There has been some other International news ( http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/22062007/323/daimlerchrysler-recalls-smart-cars-faulty-steering.html ) on a recall of 1,650 smart's but smart didn't disclose where/which country received these recalled vehicle, but it could be Canada as the number is very close to the number of smart's at the dock & en route to Canada. This could further delay the Canadian smart's or worse yet delay the US smart's if those are the models effected.

Jay Leno's Review of the New 2008 Smart Car

2007-11-30T01:00:00.000Z

A amazing review of the American 2008 smart passion coupe cabriolet model by Jay Leno, one of the biggest car enthusiasts in the United States.

I really enjoyed the video and glad that Jay said "the lighter the vehicle is the easier it is to stop" and further pointed out why the car is safe and could be safer then your typical car.

Also glad that they pointed out the color change option of the car as its a great little option. It reminds me of when I was a kid and we had Hot Wheels that you put under hot/cold water to change the color of the car.

One thing you should notice or not notice in this case is the noisy coming from open window/top down driving. While I've not driven a cabriolet model, they do seem like great cars for summer driving.

Oh, I wonder how long it will be before someone come out with a computer mod to disable the traction control ;)

Brabus Ultimate 112 (451/2008 smart fortwo)

2007-11-25T01:00:00.000Z

Well anyone who has ever said the smart is slow has never seen the new Brabus Ultimate 112 as while its not going to be breaking any records with a 0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds.

Ok that's Km/h, but its still fast for this size of a vehicle and makes for a while ride behind the wheel. The 0 - 100 Km/h (0-60 Mph) is 9.5 seconds, which is a 3.8 seconds fast then the base smart. BTW that's almost a 30% improvement in performance.

While here in Canada and the United States we'll probably never get to see one of these models sold, but if you are interested and have 45,900 Euros ($67,000 USD/CAD) laying around then hop over the pond and pick yourself up one. But I'm guesses at $67,000 plus shipping, duties and everything else needed to get the car road ready the cost wouldn't be anything other then say Mr. Penske himself that could afford one of these.

So for the rest of us, here is the best I can offer, which is the brochure of the Brabus Ultimate 112. Enjoy and if anyone does end up buying one in North America please do post as you'll have a lot of new best friends :)

Smart 451 Roof on Passion Coupe

2007-11-23T01:00:00.000Z

If you have the passion coupe model of the new 2008 smart 451 then you are in for a treat as the roof is not only amazing for the driver its an amazing feat of engineering.

While most think its glass, actually the roofs in the new 451's are actually made of plastic (Makrolon® Polycarbonate) and are very durable and light weight. It was built for smart by Bayer (yes the aspirin company) and at present is the largest roof made of plastic.

Having this seamless roof in the smart really opens the car up and once you've driven it for awhile any other car you drive will feel like your driving from within a cave.

I think in Europe the 451 smart pure has a solid roof with the option of getting this roof, go for it if its an option, but here in Canada and the United States you'll only get it on the passion coupe model as the cabriolet model of course has a cloth roof.

Canadian 2008/451 Smart Passion Review

2007-11-12T00:30:00.000Z

Today I manage to get an hour with a Canadian version of the 2008 Passion smart car. While at present the smart isn’t able to be driven in Canada due to the engine not being approved by transport Canada yet, I managed to get the keys to one and get lost driving around Halifax for about an hour.

Before I went driving I went over the car to get an idea of what if any differences there where to what has been reported to date. The exterior of the car is inline with what the European models have and I couldn’t spot any differences.

Inside the smart there aren’t too many differences, the only things I see different is the addition of the low tire button and the different digital gauge. While the low tire button isn’t a big deal, it is nice as running low tires on the smart surely could cause poorer driving experience. The low tire warning I was happy to find out will work even if you update your rims/tires as it based on tire rotation and doesn’t actually have any sensors that need to be attached to the rim/tire.

The digital gauge is a great improvement to the one offered in Europe. Reason I say that is while they both provide the same output features the Canadian version has centered the gear selection. They have also made this part of the display larger and while I’ve not driven the European version on the Canadian version they give up shift and down shift prompts. This will be really great for those (like me) who didn’t purchase the REV pod option.

I enjoyed looking around the car, actually there were several to look at so I managed to check out the pure, passion and cabrio models all of which are nice but the addition of the sun shade and the other standard features in the passion really makes the pure looking a little empty it terms of features.

Ah one thing sadly missing on the Canadian smart 451’s is auto up/down windows. While they are power they don’t bring over the auto down/up feature that is being offered in Europe. Maybe this along with things like the cruise control offered in Europe will be an easy aftermarket upgrade.

So on to the actual drive. I got in and since was in an open parking lot I just swung out left and headed for the road, but damn when I went to hit the brakes I was met with what felt like pushing on a stationary brick. Saying that the brakes are a little stiff is an understatement but after awhile I got used to giving a little more pressure, just was a big oh shit moment as at least I had enough time to still brake before the truck I was braking for drove on by.

Turning left hand heading off gave me my first impression of the lag between shifts. As at the start I had left it in D and was hoping the computer would be able to make nice clean shifts, boy was I wrong. Don’t ask me why but if you drive with the car in D the computer shifts way to early and has much more drag, but if you put it into the manual mode the computer will still do all your shifting for you but at much higher rev points dropping the lag time from around 1.5 seconds to about half a second. I’ve posted an example of the lag while using the manual mode and letting the computer do the shifting, it is another post.

While the car is rated at a 13.3 seconds 0-60 times it gets really great low end times, nothing was timed officially but I’d feel comfortable going off the line against most cars. I would have really loved to have the turbo version here in North America and if the American’s get the Turbo Brabus version I can see my crossing the boarder to upgrade. But maybe smart will allow some type of upgrade package with warranty for all North American 451’s.

Other then the lag between shifts you will definitely notice the engine, sound/noise. While it is well insulated the car does still produce a lot of sound in the cabin, especially when letting the car reach into the higher RPMs. For me this was fun and I really wouldn’t have it any other way, but it did take a couple minutes for my mind to realize that the reason I was hearing nothing from the engine compartment was that my brain was still used to engines being upfront. A quick rethought made me realize that that sound wasn’t all exhaust/muffler sound coming from the back.

While I love the car and the sound is great, it does actually have hesitation while stopped at lights, it almost sounds like a standard. But the strangest sound would be the knocking sound that is very easy to hear/feel while stopped at lights. Had I been told it was a diesel I would have believed as it sounded like your typical diesel engine. Thought maybe this was some tuning issue with the car I had picked to drive but asked after and was told that they all have the same sound. Maybe it’s a mass tuning issue.

The power steering is really obvious as sitting at lights you can flick the steering wheel back and forth with a pinky finger and doing u-turns you feel like your turning and turning the wheel before you get to the rods end. While I didn’t do a lot of highway driving the time I did spend at over 100 it didn’t feel like the steering was lose so maybe they have some speed sensitive tuning on the power steering?

Today in Halifax the weather was cold, it snowed late in the day but while I was out driving the smart said it was plus 4 and while I didn’t turn the heater fan on in the car the heated seats ensured that I never felt cold. While then only have 2 settings, I had it set to max, the heated seats give off a nice array of heat. It was enough that like I said I didn’t need to even turn the fan on in the car, which will mean hopefully no need to install command start/warm up kits.

The transmission is your standard P R N D with a manual 5 speed option. While in P (park) the car is stopped and doesn’t move, while someone mentioned this might be via locking the breaks it felt like your typical transmission lock. To use the manual 5 speed you just move the shifter to the left and then control the up/down shifts via the steering wheel paddles. Oh the steering wheel paddles are really great, so much fun, even with the lag between shifts its fun to have control.

Gear rations in the smart seem perfect for the size of engine as the first couple gears are great for the low end power and actually even going 100 in forth was more then comfortable. 5th gear is very tall and I would say that other then high speed highway driving you would probably not use it. When trying to use 5th around the city at around 60 it felt like the car would stall out, most of the time around the city I was in 2nd and 3rd. This will be good news for those who need to do highway driving as you’ll have the gear ratio that will allow you to keep up with the rest of the traffic and with you iPod playing through the high-end speakers and subwoofer the sound coming from the engine at those higher RPMS won’t drive you crazy.

Will try and get some photos up and while I tired to take some video using my phone’s camera they didn’t really turn out well. But next week I’ll get more video and will try and rig something up to actually take some steady shots.

Ok the last thing I will mention is something that really impressed me and made the smart a little extra fun to drive. That is the speedometer as most cars have a speedo that goes up to 260 and with most people never getting close to that it means your regular driving range 20 to 60 only accounts for maybe a fifth of the speedo. But not on the smart, they’ve actually made the 60 mark the middle of the speedo, so when you step on the gas you can not only hear the engine, feel the engine, you see that speedo needle climbing quickly. While it’s more of the illusion of speed its still a good feeling that makes the smart a little more fun to drive. Also with the speedo setting 60 at the mid point when you set the car at 60 it just looks so nice as the smart is very symmetrical.

Shift Delay on Smart 451 Between 1st and 2nd

2007-11-11T00:30:00.000Z

Here are two short video's showing the delay between the 1st and 2nd shift, this is with the pedal to the floor on the manual shift mode of a Smart 451 Passion Canadian 2008 model.

Smart Cars in Halifax Dock

2007-11-11T00:30:00.000Z

There where only 70 smart's but that number went up to almost 1,000. These first couple photos are smart's in the service area here at the dock. The majority of the cars are parked in the green area below.

Below is outlined in green the area currently taken up by smart's, its easily the largest single type of car sitting at the dock as most cars come and then get put on trains within a few days. The smart's have been sitting there for over 1 months now.

The delay has left almost 1,000 smart's sitting at the dock but its hard to get a good photo of them all as they are up on a hill, but here is a recent video of the cars just wiating for a place to call home.

This is the same color and model as my smart car, it might be mine, but I couldn't get close enough to see if it had leather interior.

Canadian 2008 smart fortwo 451 all Models

2007-11-01T04:00:00.000Z

While the car's might not be all here yet the brochure for the Canadian model of the 2008 smart car is and its well worth a read. Even though the American version will have a few different options most of the things are the same in terms of the engine spec and style.

Smart USA hasn't released a brochure yet and I would think part of the delay is that some parts the US smart is getting are actually exclusive to the US and smart hasn't had time to get this all printed. Canada basically used the same brochure that the UK smart had for 2007.

This brochure has a great list of optional accessories also. For me I bought my smart long before the brochure and took in good faith that I ordered the right parts and it turned out the only part I didn't order (rev/clock pods) can be dealer/self installed in less then 30 minutes.

A little side story about me and my personal love for the smart. It all started in 1999 in Austria as I was touring all over the world and ended in Austria for a few days. The main center in Vienna has a ring road that goes around it and on that ring road are a few highend car dealers, Ferrari, Porches and this one dealership I'd never heard of before "smart" which had some interesting cars inside. I went in and it was love at first site, I had calls into the bankers that afternoon to see about buying one and how to get it home, which at that point was Switzerland. I never did end up getting the car, but I did get the brochure and had that thing for years, recently thanks to the power of eBay I've rebought a mint conduction version of that 1998 brochure and boy does it bring back memories.

What I am getting at is I hope that this brochure can start a few people on their way to owning a smart, it might take 10 years like it did me but in the end it will be well worth the wait.

Text from PDF

>> The 2008 smart fortwo.

open your mind Engine and transmission Safety Respecting the environment Winter driving coupé and cabriolet Standard equipment Design and equipment lines > pure > passion Options Colours Accessories > smart > BRABUS Service Tables > Technical data > Standard equipment > Options

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>> Mobility begins in the mind.
You’ll only find unusual solutions by asking unusual questions. “open your mind” is a call to question the status quo, take a different angle and risk a fresh approach – all essential elements when broadening your horizons. As demonstrated by smart and the smart fortwo – an extraordinary vehicle concept for greater mobility in ever denser urban traffic. A concept that simply makes more intelligent use of the ever diminishing space available in our towns and cities. Does a car need a rear seat – when it carries an average of just 1.2 occupants in urban traffic? Isn’t a hood a waste of space – when the engine can be accommodated at the rear? Is size really a measure of safety – when an innovative safety concept offers optimum protection in a vehicle measuring just 2.69 m in length? All valid questions in an ever evolving world.

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>> When less car means more.
Towns and cities offer a vast array of amenities. But what’s the use of having countless shops, restaurants and cafés, if you can’t find anywhere to park nearby? In the smart fortwo you’ll soon discover a host of new places to park – because all of a sudden the smallest parking space is more than big enough. At the same time, you’ll enjoy an amazing feeling of space inside and a trunk that has no problems accommodating your shopping and luggage. In addition, the raised seat position offers a clearer overall view of the traffic situation and makes getting in and out of your spot a breeze. Apart from the added comfort, the smart fortwo also provides more flexible and agile motoring in towns and cities. Getting from A to B is less hassle and quicker. This is also thanks to the exceptionally tight turning circle of only 8.75 m. Moreover, the smart fortwo gets by without a clutch – for relaxed motoring, even in rush hour. And the best part is the fuel gauge shows very little movement. Small wonder, in view of the economical engine and the low overall curb weight which can be directly attributed to the smart fortwo’s lightweight body components in high-quality plastic. The result is an excellent power/weight ratio, which means improved performance and reduced fuel consumption. Plus, these components are refreshingly robust and scratch-resistant, shrugging off light bumps practically unscathed. As you can see, there’s more to the smart fortwo than meets the eye.

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>> Getting more out of life.
In the smart fortwo you’ll discover new sides to life every day – and enjoy a freedom you’ve never experienced before. A smart is even good for other motorists, too. Thanks to its limited footprint the compact smart fortwo leaves more space for other cars. Plus, its low fuel consumption is kind not only to your wallet, but to the environment too. After all, reduced emissions means a better quality of air for everyone. And everyone knows low fuel consumption means low running costs. When you think about it there are far better things to spend your money on than fuel, taxes or insurance premiums. So you needn’t have any qualms about popping into town on a Saturday afternoon. Just look forward to a relaxed, hassle-free trip and the luxury of finding a parking space without any fuss. The surprisingly large luggage compartment is the icing on the cake offering more than enough space for your weekly shopping or your luggage for a weekend trip.

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>> The engine: Where low consumption meets high performance.
The larger and higher-powered 3-cylinder in-line engine remains consistent with the vehicle concept of the smart fortwo. With a capacity of under one litre, it is extremely compact, space-saving, and thanks to its all-aluminium design, particularly light. And despite its low fuel consumption and low emissions, offers impressive technical data. All of which adds up to enhanced agility and better performance.

>> The engine. With 4 valves per cylinder (12-valve engine) and 2 hydraulically adjustable camshafts, the new engine generates plenty of torque even at low revs. The naturally aspirated 3-cylinder in-line engine with a 999 cc capacity comes standard with 70 bhp. So whether you’re traversing the urban labyrinth or hitting the open road, you’ve got more than enough power at your disposal.

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>> The transmission: The height of convenience – and fun.
The newly developed 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode now provides for even faster gear shifting, virtually free of any delays. The smart fortwo offers a user-friendly automatic gear program – which does away with the need to use a clutch pedal. A feature you’ll find particularly convenient in town and city traffic. The new transmission also features a kickdown function which changes down by one or two gears when appropriate. Simply press the accelerator right down to harness the engine’s full power potential.

>> Steering wheel gearshift. For sportier gear shifting and even more driving fun you can change gears using the shift paddles on the 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel. Which means you’ll never have to take your hands off the wheel. Alternatively, you can also use the gearshift lever. (Standard on passion models.)

>> 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode. The 5-speed automatic transmission allows for manual shifting for ultimate control. Just move the shifter to the left to engage manual mode. Forward shifts result in up shifting and pulling back on the shifter results in down shifts.

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>> The smart safety concept: Guardian angel on board.
Despite its compact dimensions, the smart fortwo’s crash management system and special design provide for the best possible all-round passive protection.
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> 5 > 1 tridion safety cell: Sturdy, rigid and tough. The high-strength steel safety > 2 cell is additionally reinforced with high-strength steel components at strategically important points to protect the occupants’ survival space. At the same time, side and transverse members ensure the even distribution of impact energy.

> 2 > 3 > 4 > 4

> 5 Safety seats with integral seat belts: The modular sheet steel structure with integrated headrests gives these seats a higher level of mechanical stability. In case of impact, belt tensioners reduce any slack in a matter of milliseconds. At the same time, belt-force limiters carefully release the necessary length of belt to avoid exerting too much pressure on the chest.

> 2 Crash boxes: smart has further developed the crumple zone. In minor collisions, the steel deformation elements at the front and rear ensure that the tridion safety cell itself remains undamaged.

> 3 Sandwich-type construction: The raised seat position means that you will generally be positioned above the direct danger zone in the event of a side-on impact.

> 4 The wheel as a shock absorber: The short wheelbase means that the other vehicle involved in a side-on crash will almost always hit the wheel and the suspension components behind. In a head-on collision, the front wheel is supported by the side member, thus absorbing a substantial proportion of the impact energy.

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>> esp®, abs, tridion safety cell. Keeping you safely in control.
Active safety systems help you to avoid critical situations. Active accident prevention is intrinsic to the smart fortwo: The electronic stability program (esp®) is a standard feature in every smart. When the vehicle is in danger of swerving, esp® throttles the engine torque and brakes specific individual wheels in order to stabilize the car. Hydraulic brake assist makes a decisive contribution to driving safety, too. It automatically initiates controlled emergency braking when you step on the brake pedal quickly but not firmly enough. The anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution ensures that you are able to brake and steer simultaneously in critical situations. There are also numerous passive safety systems in the smart fortwo for your all-round protection. First and foremost the tridion safety cell and the crash management system. Protection is also provided in the event of a head-on collision by two full-size 2 stage front airbags, belt tensioners and belt-force limiters – and by the safety steering column, which is capable of retracting out of harm’s way when necessary. Plenty of space has also been left between the car’s occupants and the front windshield. In addition, all interior bodyshell surfaces in the interior compartment, such as the A and B pillars are clad with light grey polypropylene panels. In case of side-on impact, the robust door structure in steel and standard head/thorax side airbags afford the necessary protection. Seat occupancy recognition system senses the fortwo’s passenger weight and determines the deployment mode of the front passenger airbag. In the front area, deformable plastic body components offer improved pedestrian protection. These are provided with thick foam backing in certain areas, in order to minimize the risk of injury in the event of a collision. As a brand of Mercedes-Benz Cars, smart benefits from the high-calibre expertise and experience of Mercedes-Benz in the field of safety.

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>> Shouldn’t an innovative car also be produced in an innovative way?
Not only have we challenged the concept of the car and driving from an ecological perspective, we’ve also challenged the way that cars are produced. The result: smartville - one of the most modern car factories on the planet. Here, lots of things are new and nothing is left to chance. After all, a car designed to be eco-friendly can only be produced in a factory where the environmental aspects have been thoroughly thought out. Many components are produced on the premises of the system partners. This saves transport costs, packaging material and enables just-in-sequence production: all parts are delivered in the exact order in which they are required. By powder coating the tridion safety cell, smart has set new standards in the automotive industry. This process uses 40% less energy than conventional painting methods. Solvent emissions are practically zero. And paint slurry is a thing of the past too. Industrial waste water and sewage are purified in a biological waste water purification plant. The Biosep process employed meets state-of-the-art technical standards. This enabled the waste water contamination to be reduced from the equivalent of that produced by a population of 3,000 to just 50. In other words, smartville does not pollute the environment any more than a village with 50 inhabitants. These are just some of the many innovations that enable us to ensure environmentally compatible and sustainable car production.

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>> Going round in circles can also mean progress.
All phases of the product lifecycle were and are integrated into a strict ecological concept. From the development of individual components to the construction of the smart plant in Hambach, the performance of the smart in use and finally, its recycling.
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For example, some components are already made from renewable raw materials and 100% recycled plastic. This guarantees efficient disassembly and is a prerequisite for being able to recycle the bulk of the vehicle. Our vision for the future is to close this cycle. This is the only way to achieve our aim of building cars that are as environmentally friendly as possible throughout their whole lifecycle - from the production process through to recycling. On the way to achieving this, the smart brand is already setting a milestone for ecological compatibility with its dynamic and continuously improving environmental management system. The result is an alternative method to producing cars we can all live with.

Great importance was attached to an ecological lifecycle right from the design stage. Starting with the production process that is as environmentally neutral and resource-saving as possible, through to ecological and economical use and particularly high level of recycling at the end of the vehicle’s life. In addition to smartville, the modular design of the smart is an excellent example of forward thinking car building. Many components of the smart fortwo have experienced several lives. This is possible because even the materials selected have been chosen for their minimal environmental impact and maximum recyclability.

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>> Get a grip on winter. Experience exceptional handling.
From blizzards and black ice to sleet and frigid surprises, as Canadians we all know winter driving has its trials and tribulations. Which is why the smart fortwo was specifically designed with active safety systems such as electronic stability program (esp®) which helps you to stay in control and brake assist (bas) which automatically initiates controlled emergency braking. The rear wheel drive, rear-engine design also offers optimal weight distribution which allows the smart fortwo to perform well in snow. All of which are key components in a sophisticated active safety management system painstakingly designed to keep you out of harm’s way regardless of the forecast. So when Old Man Winter decides to make life a little slippery you’ll be prepared. Safe and snug in the security of your refined and redesigned 2008 smart fortwo.

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Acceleration

More go in the snow. See for yourself how active technology improves acceleration in winter conditions.

Control

Keep control in the cold. The smart fortwo’s revolutionary active technology improves control in winter conditions.

Acceleration Skid Control (asc). Slick roads have met their match. The smart fortwo asc detects drive-wheel slip and prevents loss of traction by braking the slipping wheel. Power can then be re-directed to another wheel with more traction. Hill Holder. So you’re on a slope. No sweat. When you remove your foot from the brake to pull away, the wheels remain braked for 0.7 seconds, giving you enough time to move your foot to the accelerator without the car rolling backwards. Grip under acceleration. Because the smart fortwo has a rear engine, the rear weight of the engine is over the drivewheels to provide optimal traction between the front and back of the car. This gives it better grip in slippery conditions, which in turn gives it better acceleration.

Electronic Stability Program (esp®). Winter can cause your car to do unwanted things. Like swerve. Fortunately, the smart fortwo’s esp can sense when you’re about to fishtail, and applies the brakes to individual wheels and adjusts engine power to stabilize the car. Cornering Brake Control (cbc). The technical: If you brake on a curve, the cbc ensures optimal distribution on the brake force over the wheels. Translation: Your smart fortwo stays on the road. Chassis Balancing. The smart fortwo is a rear-drive, rear-engine vehicle. As such, the weight distribution allows the vehicle to perform extremely well in snowy, icy conditions. Which is ideal for those times when winter gives you a chilly reception. Tire Pressure Monitoring. Don’t let your tires fall flat. smart’s easy-to-read dash indicator will alert you when you’ve lost 20 percent air pressure in one or more of your tires. Now that’s a breath of fresh air!

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Braking

Stop on a frozen dime. See how the smart fortwo’s active technology improves braking in winter conditions.

Comfort

Get that warm, fuzzy feeling. Check out some features that will keep you comfortable this winter.

Anti-lock Braking System (abs). Come winter, there are going to be times when you simply have to slam on the brakes. Not a problem. The abs with electronic brake-force distribution will prevent wheel lockup, enabling you to properly steer your smart fortwo. Brake Assist (bas). Let’s say you need to brake. And fast. bas automatically initiates controlled emergency braking and generates the high braking pressure necessary for abs control. The distance it saves could end up saving something else. You. Cornering Brake Control (cbc). When you corner, a varying load is put on the wheels. This is especially the case if you start to brake. But thanks to the smart fortwo’s cbc, optimal distribution of the brake force is maintained.

Heated seats. This could be the greatest invention in the history of mankind. Well, at least that’s what you may be thinking as you recline in the comfort of your heated seat, while the temperature outside drops rapidly. (Optional on pure, standard on passion models.) Heated door mirrors. Here’s the thing about mirrors. You can’t see all that much if they’re caked with ice. Hence, you can get electrically adjustable heated mirrors if you so choose. Nice. (Optional on pure, standard on passion models.) Ski/Snowboard rack. Know what’s really comfortable? Having a lot of space. And thanks to the ski/snowboard rack available for the smart fortwo, you will. It can carry up to 30 kg, which means your interior will remain uncluttered by skis. (Dealer accessory.) Cabriolet. Re-designed cabriolet roof with heated rear glass window.

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>> The smart fortwo coupé: The smart in its classic guise.
Because there’s always plenty to see in the city, the smart fortwo coupé features a large panoramic roof (standard on passion models) made of break-resistant polycarbonate. It lets in the sunshine to provide for a marvellously light and airy interior. Unless you decide to use the integrated sunscreen, that is. The pure coupé comes with a solid roof made of robust plastic – black on the outside and with a textured surface finish. Another special feature of the smart fortwo coupé is that the tailgate and rear window can be opened separately. Opening only the rear window provides just enough room to place smaller items in the luggage compartment. Plus, it can be unlocked by the radio remote control. A new feature is an additional storage compartment in the tailgate that helps to keep things neat and tidy in the luggage compartment.

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>> The smart fortwo cabriolet: Room for two on the sunny side of the street.
Now when the sun smiles down on you, you can smile back. The fully automatic tritop fabric soft top with heated glass rear window offers a variety of options to suit all conditions – from the folding soft top that can be opened to any position to the fully open top for a full-blown cabriolet feeling – all at the touch of a button. You can also go the whole nine yards and remove the roof bars, which can be neatly stowed away in a special compartment in the tailgate. The folding soft top in a robust black polyacrylic fabric can even be opened and closed as you drive along. Alternatively, you can open it before you set off, of course – simply by using the remote control in the 4-button key. The rear top can be folded up to facilitate loading of the luggage compartment. The new scratch-resistant and heated rear window in safety glass also provides added comfort and safety. Whatever the weather.

>> The standard equipment: The smart fortwo is brimming over with ideas.
There are many things that make the smart fortwo particularly practical and functional. And most of these solutions are not even apparent at first sight. Clever technical features such as automatic hill start assist, for example. Or the comfort windshield wipers with speed-sensitive interval wiping. Electrical release of the tailgate at the push of a button. Central locking with radio remote control including panic button and the 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode with kickdown function. Other practical features include the passenger seat backrest which can be folded right down for easy loading. Or the large service flap at the front, which is very convenient for topping up coolant and windshield washer fluid. It goes without saying that every smart fortwo also comes with a comprehensive range of safety features as standard, including esp® and abs. But that’s not all, there’s much more such as:
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> 1 The drive lock function: When you set off, drive lock activates the central locking system automatically. This means the doors can only be opened from inside, not from outside – for safety’s sake.

> 2 Central locking with radio remote control and immobilizer: The doors can be locked and unlocked using the remote control in the 4-button key. The remote control also operates the rear window release (coupé), roof release (cabriolet) and panic button.

> 3 Automatic hill start assist: To ensure you move off safely on upward slopes, the brakes remain engaged for a moment, until you step on the accelerator. This gets you off to a comfortable start and prevents the car from rolling backwards.

> 4 H7 projection headlights: These large headlights in clear-glass look provide for bright and uniform illumination.

> 5 Glass rear window on the cabriolet: Heated rear window in safety glass – for a clear view towards the rear at all times.

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> 6 Service flap: Easy to remove and attach to the front of the vehicle, i.e. when topping up coolant or windshield washer fluid. The bulb sockets of the H7 projection headlights are also readily accessible.

> 7 Multifunctional display: All key information at a glance – i.e. gear display or fuel gauge. From a level of 5.0 l the remaining fuel is indicated to an accuracy of 0.5 l. Trip recorder, outside temperature, time and service interval indicator can also be called up at the touch of a button.

> 8 Tire pressure monitoring: Don’t let your tires fall flat. The smart fortwo’s easy-to-read dash indicator will alert you when you’ve lost 20 percent air pressure in one or more of your tires. Now that’s a breath of fresh air!

> 9 Adjustable, fold-down passenger seat backrest: To enable you to transport larger and bulky items, the passenger seat backrest can be folded right down into a horizontal position – for through-loading, smart-style.

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>> The lines: Spoiling you for choice.
The smart fortwo comes in two equipment lines tailored to individual tastes and preferences. The pure – for those seeking functionality and economy. And the passion – for those with a penchant for elegance and comfort. All featuring the complete scope of safety equipment and a host of innovative ideas, of course. And if you’re still looking for more, the wide range of options and accessories from smart and BRABUS provide plenty of additional scope for individualization.

>> The pure: Focusing on the essentials.
The pure variant of the smart fortwo comes with all the features to make your life easier and more pleasant – functional, comfortable and unmistakably smart. From the black tridion safety cell, including door mirrors and radiator grille in black to its robust steel wheels (15"), and the solid roof of the coupé. The focus inside is on practical and functional design – with comfortable and hard-wearing safety seats with integral seat belts in discreet grey. With matching fabric elements on the instrument panel and contrast components in pearl grey. With a host of well-conceived storage facilities, power windows and central locking with remote control. The 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode makes changing gears in the pure simpler than ever. And thanks to its high-torque engine rated at 70 bhp the smart fortwo has never been quicker or more responsive. For all its functionality and practicality, the pure also offers an excellent standard of safety, of course – with the complete scope of safety equipment included as standard. Plus, for those times when you want to let the good times roll the pure comes equipped with the smart radio 9, an RDS radio complete with CD and two loudspeakers. All in all, the pure is the perfect and dependable runabout for daily use.

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> Upholstery in grey: Comfortable, hard-wearing and unobtrusive. With matching fabric elements on the instrument panel.

> 1 2-spoke leather steering wheel: In supple leather for excellent grip. To keep you firmly in control of your smart fortwo at all times.

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> 2 Solid roof: The black plastic roof with a textured surface finish is particularly robust.

> 3 Steel wheels (15") with smart wheel covers: Sturdy and functional. Fitted with 155/60 R 15 tires at the front and 175/55 R 15 tires at the rear.

> 4 4-button smart key with panic button: For highly convenient central locking and unlocking of your pure by remote control. Including remote rear window release (coupé), roof release (cabriolet) and panic button.

> 5 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode: Changing gears has never been simpler – a gentle tap on the shift lever changes up and down. Including kickdown function.

> 6 smart radio 9: The smart radio 9 with integrated CD player and power output of 4 x 25 Watts offers the following functions: 6 station presets, scan search, RDS auto-seek, scan and store as well as alternative station search in poor reception conditions.

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>> The passion: Elegant in appearance. Comfort in abundance.
The smart fortwo passion will be your new passion. Its elegant appearance sets it apart. With the tridion safety cell in silver, silver door mirror caps and silver radiator grille. Rounded off by the attractive Design 5, 9-spoke 15" alloy wheels with all season tires. And the finishing touch is provided by the tinted panoramic roof with sunscreen on the coupé – or the fully automatic tritop fabric soft top with heated glass rear window on the cabriolet. The interior of the passion is a marriage of elegance and comfort. It features a 3-spoke sport leather steering wheel with shift paddles and leather gear knob, comfortable fabric-covered seats in elegant design – in a choice of beige, red or black. Fabric elements colour-coordinated with the upholstery are featured on the instrument panel, door trims and knee pad – and there are contrast components in pearl beige, pearl red or pearl grey. The air conditioning with automatic temperature control and the standard heated seats ensure a pleasant trip every time. For even greater comfort, the passion additionally features power steering and electrically adjustable heated mirrors. And for the ultimate in audio enjoyment the passion comes equipped with the smart radio 10, complete with 6-disc CD changer, MP-3 compatible. The smart radio 10 also includes the smart sound system with 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range speakers and subwoofer. The passion is the smart fortwo at its most elegant and comfortable.

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> Upholstery in beige, red or black: The three colour variants combine to perfection with the colours of the bodypanels. The fabric elements and contrast components are colour-coordinated. > 1 3-spoke leather sport steering wheel: Looks good, feels good – the leather sport steering wheel is a delight to (be)hold. And the same goes for the leather gear knob. > 32

> 2 Panoramic roof: Apart from offering a great view, the large tinted panoramic window also lets in more sunlight. In break-resistant polycarbonate. Including interior sunscreen.

> 3 smart radio 10: RDS radio with 6-disc CD changer for hours of audio pleasure. smart radios are compatible with the smart BlueTooth* hands-free system. The passion also includes the smart sound system with 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range speakers and subwoofer. Includes MP3 interface. The ideal set-up for all smart radios. (Standard on passion models.)

*Late

availability of BlueTooth.

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> 4 Design 5, 9-spoke alloy wheels (15") with 155/60 R 15 tires at the front and 175/55 R 15 tires at the rear. > 5 Door mirror caps and radiator grille in silver: These harmonize with the tridion safety cell in silver to round off the passion’s elegant appearance to perfection.

> 6 Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors: Both door mirrors are simple and convenient to adjust from the driver’s side – and the heating quickly banishes ice and condensation.

> 7 Air conditioning with automatic temperature control: Simply set the desired temperature on the preset scale – the air conditioning attends to the rest automatically. Including dust and pollen filter. > 8 Lockable glove compartment: The spacious glove compartment replaces the open storage compartment on the passenger side. Small items and valuables can be stowed away securely and out of sight.

> 9 Heated seats: Pleasantly warm seats, with a choice of 2 heating levels. The seat surfaces are heated up to the side supports, the backrests up to the shoulder area.

> 10 Luggage compartment cover (retractable, includes net bag): Protects your luggage from prying eyes and sunlight. Retractable design for easy use. Simple to remove when transporting larger items.

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>> Optional equipment: Make a smart of your very own.
Have you found the equipment line best suited to your wants and needs? With factory-fitted options you can further individualize your smart fortwo to your heart’s desire. > pure: Even though the pure is the definitive expression of style you can stay even cooler with optional air conditioning with automatic temperature control. Be fashionably late with the pure’s optional dash mounted cockpit clock and rev counter. Change your view on things with power mirrors or warm up to its heated seats all under the watchful eye of its elegantly refined panoramic roof. >passion: With its optional leather seats, dash mounted cockpit clock and rev counter, integrated alarm system, and fog lights the smart fortwo passion is as much a pleasure to be seen as it is to be seen in. All options of course combine signature smart style and substance.

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> 1 Cockpit clock and rev counter: These signature smart dashboard instruments are a must for every smart fan. Both can be swivelled as required for clear reading from the driver’s and passenger’s side.

> 2 Leather seats: These pleasant, hard-wearing seats in high-quality leather offer premium seated comfort.

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>> The bodypanels: Brighten up your life.
The smart fortwo’s two-colour design makes it immediately obvious that it’s no ordinary car. It’s all down to the unique combination of the tridion safety cell and the high quality plastic bodypanels. These allow you to mix and match the colours of your smart fortwo all you want. You can even opt for a complete change of colour scheme.

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And in the event of damage, individual bodypanels can simply be replaced. This is quicker and much less expensive than with conventional cars, which entails replacing and repainting an entire wing.

> 3 Fog lamps: Stylish and safety conscious fog lamps for your smart fortwo help you see your way clear through any type of weather or road condition.

> 4 Anti-theft alarm system: The smart fortwo’s fully integrated alarm was specifically designed to keep your smart fortwo just that: yours. In addition, the alarm button can double as a security feature when in questionable situations.

> 5 Metallic paint: Turn heads even more by choosing metallic paint for your new smart fortwo. Metallic paint is available in silver metallic, red metallic and blue metallic.

Exchanging bodypanels
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>> www.thesmart.ca: Open around the clock.
Whatever you’re looking for, at www.thesmart.ca you’ll find the whole world of smart at a glance. The smart configurator allows you to put together the smart fortwo that’s best suited to you. You can also locate your nearest smart Centre and keep up to date on the latest developments and campaigns at smart. At www.thesmart.ca you can always be sure you are right up to the minute with the latest news on smart and the smart fortwo.

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pure

passion
tridion safety cell in black available at no extra charge.

crystal white

light yellow

crystal white

light yellow

deep black

red metallic

deep black

red metallic

silver metallic

blue metallic

silver metallic

blue metallic
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>> The smart accessories range: Broadening your smart horizons.
Our extensive range of accessories enables you to make even more of your smart fortwo. With a host of innovative and practical solutions for the interior, exterior, functional/electrical equipment, audio and telematics, driving dynamics and safety. The possibilities are virtually boundless. And everything is tailored perfectly to your smart fortwo in terms of design, functionality and quality. A small selection is presented here. The entire program can be found in the “Accessories for the smart” catalogue – and at your smart Centre, of course.

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> 1 The chrome package: Small details that make a big difference: The highly polished chrome door mirror caps, radiator grille and tailgate trim immediately lend your smart a more elegant appearance.

> 2 smart design stickers: Black or silver, horizontal or vertical, one or several numbers – when it comes to making your smart even more individual, the choice is yours. Easy to apply, non-fading and car-wash proof.

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> 3 All-weather floor mats: Made of rubber. Dirt and water-resistant, anti-slip and very durable. Not shown: Standard floor mats. Dirt and water-resistant, and anti-slip. > 4 Bodypanel freshen-up kit: Your smart fortwo can be given a new look in no time – even while you wait. Choose from six colours. (See dealer for details.) > 40

> 5 Basic rack: The ideal and safe platform for various rack systems (i.e. bicycle rack, snowboard rack.) The rear window can be opened even when the rack is loaded. Photo: Basic rack plus bicycle rack; both available separately. (Bikes not included.)

> 6 Car cover: The hard-wearing, water-repellent material and the perfect fit combine to protect your smart fortwo from the elements, extreme temperatures and dirt.

> 7 Trunk tray: The waterproof, non-slip material protects the luggage compartment and its lining from wet, dirt and wear. Secured with Velcro fasteners and removable at any time as required.

> 8 Highly polished chrome-plated fog light rings: As an ideal addition to the chrome package, the fog light rings add the perfect final touch to the look of your smart fortwo. > 9 Protective divider plus: The clever 2-in-1 solution offers flexibility and safety. Thanks to the safety net with integrated luggage compartment cover, you can always make the most of the luggage compartment.

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> 10 Wind deflector: Prevents strong air flows throughout the interior, protecting you from too much wind when driving with an open top. > 11 Net set for luggage compartment: The quick solution for safely stowing away loose items. Comprising one net each for the floor and side of the luggage compartment.

> 12 CD holder: Safe storage of up to six CDs. Simply unclip it and you can take your CDs with you wherever you go. > 13 Luggage fastener: Simply bend to the required shape and velcro it into position. Small pieces of luggage that normally wander around the trunk stay exactly where you want them.

> 14 Spectacles compartment: Ample room for almost all types of glasses – within easy reach of the driver. The compartment has a magnetic closure to prevent glasses from falling out.

> 15 Wheel theft protection: Provides reliable protection against theft of your wheels. The code card guarantees a quick replacement, should you lose the safety key with the set.

> 16 Ski and snowboard rack: (Includes basic rack.) Available separately – but can be combined (as shown), with space for two pairs of skis and a snowboard. On their own, the ski rack holds two pairs of skis and the snowboard rack fits two snowboards. (Skis and snowboards not included.) > 41

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>> Collection for the smart 2008: Accessories for smart drivers.
smart is more than just a car. smart also stands for a special take on life. The smart collection means design, functionality and quality throughout your day. For a complete listing of our attractive yet practical items, check out the “Collection for the smart 2008” brochure – offered at your local smart Centre.

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> 8 > 1 Key fob > 2 Hat > 3 High-quality writing instrument > 4 White courier bag > 5 Belt > 6 Pilot sunglasses > 7 Sweat jacket > 8 Die-cast smart fortwo miniatures > 42

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>> The accessories program from BRABUS: That certain something.
BRABUS accessories are a treat for every smart fortwo and every driver. High-quality materials and stylish design lend the exterior an even more dynamic look, from the front spoiler through the side skirts. And the BRABUS accessories allow you to decide just how sporty and exclusive your smart should be on the inside, too. Leather, aluminium, velour – everything you see, everything you touch exudes signature BRABUS design and first-class workmanship. Your smart becomes your very own dream car. Treat yourself and your smart fortwo to accessories from BRABUS. A selection of these exclusive extras can be found here. For the entire range, see the “Accessories for the smart” brochure.
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> 1 BRABUS gear knob: In matte aluminium with leather appliqué. Looks better, feels better – typically BRABUS.

> 2 BRABUS sports pedals: In matte stainless steel, they underscore the sporty character of the smart BRABUS. The anti-slip rubber nubs ensure a firm grip.

> 3 BRABUS handbrake handle: In matte aluminium. Teams up with the leather effect sleeve to produce a sportier look.

> 4 BRABUS front spoiler: Lends the smart fortwo a more dynamic appearance and improved driving properties by reducing the front axle lift force. Perfectly tailored to smart styling, the front spoiler can be painted in all bodypanel colours.

Also available: > BRABUS side skirts (not shown): Tailored perfectly to the contours of the smart fortwo. Can be painted in all body colours.

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>> Your smart Centre: Always at your service.
To really get to know a car like the smart fortwo, you need to experience it first hand. How about a test drive? Visit your smart Centre, take a seat and find out all you wish to know about the smart fortwo, the equipment and the extensive accessories program. Of course, we will also be pleased to answer all your questions on financing, leasing and the extensive range of smart services. Your smart Centre – we’re there to help you. >>The smart warranty will make you feel even better about your smart fortwo. New car warranty: 48 months or 80,000 kms, whichever comes first. Adjustment period: 12 months or 20,000 kms, whichever comes first. Emission warranty: 24 months or 40,000 kms, whichever comes first. Surface corrosion: 48 months or 80,000 kms, whichever comes first. Perforation: 60 months unlimited kms. The smartmove Assistance program provides 24-hour breakdown assistance within Canada, free of charge for 4 years after the vehicle’s initial registration. Services include battery boost, flat tire inflation, winching/extrication, and towing.

>> Engine and technical data.
> Technical data Engine/type Engine capacity in cc Net Power Net Torque Bore x stroke in mm Compression ratio Fuel delivery Maximum speed Acceleration 0-100 km/h Engine position/drive Transmission Fuel type Exhaust gas purification Fuel consumption CO2 emissions Brakes/dynamic handling control system Wheels/tires - (front) Wheels/tires - (rear) Vehicle length/width/height Track width (front/rear) Wheelbase Turning circle Curb weight (without driver)/safe load in kg Luggage compartment capacity Permissible total weight Tank capacity/of which reserve in Warranty in years Service interval 70 hp gasoline engine coupé & cabriolet in-line 3-cylinder engine 999 70 hp @ 5,800 rpm 68 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm 72 x 81.8 10.0 : 1 Electronic multipoint injection 145 km/h1 13.3 seconds Rear 5-speed automatic with manual shift mode Premium unleaded 3-way catalytic converter/Ultra-low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) City estimate: 5.9 l/100km Highway estimate: 4.8 l/100km Combined estimate: 5.4 l/100km 130 g/km esp® with hill start assist; abs with electronic brake force distribution; acceleration skid control; electronic brake assist; disc brakes at front, drum brakes at rear 155/60 R 15 175/55 R 15 2,695/1,559/1,542 mm 1,283/1,385 mm 1,867 mm 8.75 m coupé: 820/230; cabriolet: 840/210 220-340 l2 1,050 kg 33 l/5 l 4 years or 80,000 km 15,000 km

1

Electronically limited. 2 Up to roof.

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>> Standard equipment and equipment lines.
Safety:
esp® - electronic stability program with hill start assist Anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution Full-size driver and passenger airbag Head/thorax side airbags tridion safety cell Safety seats with integral seat belts Seat belts with belt tensioners and belt force limiters Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with servo assistance Hydraulic brake assist Crash elements at front and rear drive lock – automatic door locking when driving Passenger seat occupancy recognition system Tire pressure monitors

Interior:
Passenger seat backrest can be folded right down for through-loading Storage compartments on passenger side, next to the steering wheel and in the doors Storage compartment in tailgate (coupé) Coin holder (coupé) Interior lighting Make-up mirror in passenger sun visor Lockable glove compartment Cup holder

pure
Solid roof 2-spoke leather steering wheel and gear knob Radio 9 15" steel wheels with wheel covers All season tires, front: 155/60 R 15; rear: 175/55 R 15 tridion safety cell in black Door mirror caps & radiator grille in black Colour of upholstery: Grey Contrast components in the colour: Pearl grey Fabric elements on instrument panel; colour-coordinated with upholstery

Functional/electrical equipment:
5-speed automatic with manual shift mode Central locking with radio remote control, immobilizer and panic button Instrument cluster with multifunctional display (digital gear display, fuel gauge with reserve indicator, coolant display, service interval indicator, trip recorder, clock) Exterior temperature indicator Indicators with lanechanger function Comfort windshield wipers with speed-sensitive interval wiping and automatic wipe/wash function Rear window wiper with interval wiping and automatic wipe/wash function (coupé) Heated rear window Electric tailgate release Rear window release (coupé) or remote roof release (cabriolet) via 4-button key Tank cap integrated in the central locking system 12 volt socket Single tone horn Aux jack in glove compartment Power windows Radio 9 (pure) Radio 10 (passion)

passion
Panoramic roof (includes sunscreen) Air conditioning with automatic temperature control (includes dust and pollen filter) Electrically adjustable heated mirrors Electronic power steering (eps) Heated seats Radio 10 with 6-disc CD changer Sound system (2 tweeters, 2 mid-range speakers, and subwoofer) 3-spoke leather sport steering wheel and leather gear knob Design 5, 15" 9-spoke alloy wheels All season tires, front tires: 155/60 R 15; rear tires: 175/55 R 15 Luggage compartment cover (retractable includes net bag) tridion safety cell in silver Door mirror caps & radiator grille in silver Colour of upholstery: Design black, design red or design beige Contrast components in the colours: Pearl grey, pearl red or pearl beige; colour-coordinated with upholstery Fabric elements on instrument panel, door trim and knee pad; colour-coordinated with upholstery passion logo in mirror triangle Specific equipment for the cabriolet: Electric tritop fabric soft top (fully automatic) with heated glass rear window and headlining. Removable roof bars, storage compartment for roof bars in tailgate.

Exterior:
bodypanels in deep black, light yellow or crystal white H7 projection headlights Side indicators Door mirror caps in tridion colour Third brake light

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>> Optional equipment.
Exterior tridion safety cell in black (in conjunction with door mirror caps & radiator grille in black) tridion safety cell in silver (in conjunction with door mirror caps & radiator grille in silver) bodypanels crystal white light yellow deep black red metallic silver metallic blue metallic Panoramic roof (sunscreen included) Solid roof Wheels/tires steel wheels with wheel covers (15") front: 155/60 R15 rear: 175/55 R 15 all season tires Design 5, 15" 9-spoke alloy wheels front: 155/60 R 15 rear: 175/55 R 15 all season tires Interior Upholstery colours grey design black design red design beige pure coupé                         passion coupé                         passion cabriolet                        

Leather seats Dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter) Functional/electrical equipment Air conditioning with automatic temperature control includes dust and pollen filter Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors Heated seats Front fog lights Anti-theft alarm system Electronic power steering

 Standard equipment  Not available

 Options  Available as an option at no extra cost

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smart Canada Division 98 Vanderhoof Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9 1-877-627-8004 thesmart.ca © 2007 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. Marketing communications All illustrations and specifications contained in this brochure are based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. Mercedes-Benz reserves the right to make changes at any time, without notice, in colours, materials, equipment, specifications and models. Any variations in colours shown are due to reproduction variations of the printing process. Illustrations may include test situations. Some vehicles may be shown with non-Canadian equipment. Some vehicles are shown with optional equipment. Printed in Canada smart-07-BRSCD-34