Fun facts about Smart Fortwo

1. The concept for the Smart car started in the early 1970’s.smart car facts Mercedes-Benz engineer Johann Tomforde began to explore city car concepts and designs. He created the first concept sketch, but it wasn’t until the 1990’s that Mercedes assembled a team to start the design process. They studied how to make the vehicles efficient based on how people would use them in and around the city, and how they could improve their overall driving experience. They were all about innovation and driver experience from the very beginning. 2. The “timing” is right for Smart cars The Smart brand was officially born when successful Swiss watchmaker Swatch and established German automaker Mercedes Benz joined forces. Daimler-Benz agreed to manufacture the vehicles, helping the watchmaker get into the auto business. Their microcar name, Smart, is an acronym for “Swatch Mercedes Art.” 3. Smart cars have been around longer than you realize. The first Smart brand microcar was in production by 1994, but not made for sale in the United States until 2008. The United States was the 37th country to sell Smart cars and sold just under 25,000 units their first year of sales. 4. These cars have city smarts. Since microcars were created to be city vehicles, the small size was a huge part of the design. The original Smart car sketch measures 8.8 feet long, and the current models manufactured measure in at 101.6″ which is just under 8.5 feet in length. They are also very narrow measuring in at 65.5″ wide which is just under 5.5 feet. 5. Smart keeps it simple. The Smart car brand offers limited vehicle models, two of which are named after their passenger capabilities; The Fortwo, the Forfour, and the Brabus. They come in a coupe or a cabriolet body style and have different tiers such as pure, passion, prime, or proxy. Their Proxy model is the highest option level you can get, and their most expensive Twofor model is still under $30,000 making them very affordable for such a trendy car. Unfortunately, the only models available in the U.S currently are the Fortwos. 6. The Smart car takes a cue from the VW Beetle. The Smart car is a rear-engine, rear wheel drive car, and the package level and price have an impact on horsepower; the higher the cost, the more power you will have available. If you get the newly released fully electric version, it will come with a three-phase synchronous motor that has 80hp and goes a top speed of 81mph for a full range of 58 miles. 7. Smart is tougher than it looks.smart car facts Microcars have to have excellent safety features in place, and the Tridion Safety Cell frame is Smart car’s claim to fame. They once had a commercial featuring a large SUV placed on top of the frame in the middle of the street. While consumers were shocked to see how sturdy the Smart car frame was, the brand was later accused of photoshopping their commercials. Smart fought back with this youtube behind the scenes video to show that their Tridion Safety Cell frames are in fact that tough:

Pathological hate test drives the tiny Smart Fortwo

The Smart Fortwo, the cheapest rear-wheel-drive coupe you can buy.

The sole engine choice in the Smart Fortwo is a turbocharged three-cylinder engine pumping out 89hp. It doesn't sound like much but you have to remember the Fortwo isn't a large car to begin with, and well this is just enough. The previous 1-liter three-cylinder only had 70hp and was a non-turbo, and that engine felt weak on faster paced roads, and with the sequential gearbox it didn't really help make things any better. Luckily for us, this generation comes with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic. We haven't had the chance to test the manual gearbox but we did have the auto gearbox which we found it to be light years better than the old automated manual. It still isn't as great as it should be but it does the intended job well. Back to the engine, it does come with a turbo which does give you decent torque at low revs but it's a bit of an odd ball here. It has turbo lag at low revs and it does hesitate off the line.

The benefits of having the engine at the rear is that the turning circle is one of the tightest we've seen on any production car. The only other vehicle that can match the Fortwo is the Renault Twingo that's sold in Europe. It's quite easy to drive the Fortwo around town, in fact you'll enjoy zipping it around thanks to the dinky dimensions. It's slightly bigger than the outgoing version which helps make the ride comfort more real car-like. The previous Fortwo ride was way too firm and the one before that felt like it had a suspension composed of a pogo stick. When you take the Fortwo outside of city limits, it doesn't feel as composed due to the short wheelbase. It does feel composed at relaxed speeds but the seats are so comfy that you'll forget that you drove a long distance.

The interior is designed for just two people and well, the accommodations for those two people aren't bad at all. You'll find that both head room and legroom are in the bucket loads. The infotainment system isn't the best in the world, but it is easy to navigate through once you've gotten used to the interface and the menus. We do love the Euro-chic design that the Fortwo has this time around, the previous versions were more on the style rather than functionality side. But the materials used were decent quality, which we can't diss this version with either.

There are four trims to choose from. Standard Pure is the entry-level trim and is the cheapest. You do get bluetooth connectivity, power windows and door locks as well as air-con. You'll have to pay extra for alloy wheels or step up to the Pure trim which adds powered and heated mirrors, height adjustable seat  and retractable cargo cover. Passion trim gets fog lights, leather seats, panoramic sunroof, rain sensing wipers with auto headlights. Top of the range Prime adds premium sound system, paddle shifters, sports suspension and chrome exhaust tip.

The Fortwo is one of those vehicles that is perfect if you live in a congested urban area and street parking is a premium. You'll love the scratch and dent resistant body panels and also the dinky dimensions makes parking and squeezing around the city a breeze. Outside the city the Fortwo can hold its own but it feels more of a chore to drive than many of it's larger more comfortable rivals.

Likes: Euro-chic styling inside out. Improved engine and transmission as well as ride comfort. Decent space for two (no pun intended).

Dislikes: Gas mileage isn't anything to brag about. Some of the quirky charm we loved about the previous generation is gone.