Smart Four-Seater Prototype Scale Model Scooped at R&D Facility

It's no secret that Mercedes-Benz plans to give its Smart brand one more chance to extend its vehicle range after the not so-successful Mitsubishi Colt-based Forfour and the Roadster series. Last April, the German automaker signed a deal with the Renault-Nissan Group, with the two parties announcing the development of a new rear-wheel drive platform to be used on the successor of the current Smart Fortwo, a new four-seater Smart and the next-generation Renault Twingo.

Now, one of our spy photographers managed to sneak close enough to the firm's R&D facilities in Germany and scoop these photos of a scale model of a five-door Smart. The prototype appears to be based on the next generation Fortwo with the engine mounted at the back, which would make sense since both vehicles will be based on the same architecture. The difference is the five door model features a longer wheelbase and a much taller roof to accommodate the rear passengers.

While there's no way of being sure if the model seen here is an early or an advanced prototype, it definitely gives us an idea of Smart's plans.

We'll post an update on Smart's forthcoming four-seater model as soon as we find new photos and/or details.

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Smart Pulse

Smart is showing today yet another special edition of the ForTwo, called the smart pulse.

The Smart Pulse comes with restyled front and rear aprons and side skirts as well as a sports package, all included as standard. 3-double spoke design 15-inch alloys have also been added, plus black painted exterior mirror caps and radiator grille.

The smart pulse also boasts a sporty interior. It comes with a 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with additional shift paddles which make shifting with manual softip gearshift a real pleasure. The black fabric/ leather look of the upholstery and the pearl black contrast components underline the dynamic appearance.

The pulse will be available for both the coupe and the cabrio versions and will be offered with three engine choices: 71 hp petrol mhd with micro hybrid drive technology, 84 hp turbo petrol engine and 54 hp diesel fitted with a diesel particulate filter.




Press Release

Sindelfingen – The smart pulse is celebrating spring with a sharper profile, making this dynamic variant of the smart model series even sportier. The front and rear aprons and the side skirts of the bodypanel plus sports package, which is included in the standard spec, have a new design with sharper contours. The sharper smart pulse will be available from smart dealers from April 2011. It can be ordered from
1 February.

The pulse is the dynamic smart with a distinct sporty flair that will be even more pronounced in future. This is due to the more angular geometry of the new skirts
that are painted in the bodypanel colour as standard. Boasting 3-double-spoke alloy wheels with wide tyres measuring 175/55 R 15 at the front and 195/50 R 15 at the rear, and door mirror caps and radiator grille in black, the smart pulse, which is available as a coupé and a cabrio, leaves no doubt as to its position among its siblings with its compact and dynamic design promising sporty motoring both in and out of town. The most powerful engine – the optionally available turbo petrol engine rated at 62 kW (84 hp) – is ideal for this.

The smart pulse also boasts a sporty interior. It comes with a 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with additional shift paddles which make shifting with manual softip gearshift a real pleasure. The black fabric/ leather look of the upholstery and the pearl black contrast components underline the dynamic appearance.
The fortwo pulse can be ordered as a coupé or a cabrio with the following three engine versions:

• 52 kW (71 hp) petrol mhd with micro hybrid drive technology
• 62 kW (84 hp) turbo petrol engine
• 40 kW (54 hp) diesel fitted with a diesel particulate filter as standard.

2011 Smart Fortwo Nightorange Limited Edition

Smart has unveiled the new ForTwo NightOrange special edition.

The new NightOrange edition combines an exclusive orange metallic finish with black insertions on the headlamp trims, black mirror caps, and roof. The same black and orange theme continues on the interior with a mix of leather and fabric seats in black with an orange sport stripe in the middle, black door trims, a black instrument panel, and a black 3-spoke sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift and gear knob.

The interior is using same color theme with the black seats in a mix of leather and fabric sporting an orange stripe in the center, as does the knee pad in leather look. Contrast components such as the instrument trims are painted in pearl black, while the 3-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles and the gear knob are covered with black nappa leather.

2011 Smart Fortwo Nightorange Limited Edition customers can choose from three petrol versions, two versions of 71HP and 84HP and 54 HP diesel models to produce economic and two body styles, coupe or convertible.




Press Release

At dealers from February 2011 - New special edition: smart fortwo nightorange

Sindelfingen - smart is ringing in the spring with a fresh colour: the new limited special edition smart fortwo nightorange combines bright orange with elegant black. The striking two-seater can be ordered now and will roll to dealers from 22 February 2011. Customers can choose between three variants: two petrol versions and a diesel version and a coupé or cabrio body.

Colour psychologists regard orange as active, confident and trendy, whilst black is seen as resolute, elegant and strong-minded. The limited special edition fortwo nightorange is an exciting mix of both colours and is bursting with urban chic. The most striking feature of the exterior is the exclusive orange metallic finish combined with a black tridion safety cell and black 3-double-spoke alloy wheels fitted with tyres in size 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear. The special edition also features black painted headlamp trims, black mirror caps and nightorange logos in the mirror triangles. The smart fortwo nightorange cabrio has a black soft top.

The interior takes up the colour concept of the body with a design that is both sporty and chic: the black seats in a mix of leather and fabric have an orange sport stripe in the middle, as does the knee pad in leather look. They provide a dramatic contrast to the black door trim and black instrument panel. Contrast components such as the instrument trims are painted in pearl black. The 3-spoke sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift and the gear knob are covered with black nappa leather. The audio system basic (RDS radio with AUX/USB interfaces and two loudspeakers) is already on board as a standard feature of the smart fortwo nightorange, as are dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter).

The new smart fortwo nightorange is based on the passion coupé and passion cabrio. Among other features the passion equipment line comes with softouch automatic gear programme, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and a transparent panoramic roof with sunblind. Options include electric power steering, heated seats, a lockable glove compartment, the smart surround sound system with six loudspeakers or the audio system navigation / multimedia with touchscreen display.

The fortwo nightorange can be ordered with a 52 kW (71 hp) petrol engine with micro hybrid drive technology, a 62 kW(84 hp) petrol engine or a 40 kW (54 hp) diesel engine equipped with a diesel particulate filter.

Here are the prices for the new smart fortwo nightorange in Germany:

Engine/power	Engine type	Engine capacity	Price in € (incl. 19% VAT)
smart fortwo nightorange coupé
1.0 l (52 kW/71 hp) petrol mhd	3-cyl. in-line naturally aspirated engine	999 cc	13,995
1.0 l (62 kW/84 hp) petrol	3-cyl. in-line turbo engine	999 cc	14,565
0.8 l (40 kW/54 hp) cdi diesel with diesel particulate filter	3-cyl. common-rail turbo engine	799 cc	15,255
smart fortwo nightorange cabrio
1.0 l (52 kW/71 hp) petrol mhd	3-cyl. in-line naturally aspirated engine	999 cc	17,086
1.0 l (62 kW/84 hp) petrol	3-cyl. in-line turbo engine	999 cc	17,655
0.8 l (40 kW/54 hp) cdi diesel with diesel particulate filter	3-cyl. common-rail turbo engine	799 cc	18,345

Smart Brings Some Color to Fortwo with New Nightorange Limited Edition

Over the years, Daimler's Smart unit has introduced many limited edition models of its Fortwo micro car such as the 'Three', 'Hello Kitty' and 'GB-10'. This time around, Smart has presented a more sporty looking special edition of the Fortwo called the Nightorange.

Naturally, the most eye-catching part of this limited edition model is the paint-job which combines an exclusive orange metallic finish combined with a black Tridion safety cell and black 3-double-spoke alloy wheels fitted with tires in size 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear. The car also features black painted headlamp trims, black mirror caps and nightorange logos in the mirror triangles.

The same color theme is continued in the interior with the black seats in a mix of leather and fabric sporting an orange stripe in the center, as does the knee pad in leather look. Contrast components such as the instrument trims are painted in pearl black, while the 3-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles and the gear knob are covered with black nappa leather.

Standard features include an audio system with AUX/USB interfaces and two loudspeakers, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and a transparent panoramic roof with sunblind (coupe).

Customers can choose between three engine variants -two petrol versions with 71HP and 84HP and a more frugal diesel model producing 54HP- and two body styles -coupe or convertible.

In Europe, the two seater limited edition model can be ordered now with first deliveries to customers beginning on February 22. In Germany, prices range from €13,995 to €18,345 [US$18,750 to$24,600].

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Mercedes-Benz Patents Designs of Smart Roadster Model

Back in 2001 at the Geneva Motor Show, Smart introduced a quirky roadster concept with no doors, no roof and no windscreen called the Crossblade. The Fortwo Cabrio-based concept eventually went into a limited series production the following year with Smart offering a total of 2,000 cars.

Fast-forward to today, and Smart appears to be readying a spiritual successor to the Crossblade as the firm's parent company Mercedes-Benz has trademarked these designs drawings of a two-seater roadster model.

Unlike the original Crossblade, which came without doors featuring instead steel safety bars at passenger shoulder height that swing upwards with the help of a gas-operated struts, the roadster model seen in these pictures gets a conventional set of doors. It also features a larger wind deflector surrounding the driver and passenger as well as Smart's trademark Tridion Safety Cell - albeit redesigned to look like separate safety bars.

Unfortunately, the patent filing does not provide any information on the vehicle other than that the designs were submitted on November 16, 2010. However, unless it's a previous study we're not aware of, we'd say the car seen here is a new concept model (maybe for Detroit in January or Geneva in March) that could preview a production vehicle as well as the styling of the next generation Smart Fortwo series.

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Carlsson 2011 Smart Fortwo

Carlsson revealed details and pricing of its super special package for smart fortwo Coupe and Convertible which is inspired by their C25 Supercar. The tuning kit regards just to the aesthetic part, no performance changes were operated by Carlsson tuners.

Exterior updates include two powder-coated stainless steel black radiator grille pieces, which start at €153.  Alongside of these are the LED daytime runners, with their own power supply and control unit, available for €415.  Another €359 gets a nice set of sport seats with contoured bolsters.

For the interior, the Carlsson 2011 Smart Fortwo program offers a new leather upholstery combined with Alcantara that goes on the seats, the entire instrument panel, the knee area, the steering wheel, and the instrument cluster. The Carlsson 2011 Smart Fortwo is also fitted with sport

LED lights were mounted on the front bumper along with the yellow stripe under the lights. The interior featuring the Alcantara and Nappa leather costs around 4000 euro while the audio system adds extra 1300 euro to the price. This is how the Carlsson tuners managed to modify the small city model.

The extra body parts cost you around 600 euros, the complete leather package is priced at 4163 euros while sport seats add another 359 euros, interior trims on door and panels will cost 2559 euros, and finally the high-end audio system runs for 1295 euros.




Press Release

Luxurious city runabout:

Carlsson refines the new Smart with great success

• LED daytime running lights individualise the front

• Leather packages ensure high-quality interior

• High-end sound system specially developed for the smart

So much luxury fits into only 2.70 metres. The automobile manufacturer Carlsson transforms the practical smart fortwo Coupé and Convertible into individual, classy cars for the necessities of urban living. LED daytime running lights, exclusive leather packages which start where the factory left off, and an audio system for the finest sound experience make this winning model unique.

At the front, the two black radiator grill inserts of powder-coated stainless steel above and below the number plate provide a note of individuality (from 153 Euro including VAT). In addition, the LED daytime running lights make the Smart stand out from the masses. And here once again Carlsson from Gut Wiesenhof in Germany demonstrates what care they take with their conversions: the LEDs have been approved not only as daytime running lights but also as sidelights. This means they may be used at the same time as dipped headlights and so set themselves apart from the typical upgrade kits. The ready-to-fit set, including the power supply and control unit, the cable harness and the bracket, is provided by Carlsson for only 415 Euro. As usual with products by Carlsson, the bracket requires no painting.

The all-round luxury in the vehicle interior is taken care of by the leather package from the customizer based in Merzig, Germany. The finest 'Softwalk' Nappa leather and Alcantara now envelope the entire instrument panel, the knee area, the steering wheel, the instrument cluster, the radio and air-conditioning console, the air vents, the doors, door pockets and of course both seats, including the quilted lozenge pattern and the embroidered Carlsson logo in the headrests. The complete leather package is available from Carlsson for 4163 Euro.

For a mere 359 Euro more, smart passengers get specially developed sports seats with more pronounced, contoured bolsters on seat and backrest which also provide perfect support when cornering fast.

And for those who wish to enhance their original Smart leather equipment, Carlsson has an appropriate offer on hand. For 2559 Euro the upgrade covers ‘Softwalk’ Nappa leather and Alcantara on the instrument panel, knee area, instrument cluster, radio and air-conditioning console, air vents, doors and door pockets. Furthermore, to suit every interior colour, the automobile manufacturer provides a gear selector in finest leather for 89 Euro in the colour combinations black and silver, black and red or black and beige.

For audiophile pretensions Carlsson has developed the "Exclusive Edition" high-end sound system specially for the Smart. The audio system, which has been adapted to the fortwo's and the Convertible's vehicle interior, consists of a digital two-channel power-amp with 400-Watt RMS output, the pre-assembled cable harness for the original Smart radio and sound insulation in the doors. The two, black-leather covered doorboards enclose, behind the loudspeaker grilles with the Carlsson logo on each side, a 16.5-centimetre loudspeaker and a textile tweeter which, connected by a specially adapted crossover network, ensure perfect high-frequency reproduction and full-bodied sound. The audio system for 1295 Euro also includes as a special feature the LED footwell lighting which is activated when the doors open.

With the comprehensive customizing package, the automobile manufacturer Carlsson transforms the small city runabout into a luxurious vehicle for the metropolis.