thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Welcome to Issue 10 of our international smart magazine ‘4site’ and welcome also to 2009! Despite the global economic downturn, it is refreshing to note the hugely encouraging sales figures around the world for smart, with continued expansion into new territories. thesmartclub itself continues to go from strength to strength with Membership Applications (both online and postal) continuing to grow month on month.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site:
In addition, we know from the vast amount of continued communication reaching us from our members, that the desire to own, drive, modify and personalise all models of smart cars continues at pace.
Club News How to join thesmartclub Our ‘Privilege Card Club gear in our Online Shop Car Insurance scheme Club Structure Fuel Consumption Survey Handover Packs
Events Review smart of Ipswich
Forthcoming events Hambach (smartville) Brooklands Double Twelve Destination Brooklands
Local Meetings Supplier Features
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Mods & Maintenance Roadster lower lights Fortwo (451) Oil Change
Features In order to help address the continually expanding requirement to assist owners with information about modifications and repairs that can be carried out on a range of smart models, I am delighted to announce that we have teamed up with the outstanding web site ‘evilution.co.uk’ to bring you regular hints, tips, modifications and service advice every quarter. This ‘4site’ issue contains (and future issues of ‘4site’ will also contain) pages dedicated to a range of DIY topics. For our Members with internet access you can find these and other useful illustrated guides at www.evilution.co.uk. With the absence of commercially available workshop guides, I am confident that this latest addition to ‘4site’ will be of interest to our thousands of readers. Thank you for your continued support and we wish all our readers, a happy, healthy, prosperous and smart filled 2009.
A letter from America They didn’t wave …
Submit an Article Dealership News smart centre Saarbrucken smart USA
News from Hambach News from smart News from BRABUS Advertisers B-smart MK Ltd Half Moon Bay (Leisure) Ltd (smart trailers) Smart Car Superstore Smart of Cardiff Smart of Swansea Smarts-R-Us
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Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Club News How to join thesmartclub Joining thesmartclub could not be easier and we have a number of options available to you. NEW: Members of thesmartclub can save Money on Airport Car Parking by booking with Park and Go
Online If you have access to the internet, simply log on to our web site at www.thesmartclub.com and click the ‘Join the Club’ menu option. Here you will find two options, one giving web only access, the other giving you web access plus four copies of ‘4site’ and a Privilege Card!!
Offline (postal) We are very aware that many people do not have regular access to internet services and as such, we offer an ‘offline’ membership service. You receive a copy of ‘4site’ delivered to your door each quarter, Event information and application forms by post and automatic entitlement to our ‘Privilege Card’. Of course, you also benefit from full telephone and fax support. Simply write to us at:
thesmartclub ltd, PO Box 28549
You can make savings of up to 60% compared to the drive-up rates, when you pre-book your airport car parking online with Park and Go. You can use the secure online booking facility to pre-book your parking at over 70 car parks at all major airports across the UK. When your booking is complete you will receive easy to follow directions via email straight away. thesmartclub members who hold thesmartclub Privilege Card can save a further 10% off the cost off their airport car parking by entering a discount code when making a booking. Contact thesmartclub for full details!
thesmartclub Car Insurance scheme
Edinburgh, EH4 5WB, UK
thesmartclub is delighted to announce the launch of thesmartclub Car Insurance Scheme in collaboration with Chris Knott Insurance. thesmartclub Car Insurance Scheme aims to not only beat your existing premium BUT we aim to beat your best quotation for your smart car insurance by 10%*!
Our Privilege Card – smart saving!
First - simply seek out the best insurance quote for your smart Now in its 6th year, our ‘Privilege Card’ continues to go from strength to strength bringing you discounts on servicing and parts from multiple smart centres in addition to significant discounts from third party organisations. Plus you receive discounted pricing in thesmartclub’s Online Shop and better still, benefit from significant discounts on our Major Event prices. You receive all these benefits for only £10.00 per annum (€11,00* or $14.00* equivalent per annum). Visit our web site or write to us for full details. * currency conversions approximate for February 2009. Exchange rate calculated at time of application
www.thesmartclub.com
Next - Call us FREE on (UK) 0800 917 2274 quoting 'thesmartclub' Then - Provide us with your best quote and we'll aim to beat it by 10%* *Saving applies to new policies for named drivers and specific discount is dependent on individual circumstances. Underwriting conditions apply. GB only, unfortunately, this offer excludes Northern Ireland and certain UK postcodes. Thesmartclub Car Insurance Scheme in relation to insuring your smart car is an exclusive arrangement between thesmartclub ltd and Chris Knott Insurance. Chris Knott Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Club news
Fuel Consumption survey Our YEAR LONG survey will conclude 31st March 2009 – if you own a new (451) smart, submit your fuel consumption details now!
Our Merchandise Team … Way back in 2003, thesmartclub launched its Online Shop providing owners and enthusiasts a range of branded merchandise for owners and their cars.
As announced in Issue 07 of ‘4site’ (April 2008) we are running an online fuel consumption survey throughout 2008 on the new (451) smart fortwo. Your participation in this survey is greatly appreciated and we now have over 200 drivers across Europe and North America submitting data to us each time they fill their car. In addition, we can also provide each participant with a bespoke set of results each month based on their own fuel data.
Over the years, the range of products available began to expand and soon sales of merchandise at Major Events and sales via the Online Shop meant a considerable amount of logistics having to be put in place for storage and distribution. We now have a formalised team in place led by Ernie and Shona Mellor based in Norfolk, England. This team handle all our storage, order processing and distribution including the logistics involved in providing our Club Shop present at many of our Major and local events. We always try to provide a range of branded products across the widest range of prices and over the coming months the contents of our Online Shop will be revised in response to Customer suggestions and recommendations.
The service is live, internationally, now and you can access the survey form by clicking the link on our homepage at www.thesmartclub.com
Handover Packs The range will continue to be broad - whether you require an ice scraper or sticker through to car mats or clothing, Ernie & Shona will locate, pack and ship out your order with the minimum of delay. And their efforts are not simply posting off packs to UK addresses! Our second most popular destination for club merchandise is Japan followed closely by Germany and North America. Our revised Shop launches in the near future and for our Members who have no access to the internet, we will be posting out full details of our products on offer.
www.thesmartclub.com
In addition to smart of Edinburgh and ‘smarttrailers.co.uk’ participating in our Handover Pack, we are delighted to announce that smart of Cardiff and smart of Swansea have also now joined this Scheme. Edinburgh, Cardiff and Swansea provide the packs with all new and used smart car purchases and smart-trailers provide a pack with every trailer purchased. Remember, the packs provide you with FULL Membership of thesmartclub and a FREE Privilege Card for one year. In addition, all these companies also participate in our Privilege Card Scheme.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
When I arrived back the caterers were on site and a fabulous buffet was ready for everyone to nibble on before venturing out into the East Anglian countryside.
Events: Review Smart of Ipswich Open Day & Treasure Hunt To celebrate the launch of the new smart fortwo mhd smart of Ipswich held an open day, with a treasure hunt competition organised by Ernie Mellor from thesmartclub's events team. We arrived early and helped Claire and Poonam from smart of Ipswich to make up goody bags, inflate balloons and make the smart showroom look a bit more jolly. The very first entrants arrived and took their car to the service department for a £5 winter check up, the proceeds going to a local charity.
During the morning a steady flow of people popped in, the coffee machine was at full stretch and the mince pies were very popular! While everyone was enjoying the hospitality laid on, Poonam was out showing people the mhd micro hybrid drive system in their fortwo demonstrator. I took the opportunity to go for a brief drive and I have to say after just a few minutes you get used to it switching off when you draw to a stop, and as soon as you take your foot off the brake the engine starts and its ready to go again. Very impressive.
Once we were “all fed up” it was time to listen to Ernie's safety demo and guide to the treasure hunt. We were sent off in short intervals to avoid bunching. I was driving and Barrie Cox was navigating.
Finally the last car returned, his answer sheet quickly marked and then it was time for Claire and Ernie to award the prizes. The person with the most correct answers was Alan Manton (of smart trailers fame) and he won a bluetooth carphone kit supplied and fitted. Second prize winner was Collin Carr, who won £50 to spend in the parts department at smart of Ipswich and third prize won by Miss Matthews was a smart pen from the smartware collection, and a days pass for Next Generation Gym in Ipswich.
My thanks go to smart of Ipswich for a great day out, and to Ernie Mellor for finding even worse roads than my satnav does. Submitted by J500 ANT
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Brooklands Double Twelve 13th/14th June 2009
Forthcoming Events: Hambach, smartville 16th May (onwards) 2009 For the NINTH consecutive year, thesmartclub will be visiting the home of smart, namely Hambach, France. This year sees us add some new dimensions to an already hugely popular and always oversubscribed event. In addition to the tour around the smart production plant, we are also planning to visit one of the 'on site' production companies providing component support to the production process. In addition, we are very pleased to announce we will have a presentation from Ulrich Sihler, Finance & Controlling Manager for Daimler Central / Eastern Europe, Africa & Asia providing you with an tremendous insight into the smart brand. The trip will then further be extended with a visit to the Brabus engineering complex in Bottrop Germany! Full logistics and timings are currently being finalised and full details will be published as soon as possible. Given the huge popularity of this event and the limited number of places available, we will prepublicise the launch of the Application Form giving you sufficient notice to apply. We anticipate that this Application form will launch early February 2009.
PROVISIONAL DATES for your diary are meeting in Dover Saturday 16 May, depart Dover Sunday 17 May, Hambach factory visit Monday 18 May. Brabus Bottrop visit date to be finalised but will follow Hambach. In addition we will have our conventional 'free' day(s) to ensure you have time to tour surrounding area before returning to the UK.
APPLICATIONS will launch mid February 2009.
COSTS will again be a package cost with all accommodation, some meals, full support, Roadbooks etc provided. Costs will be announced in the pre-publicity material launching in advance of the Application forms.
www.thesmartclub.com
thesmartclub is delighted to be invited to this prestigious event taking place at MercedesBenz World and Brooklands Museum and, as we are a formal exhibitor, you can purchase DISCOUNTED TICKETS directly via thesmartclub web site. The weekend is one of the most prestigious and nostalgic motoring events you can attend. These include: The Concours d’Elegance - a driving extravaganza made up of several exacting test events, with points awarded for the best-kept and best-driven cars across twelve historical categories. The Concours will take place over both days of the Double Twelve, with driving tests held in evocative locations across the site. These will include the historical Test Hill and Member’s Banking of the original Brooklands circuit. A range of ground and air based displays which, in previous years, have included the Blue Eagles Helicopter Display Team, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows Display Team, and numerous vintage and veteran machines in action. This year’s festival promises to be even more action-packed. As well as the exciting Concours d’Elegance, there will be special events taking place throughout the weekend. Historically, the Double Twelve has seen Penny Farthing races, a Prestige and Performance Gallery showcasing racing and performance cars from across the years, and live interviews with our star guests. There will also be stalls and a wide variety of street entertainment of all kinds throughout both sites. The Double Twelve is a prominent date in the automotive calendar, attracting visitors from all areas of the industry. In previous years, special guests have included F1 stars Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, as well as motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss and other major players from racing history past and present. As many smart owners and enthusiasts who have attended the 'Destination Brooklands' Event will know, both venues (Brooklands
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Museum and Mercedes-Benz World) offer you a wide range of additional attractions. thesmartclub will also have a full display area at this prestigious event. In addition to full information on thesmartclub itself, we will be focussing on the club, its Members and importantly, for the global visitors to the Double Twelve event, the diverse range of cars and modifications under the smart banner. We will have a dedicated display area uniquely for a small number of cars to be displayed and we will publish details in the first quarter of 2009 detailing display requirements and how you can apply to have your car considered to be chosen as one of the display vehicles. Purchase your tickets via thesmartclub ONLINE SHOP and you not only benefit from a 10% discount but you also get FREE Priority Parking in a specially designated area. This Parking benefit alone saves you £5.00
CONFIRMED DATES for your diary are 13th and 14th June 2009
TICKETS are available to members of thesmartclub NOW. Adult tickets at a DISCOUNTED PRICE ONLY from thesmartclub ONLINE SHOP or by phoning thesmartclub. You will be asked for your smartclub Membership Number or your smartclub MessageBoard ID at the time of ordering Online via thesmartclub Online Shop. The offer represents a 10% saving on the standard Adult advance Booking price. This discount is ONLY available via thesmartclub Online Shop.
VENUE/GENERIC
INFORMATION: Gates open at 8:30 am and close at 7 pm. Car parks open at 8 am and close at 8 pm. Activities end at 6 pm. Further information will be in Issue 11 of our ‘4site’ magazine due out May 2009.
Destination Brooklands 12th September 2009 Early notification of our 2009 Destination Brooklands event for your diary. The 2008 Event was a huge success with thousands of smart car owners and enthusiasts attending. Planning for the 2009 Event is underway and you can be sure that your feedback and suggestions from last year are again being taken into consideration during this process. The 2009 event promises to be another outstanding day with a range of activities, traders and attractions.
DATE for your diary is Saturday 12th September 2009 APPLICATIONS will launch April 2009. COSTS: we again aim to make admission to
For example, Adult Single Day Ticket:
this international Event, free of charge.
Standard Price £20.00 plus Parking
VENUE and EVENT INFORMATION: Will launch April 2009
‘On the Day’ Price £25.00 plus Parking thesmartclub Price: £18.00 including FREE Priority Parking! thesmartclub offer is in respect of Adult tickets only. No discounts are available for Child tickets or Family tickets. That said, the benefit of lower handling costs and FREE priority parking means that savings can be achieved by the majority of Members. Reduced ticket prices are available for children aged 12 to 16 years old inclusive. Admission prices for children aged less than 12 years old is FREE of charge.
www.thesmartclub.com
You can purchase tickets for Saturday 13th June, Sunday 14th June OR a weekend ticket covering BOTH days.
Information on all our Local, National and international events will continue to be available via our web site and be published in all Issues of ‘4site’ magazine. Our Members with no internet access will also be contacted by letter with details of events, dates and Application opportunities. Meantime, if you have any questions regarding forthcoming events, please email events@thesmartclub.com or phone thesmartclub directly.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Regular Local Meetings If you regularly meet with a group of local smart owners and enthusiasts (wherever that is in the world) and you would like your meeting included in our future listings, please email events.team@thesmartclub.com or telephone us on +44-845-299-0332 with details for inclusion in the next issue of our ‘4site’ magazine.
Milton Keynes smart meet Every 2nd Monday, 7.30 p.m. onwards Check Meetings Section of thesmartclub MessageBoard Navigation Pub, Stoke Bruerne DAFT Mansfield meet 1st Wednesday of every month at 7.00ish p.m. The Snipe Pub, Alfreton Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 1JE
Local Meetings Shepperton meet 1st Wednesday of every month 1930hrs to 2200hrs: The Thames Court, Towpath, Shepperton, TW17 9LJ.
East smart Cambridge meet 2nd Monday of every month Grantchester St. Albans Meet 4th Thursday of every month from 7:30pm The Three Horseshoes, 612 Hatfield Road Smallford, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HP Essex smarties meet 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7.30 to 8.00 p.m. The Essex Cricketers, Notley Green, Great Notley, Braintree, Essex, CM7 7WW
East Kent smarties 2nd Wednesday of every month, from 8.00 p.m. Dukes Head Pub, Sellindge, nr Ashford, Kent NWsmarties meet 3rd Thursday of every month from 6.30pm The Riverside, Warrington Road, Acton Bridge, Northwich, Cheshire Please note that as many of the following meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.
Contact thesmartclub We have a wide range of contact options available to you enabling you to have questions answered: Email Enquiries General: admin@thesmartclub.com Membership: membership@thesmartclub.com Privilege Card: privilege@thesmartclub.com Events: events@thesmartclub.com Technical (car related): technical@thesmartclub.com Technical (web related): webmaster@thesmartclub.com Advertising: advertising@thesmartclub.com Club Merchandise: distribution@thesmartclub.com Phone +44 (0) 845 299 0332
Fax +44 (0) 131 312 6167
Post Thesmartclub ltd PO Box 28549 Edinburgh EH4 5WB UK
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Smarts with extra wide rear wheels such as Brabus and Michelak’s with spacers.
Supplier Features Half Moon Bay Leisure Ltd has been supplying trailers, leather seats and other smart products specifically for the Daimler Smart range for more than 5 years. 2009 will see some enhanced sponsorships with key Smart Dealerships around the UK and an exciting programme of Shows and Events throughout the coming year. In particular HMB Leisure is proud to engage in a Special Partnership with Andrew Shipp (www.SussexCars.com). Founded in 1999, our Partners, Sussex Cars, are amongst the first and certainly the longest running independent Smart Car specialists. Andrew Shipp and his team of Gary Stevens and Mark Sturges have a combined experience of nearly 16 years experience with Smart Cars. Our distinctive Trailers can be found on display in the Sussex Cars, East Preston, Showrooms and we will be campaigning “General Custard” (yellow MK8 Passion) at numerous Smart venues across Europe! Keep an eye out for the “General”. For 2009 Half Moon Bay Leisure Ltd has decided to simplify its Trailer offerings into two distinct product lines:1. www.Smart-Trailers.co.uk will continue to offer trailers designed and built specifically to carry Smart Cars. 2. www.SussexTrailers.com is the new daughter company of Half Moon Bay Leisure Ltd and will offer Brian James Trailers designed and built to carry any other model of car – for example Toyota IQ, Citroen C1, Fiat Panda/500 etc. Key Benefits: • Our Trailers are Immediately available from Stock (UK) • We Accept all major Cards • We Deliver countrywide (UK)
Smart-Trailers include, as standard, Spare Wheel, AL-KO Hitch with Jockey Wheel, full overrun auto reverse brakes plus handbrake, full integrated electrics with lighting to EU standards, Ramps, Jack Stands and has an ALKO 1300Kg capacity Axle and 13” four stud wheels & tyres. www.SussexTrailers.com are pleased to be chosen by Brian James Trailers to be its Authorised Dealership in West Sussex. Brian James Trailers have a 5 year chassis warranty and we usually keep the A-Sport and Micro-Max Range in stock. We can supply any trailer from the Brian James range in approximately 3 to 4 weeks. All our Trailers are manufactured to European Standards and it should be possible to personally import from the UK to other EU member states. Purchasers need to ensure they have researched and comply with local legislation and requirements of their member states. I look forward to meeting you all on the vibrant Smart scene during 2009 Alan D Manton, Managing Director www.Smart-Trailers.co.uk Half Moon Bay (Leisure) Ltd London UK +44 (0)20 8123 0160 Registered in England 5222630
Smarts-R-us USA is coming! Continuing on the huge success of Smarts-R-us in the UK, we are delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of Smarts-R-us in North America.
www.Smart-Trailers.co.uk are purpose built for the complete Daimler smart range, fortwo, forfour and roadster. Designed from the outset to be forward loading for ease of use, Smart Trailers retain perfect weight distribution for safe, easy & legal towing.
For all enquiries, please contact:
Smart-Trailers “XCountry”, uses AL-KO Kober Vehicle Technology components and HMB will not be beaten on price for any comparable trailer! The Smart-Trailers “Brooklands” has integrated slide out ramps and a wider bed for
www.thesmartclub.com
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Contemporary Automotive 5020 Cook Road Beltsville MD 20705 USA Tel: +1-301-937-4541 Fax: +1-301-937-4495
‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Eventually the glass should come off.
Mods & Maintenance! Task: Black out Roadster lower lights Remove the front panels from the car following information available via Evilution.co.uk or thesmartclub.com Remove the Torx screws from the light units and remove them.
Look into the back of the indicator hole, you will see a small clip. Lever this upwards slightly and push the clear plastic diffuser out of the unit.
Repeat with the other light and take them into the warm. With the diffuser removed you can now tint it with tinting spray if required.
Carefully, using a knife or dental tools, remove as much of the sealant as possible. The sealant runs all the way around and sits in a trough so this process can take time but is essential to the removal of the glass cover.
Clear out the channels of any remaining sealant.
When you cannot physically remove any more sealant it’s time to get out the heat gun. Evenly heat up the edge of the glass all the way around, this softens the remaining sealant.
Using 600 to 800 grit sandpaper, remove the silver coating from the front of the light. If your light units have fog lights then either be careful as you sand near them or attempt to remove them by removing any fixings from the back.
With a plastic utensil, lever the glass cover away from the back. Work all the way around the edge evenly to avoid stressing the glass cover.
Clean the unit with a tack cloth before spraying. Do several light coats in your preferred colour,
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
allow at least 15 minutes between coats and always spray in a warm ventilated place.
Task: Oil Change on fortwo (451 model) Removing The Oil
Replace the indicator diffuser when the paint has fully dried, this usually takes 24 hours.
Drive the car until it is up to normal operating temperature, about 80 degrees. Jack up the front of the car slightly on the opposite side of the drain plug. This makes the oil pool around the base of the drain plug allowing more to come out. Place a catching device like a washing up bowl under the drain plug.
Using Sikaflex, Tigerseal or another type of polyurethane bonding adhesive, create a bead in the trough all the way around. As a last resort you could use silicone sealant but there are no guarantees the glass will stay in place.
Clean the glass on the inside with a microfiber cloth to remove any fingerprints then lower it onto the sealant. Ensure that the sealant is being slightly pushed out all the way around so it can seal correctly. Tape the glass to the back and leave for another 24 hours in warm conditions to allow the sealant to go off.
Unscrew the oil filler cap (circled in green below) and remove the dipstick (circled blue).
Remove the drain plug (24mm) and reposition the bowl so it actually catches the oil. The drain plug is about 3” long and has a mesh filter built into it. Remove the copper washer and ensure the mesh filter isn’t clogged up.
Refit to the car and admire your new look lights.
Removing The Oil Filter
Submitted by Kane Harrison, Evilution Visit www.evilution.co.uk
www.thesmartclub.com
The filter simply unscrews in an anticlockwise direction. In the unlikely event that the filter is seized onto the thread, you may have to utilise a strap wrench like a 'Boa'.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Make sure you have the oil catcher in place. when you remove the filter as you will get a small stream and the old filter will be totally full. Refitting The Oil Filter Wipe some fresh oil onto the rubber seal and screw onto the engine in a clockwise direction. Smart recommend torquing the oil filter up to 14Nm if you have the equipment. If you don't (as most people won't), hand tight will be fine. Don't go mad on it though. Filter smart part number A 132 180 00 10
The smart fortwo 451 takes approximately 3.3 litres of oil to reach the maximum level but remember that you cannot physically get all of the oil out. There will always be a little left. Allow the oil to settle for a few minutes, check the level with the dipstick. Add more oil a bit at a time and keep checking until the oil level is about halfway between the minimum and maximum marks. Replace the oil filler cap and the dip stick. Ensure the filler cap is securely tightened down.
Check And Double Check Refitting The Sump Plug Take a new copper washer and place over the sump plug thread. Screw the sump plug into place and torque to 65Nm. Washer smart part number A 0189974445
The oil level is very important so run the engine for about a minute, this allows the oil to circulate around the system. Any air in the system or the new filter will be pushed into the sump. Turn the car off and wait a few minutes before checking the oil level on the dipstick again. The displacement of air can cause the oil level to fall so top up as necessary. Ideally you should check the oil level every week Submitted by Kane Harrison, Evilution Visit www.evilution.co.uk
Refilling The Oil Using the correct fully synthetic oil (10W-30 or 5W-30 is suitable for the most climates) put in 3 litres of oil into the oil filler hole in the top of the engine (circled in green below).
www.thesmartclub.com
We are delighted to advise that future issues of ‘4site’ will continue to feature a range of Modifications and Maintenance tips for the full range of smart models. You can find additional guides meantime at www.evilution.co.uk or via the Member Area in thesmartclub web site.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Features A letter from America … After seeing a few of the US Smarts being produced at the factory in Hambach on thesmartclub’s factory tour last year and starting to read a little about Smarts in the US earlier this year, I thought that when I went to the US later in the year, that I would like to see for myself just what things are like, and how the buying/ownership process differed from that in the UK. Knowing the areas I was going to be in, I decided to start doing a little research into what different Smart centres were in the areas, so that I could get the best out on my visit. After much research and sending out a few emails, I started to get feedback from the various Smart Centers (all very positive might I add) and invitations to come and take a look at the US Smarts. After a bit of thought, I made the decision that I would take up Smart Center Sarasota' Invitation. They are only about 20-30 mins drive from the apartment we rent in Bradenton, Florida, so their location was perfect, as well as their staff being extremely helpful and happy to talk all things smart.
Outside the showroom are 3 smarts – one of each of the different models that are available in the US market. The models available here are the base model pure coupé, the top of the range passion coupé, and the top of the range passion cabrio.
The only real difference between the US and European models seems to be the US spec headlight units with amber reflectors and the gear shift assembly, which similar in style to that of a normal automatic, with a button mounted on the front of the gear stick which is pressed in order to change between the different gears – Park, Neutral, Reverse, and Drive (pulling the stick towards you, the car changes from softouch mode to softip). Otherwise the only other differences are the specs that are offered and the features that are included as standard, ie paddleshift. On entering the showroom, I am greeted by very friendly and helpful staff offering to help in any way he possibly can. In this case Phillip Thrapp - Sales Administrator at Smart Center Sarasota, who I had arranged to meet with to discuss Smarts in the US, greeted me.
After arriving in the US, I made contact with Smart Center Sarasota again to arrange my visit. After talking to them very briefly to arrange my visit, I soon realised that they were very friendly. On approaching the dealership on State Road 72 in Sarasota, the impression was a very positive one. Although the showroom is set back a short distance from the main road, the Smart sign still stands out from the rest of the showrooms on the same site, which includes Jaguar, and Lexus. The black frontage to the Smart showroom gives it a really clean and imposing yet modern look, with the black tinted out windows giving you a small tantalising glimpse at the fortwo, making you want to open the door to see more..
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
The first thing you see when entering the showroom is the cut away tridion safety cell that the dealership have on display, showing you the safety features that are encapsulated into the fortwo.
This being the first thing you see, tells you just how important safety is to Smart and just how safe the fortwo really is, thus throwing out any preconceived ideas that the smart is so small it has to be unsafe. For me this is a very unusual sight, but I think its very important, especially in a new market where the smart has to prove itself, and change the way people think.
This car also has some very nice chrome details, like the chrome alloy wheels, chrome front lower grille, and smart center sarasota licence plate holder. This makes for a great looking car with very subtle detail adding a crisp yet unique finish. In the showroom are another 2 fortwos, this time both coupes - one being the base model pure, and the other the top of the range passion. The pure is black and silver, but with a twist, the panels down the centre line of the car are silver to match the tridion, while the panels down the sides are black. This makes for something very unique, and certainly something I’d never considered before, but in reality it looks really good and adds an extra dimension to the car, giving an impression that the tridion flows further down the front and back than normal. The passion that is in the showroom is something quite special too. Initially you look at the car and think it’s a simple all black passion, but then you look down the sides, and notice that it has a black and white chequered flag design that is wrapped onto the panels. This design looks fantastic as it almost looks like the chequered flag is waving in the breeze, giving the design real depth and dimension that is not easy to achieve.
The next fortwo your eyes are drawn to is the blue and silver passion cabrio. Initially this car looks completely new from the factory, but on closer inspection you start to notice little details. These details include the hand-painted pin stripes, which are all around the car, which fit and contemplate the body shape extremely nicely. These subtle details are enhanced by the body coloured side skirts, rear valance, and front valance.
After talking more in-depth to Phillip, it was soon obvious that they were very passionate about the fortwo, and Smarts in general, even talking about wanting to see the roadster be re-produced and sold in the US.
They can really see an opening in the market for such a car. As a smart centre they really like to try things that are different on the cars
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they have, whether it’s custom paint jobs, panel wraps, or even just nice detailed touches.
Centers running 2 waiting lists – 1 for specific orders, and another for people who didn’t mind what spec they got, so if someone had placed a deposit and ordered a car, and for whatever reason decided that they didn’t want it, the car would then be offered to the people on the second list. This seems like a great way to work, as it means the cars come in and go out regardless. I was totally blown away by the whole experience of Smart in the US.
This is something that is seen a lot more in the mainland Europe smart centres, but not so much in the UK. I spent quite a bit of time discussing a few ideas with Phillip and looking through the catalogues they have of parts available. This discussion lead onto numbers, Smart Center Sarasota received their first smart cars for delivery on January 29, 2008 and their allocation for 2008 is 245 cars. They have also received* an additional allocation of 6 cars, raising their total allocation for the year to 251 cars for 2008, and expect 2009 model cars to arrive in November. To date* they have delivered 167 cars, of which 35 have metallic blue panels, 33 have solid white panels, 32 have metallic red panels, 26 have solid yellow panels, 23 have solid black panels, and 18 have metallic silver panels.
I was expecting the distance from Smart in Europe, and Smart in the US would some how dilute the whole experience, but I was very pleasantly shocked. Smart Center Sarasotas product knowledge, the friendliness of the staff, and the level of service was absolutely first rate and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate in recommending their services. I’ll definitely be visiting the next time I’m in Florida. I hope that both myself and the club will be able to maintain the strong bond already formed with Smart Center Sarasota, and I’ll certainly be taking great interest in how Smart do in the US market. It has a huge potential, and so far the future looks very bright for Smart in the US. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Phillip Thrapp and all the team at Smart Center Sarasota for their very warm welcome, and giving me the opportunity to talk all things smart with them.
Although these numbers are still fairly small*, it seems to be that the bright coloured cars are the ones that are selling the best, and it was with somewhat of a shock, that the smart centres were told that light yellow and metallic red would be discontinued for 2009 being replaced with solid red, and metallic grey. Light yellow is one of the colours that sold well, and to them, is one of the colours that really show the cars off to their best, making the cars look bright and fun, like they should be seen, and were seen with the very early smarts here in Europe. Light yellow will be dearly missed from the range, luckily though, light yellow will still be available from smart centres, just not available on factory orders, so if you would like light yellow, you’ll still be able to purchase the light yellow fresh up pack for your car. At the time of visiting Smart Center Sarasota, the waiting list for cars was 20 months, with the Smart
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Submitted by Oliver Whittaker * article written October 2008 and data relevant prior to that date
‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
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Features - “They didn’t wave!” Reflections on smart in the UK “They didn’t wave!” Mum exclaims as we pass another City-Coupe, or ForTwo as they are now known. I smile a little wry smile to myself, thinking how she has been converted. It leads me to reminisce about how things have changed. I first became aware of smart at the London Motor Show at Earl’s Court in Autumn 1999. I felt the need to go that year, having been discouraged by the inflammation of the kneecap I was suffering, aggravated by pumping the clutch in the queues of traffic I sat in every morning on the way to work. I was driving a Rover 200 at the time (the curvy one that later became the Rover 25). After the initial joy of the new car - the newest, most expensive, largest and shiniest I’d had - it had dawned on me that it wasn’t working out. I’d look around each morning at the people in the cars around me in the same queue and wonder why I’d bought a more expensive, large and powerful car than my previous only to sit in the queue alongside people who had paid half as much and were doing less environmental damage. I’d bought the car to feel superior to those around me; I’d been caught up in the marketing hype and the social pressure of status symbols and now my knee hurt from the heavy clutch. Reality, and sense, had finally kicked in.
little thing, a 2-seater with lots of cabin space for the driver. But it was a petrol car, and what’s more it had some strange, automatic gearbox that was bound to go wrong. I took a brochure and a cute colour chart from the stand, run by a small independent dealership in London, but knew it didn’t answer the problem so I finished the show and went home. But the impact of that first look at the car stayed with me and I couldn’t help but pour over the brochure when I got home. And I carried on doing so for a month, obsessed by what colour I might want and which of the strangely named models might best suit me. Here was a car that was prepared to challenge the conventional thinking on what would deliver my transportation needs in a way that would use less of our planet’s resources. Internet searches revealed some other places you could buy them and I had to go and look. By now it was January 2000 and one Saturday I found myself at The Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke. They had three or four secondhand imports of varying models and colours. I stared and I sat and I pondered and I fiddled. Something about them seemed to make sense.
So at the motor show I wasn’t looking for large and shiny any more, but for a better answer to my transportation needs. Maybe technology held the answer. What I really wanted was an electric car, so that when I sat stationary in a queue there was no energy being used. Ideally it would be a small car but with lots of space for the driver so I could fit in it in comfort, maybe a 2-seater. I looked at the Corbin Sparrow (virtually a 1-seater!) but found that, despite being designed for the American market, I didn’t quite fit in it. Options were few and far between and even with the small petrol cars I tried the story was the same. I was nearly at the end of the show and I seemed destined to return to the Rover with a bad knee. I rounded a corner and saw the strangest site I’d ever seen. There, hanging from the ceiling at an impossible angle, was an amazingly small car. The smart City-Coupe it was called. What a cute
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
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But after looking for hours I wasn’t sure; at the time the idea of a smart was still very alien to me. That gearbox was probably going to drive me nuts, they were only left hand drive, they had a tiny engine and there was no official dealer support in the UK. If anything went wrong, the car would most likely have to be trailered back to the continent for repair. It was all wrong; all too risky. So I walked away. Within an hour, however, I was back, trying (and failing) to negotiate on the price. I had reasoned that if I bought the cheapest one with the fully automatic gearbox, then I could give it a try and see how I got on. If I didn’t like it I could probably sell it back to the dealer; if I did like it then I could upgrade at a later date. And so it was I got my first smart. It was a Mk1 mad red Pulse, about 9 months old and with 19,000 kilometres – yes kilometres - on the clock. Not only did the speedometer measure in kilometres, the lights had plastic holiday-style deflectors stuck on to adjust the beam angle and there was a fog light bolted to the centre of the back panel. In those days making them legal for use in the UK was an art form practiced to varying degrees by the unofficial importers. Now suddenly my trip to work made sense. Instead of pumping the clutch, the car did what it needed to on its own. Instead of having four seats unused there was just the one spare to put my sunglasses case on. And I was getting over 50mpg around town. A sign saying ’50 smiles to the gallon’ was tempting, but never realised. Suddenly driving was fun again; despite the small engine the turbo made driving around town seem exhilarating. I kept the Rover for another 9 months but it only got started to keep the battery charged. 9 second 0-60 times suddenly seemed so old fashioned, so outmoded and it had to go. Roundabouts in the smart were a novel experience, for two reasons. Firstly, the car had a habit of changing gear just as you wanted to accelerate and left you with no drive; that took a bit of getting used to. Secondly (and most bizarrely) the car seemed to attract most attention at roundabouts. Once when I pulled out a BMW driver – over whom I had right of way – pulled out too and then stopped on the roundabout, completely blocking my way, just so he could stare. The car certainly attracted a lot of attention.
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Wherever I parked there was always a crowd of onlookers having a crafty, sideways stare at it when I returned, and they regularly had a host of questions. Often I had to excuse myself to the distracted onlookers just to be able to get to it. I enjoyed being different, even if my chips did go cold every once in a while as I fielded the questions! Being parked near an expensive supercar but my car getting the crowd around it was fun. As were the look on people’s faces when I turned up at the DIY store for lengths of copper pipe or pieces of wood and got them all to fit despite the car’s diminutive size. Taking a saw or pipe cutter was a sensible precaution but rarely utilised. Boy was this thing practical as well as smart. But we were flying by the seat of our pants. With no dealerships any problem could be a major one. Importers started to become more prevalent but some were only interested in selling cars. Fortunately the company I bought my car off looked after me and dealt with a couple of small issues, one involving them needing to pick it up on a trailer. Information about the car was hard to come by too. The manual that came with my car was in German and my ‘O’ level wasn’t up to it. There were quirky – and clever - things about the car that meant you sometimes needed a bit of help. Fortunately the internet came to my rescue as I discovered other people that had made the same leap of faith. Some guy called Al had set up this little group called thesmartclub and it delivered a virtual meeting room for the sharing of enthusiasm and helping out other owners. A community grew and good friendships formed. When you saw another smart on the road you waved to the driver in recognition of the good choice they had made too. For a while there was even talk on the forums of developing a special wave to indicate membership of the club, but there was really little need. Pretty much everyone found out about the club - through necessity when they needed help – and the ‘Spotted a smart’ section of the site thrived. What was fascinating was the broad section that the community represented. The car seemed both classless and ageless; people of all walks of life saw the sense in the brilliant design that offered something so different from what had gone before. If it worked for them then they
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bought one, and more often than not loved it. As time went on minor tweaks to the car started to be delivered and the user community gave them mark numbers to ease the discussions on the forums. MkII was already available when I bought mine and had slightly softer suspension and additional seat pads amongst it changes. MkIII introduced a revision to the front suspension that significantly improved handling and an internal button to open the boot. Around MkIV or MkV the interior plastic went grey; the car’s wackiness was starting to be toned down by increasingly German influence. Around this time smart started to get interested in the number of cars in the UK. A recall was performed via the Mercedes network and we smart owners were treated to a high class cup of tea whilst our cars were fixed. Then the news broke; the cars were officially coming to the UK. A dealership network – totalling 5 – was being set up and official UK cars would become available. No longer would the method of alterations to meet UK road legalisation vary; the factory started making cars with UK lights and speedos. This was a big change and we early adopters appreciated the extra support, but the cars were still left-hand drive and this put off many buyers. When the factory then started making right-hand drive cars, the wider UK acceptance of smart really started. Lured by the better suspension I upgraded to a MkV Passion when one of the last batch of the LHD cars started to get sold off as pre-registrations through Mercedes Direct. Having rushed to a dealer on a Friday night after work 100 miles from home and seen a car I was interested in, I returned to my nearby parents’ house to spend the evening with them. Over dinner I mentioned my interest in changing the car – as I’d always planned when I first bought it – and joked that they should buy the old one off me. But the response wasn’t what I expected; Mum turned to Dad and said, “Well we could do. What do you think?” Suddenly we were a two smart car family! Although smarts were becoming more prevalent, Mum still got in early enough to experience the joy of being different. She too got stopped in the street by the inquisitive public and started to get caught up in the community spirit that standing out from the crowd brings about. She noticed the waves from the other cars and would always tell me about seeing a fellow smarter.
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That was seven years ago. How different things are now. The dealership network has been absorbed into Mercedes. Unfortunately, in a number of cases, this has resulted in some poor quality of service levels being experienced and a feeling that smart is sometimes ‘less well respected’. The amalgamation of the parts system into the existing Mercedes network appears to have significantly increased costs. Some of the parts, particularly pre-coloured panels – are no longer available, turning a minor knock into a major expense. And yet some things remain the same. Many friendships have survived and prospered, and both the family cars keep going strong. I’ve still got the same LHD Passion I bought back then, and it still does a great job for me. I used to change my car every few years, trying to get something newer or more exciting. But now I’m a smart owner and all that seems less relevant. My choice of car still says something about me, but it’s no longer about how I compare myself to others. Now it’s about how I respect what we have here on our planet and how I want to keep it as best I can. And that message doesn’t change every few years.
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The launch of the new car – a more grown up car - brings a new generation to the brand and the numbers continue to increase. Seeing another smart on the road is hardly news nowadays. In some respects the new car is a disappointment to me; the quirkiness has been lessened, the fuel economy worsened for the increase in a not entirely relevant 0-60 time. However the new car still seems to deliver some of the common sense that a 2-seater car can offer whilst improving driving experience and reducing the ridicule that the de-sensitised motoring press mistakenly heap on the brand. The new car probably isn’t for me – I don’t quite fit in it in RHD format, like all those super-minis I tried at the motor show all those years ago. But it was an important car for smart to build and on balance I think they were right to change it as they have. The new car’s wider appeal will hopefully ensure that the brand gets the recognition I feel it deserves. A brand that was prepared to find its way in a crowded marketplace full of big players and try to show us an alternative, more sensible answer to an individual’s everyday transportation problems is alright by me.
offering in relation to others on the market and appealed to a wider audience, but those very changes have resulted in the community spirit of its drivers beginning to be watered down. The new car will, like the change to right-hand drive, bring a new set of owners to the brand, who understand less the camaraderie of those who found the path before them.
With each change in the car it has improved its
Submitted by Andrew Hallmark
www.thesmartclub.com
So when another smart owner doesn’t wave to me I don’t criticise, I pity them. They have joined the party late, risking missing out on the wonderful era when smart owners were a family of like-minded mould breakers, prepared to stand up to ridicule of some for something that suddenly seemed so right. Perhaps they don’t get to meet and talk to new people and have new experiences simply because of the car they drive. I will continue to wave and display my club sticker with pride. When someone waves back I will enjoy reminiscing on the great times I’ve had, and continue to have, in the best designed car I’ve ever owned.
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thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Submit an Article to ‘4site’ - We want to hear from you! With a truly international audience, ‘4site’ provides you with an ideal additional channel to tell smart owners and enthusiasts about your ‘smart’ filled holiday, vacation, modifications, tours, competitions and ‘smart’ lifestyle. We make it easy for you to submit articles to us, 24 hours/day, 7 days per week.
You can submit articles directly to us via a dedicated page on our web site.
You can email articles, images and graphics to us any time, any day.
Visit www.thesmartclub.com and select the ‘Forums & Info’ menu option, then ‘4site’ and ‘Submit an Article’.
Your text can be created in an email, pasted into an email or sent to us in any file format. Emails should sent to:
You can type your text directly into the page we provide or paste text you have created elsewhere.
We understand that not everyone has access to the internet or email services. You can send us typed or handwritten letters along with any pictures* and we’ll transcribe your text.
4site@thesmartclub.com Letters should be sent to: ‘4site’ magazine thesmartclub ltd PO Box 28549 Edinburgh EH4 5WB UK
Click ‘SUBMIT’ and you’re done!
We’ll acknowledge all submissions received and advise you when/if your article is being included. * Note that any pictures posted to us cannot be returned. ‘4site’ is an international magazine for smart car owners and enthusiasts – your magazine and your opportunity to share your smart life with others! " ‘4site’ magazine ‘4site’ is an independent quarterly magazine produced, published and distributed by thesmartclub ltd. The magazine is not for resale or commercial redistribution. All content © thesmartclub 2009 and global Daimler media © 2009 Daimler AG. All rights reserved. The welcome reading image © Lensara, mechanic image "© Lukasz Olek, submit button © Kiankhoon, email image © Tomislav Stajduhar, club news girl © Andres Rodgiruez, shopping girl © Alen Dobric, chequered flag © Christopher Dodge, fuel nozzle © Yap Hong Chan and girl writing © Showface | Dreamstime.com. Front and rear magazine cover design and composition by Oliver Whittaker. thesmartclub is a brand of thesmartclub ltd, Company number SC259434, registered in Scotland, UK. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted by thesmartclub ltd nor its associated third party companies for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Views expressed in ‘4site’ are not necessarily those of thesmartclub ltd. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the firms whose advertisements appear within this publication however thesmartclub ltd cannot accept responsibility for the offers made by the advertisers even when making specific offers to Members of thesmartclub ltd.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
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Dealership News Smart Centre Saarbrucken „Saarbrücker smarties singen Siegeshymne“ >> Beispielhaft! Serviceansätze mit denen das smart center Saarbrücken Kunden begeistert: • • • • • •
Jeder Kunde wird mindestens drei Mal im Jahr kontaktiert Zu jeder Rechnung gibt es auch ein Geschenk SMS-Club informiert über Angebote Nach dem Werkstattbesuch bekommt man ein Zufriedenheitsanschreiben Alle Autos sind in Fahrtrichtung eingeparkt Serviceangebote werden auch in der Telefon-Warteschleife durchgegeben
© „KFZ-Betrieb“
Über ausführliche Best-Practice Ansätze und wie Sie von anderen Betrieben lernen können, berichten wir in Ausgabe 1/2009.
For over five years, thesmartclub has had an excellent relationship with Sea France in respect of our International events and our motorsport activities. We are delighted to advise that we are continuing this successful relationship in 2009 and will be bringing your further details both via our web site and in the May Issue of our ‘4site’ magazine.
We have a number of European events being planned for 2009 and we’ll be liaising closely with the team at Sea France in relation to our motorsport activities next year. In addition, and introduced in the summer of 2008, the Sea France fleet now includes the Molière, the only ferry more than 200 metres long on the cross Channel route.
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‘4site’ : Issue 10
February 2009
thesmartclub ltd … be part of the world’s largest independent club for all things smart
Dealership News
smart USA’s approach has always been to connect with customers before and after the sale.
Smart USA 2008 was a successful launch year for smart USA, with the company selling 24,622 units nationwide. Sales were generated from smart USA’s $99 reservation program, in which, customers can reserve their smart fortwo at the smart USA website. As the 37th country to sell the smart fortwo in the world, the United States has already become the third highest sales market of the smart fortwo, trailing only Germany and Italy. To date, the company has opened over 70 “smart center” retail outlets in 35 states across the country. In addition to placing retail outlets in major cities to reach consumers desiring urban mobility, the company has also located smart centers in cities like Omaha, Nebraska, and Jackson, Mississippi, due to high customer demand and acceptance in those areas.
smart USA also generated widespread excitement about the brand by educating consumers through hands-on experiences. Unlike other new vehicle launches, smart USA has not used traditional advertising, relying instead on grassroots efforts like cross-country road shows and word-of-mouth advocacy to communicate the brand’s attributes and drive vehicle reservations. smart USA partnered with like-minded brands such as Club Monaco during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, held special events such as an Earth Day celebration in Manhattan and established a presence at Art Basel, an exclusive art show in Miami Beach, highlighting culture and art.
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A key tool has been www.smartusainsider.com, a social networking Web site, for smart fortwo owners, reservation holders and enthusiasts to stay connected to the brand and each other. Since the site’s launch in June, over 8,000 members regularly share their favorite smart fortwo photos, videos and stories with fellow members. 2009 brings exciting changes to the smart fortwo. The vehicle will be available in two new colors: rally red and metallic gray. smart USA introduced the new 2009 smart fortwo BRABUS edition during the LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in November of 2008. The smart fortwo BRABUS edition builds on the revolutionary smart fortwo design with a model that enhances the vehicle’s performance and styling. BRABUS is world renowned for providing exclusivity on wheels, and the smart fortwo BRABUS lives up to the expectations by offering exclusive design elements in a sportier package that maintains the fortwo’s hallmark fuel efficiency, fun and functionality. Drivers can choose between two BRABUS models that best suit their personal taste and lifestyle – the smart fortwo BRABUS coupe or smart fortwo BRABUS cabriolet. The BRABUS will have a limited production in early 2009. smart enthusiasts don’t have to buy the BRABUS model to enjoy the exclusivity and excitement the BRABUS brand has to offer. Beginning in 2009, smart centers across the country will begin offering BRABUS accessories for sale and installation on any smart fortwo model. For more information regarding smart activity in the United States, please visit our website, www.smartusa.com. To interact with smart owners and share experiences about the car with other enthusiasts worldwide, visit smart USA’s official social networking site, www.smartusainsider.com.
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Smartville News A splendid fir tree, almost 6 meters high, took pride of place in the smartville factory prior to Christmas 2009.
Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Their objective was to promote and raise awareness of a very promising treatment against the neuro muscular diseases. The one millionth smart fortwo, in the yellow colours of Telethon, was the centre of an auction and all profits from that auction were donated to the Telethon appeal.
The Director of smart France decided to offer the 1,000,000th smart fortwo (produced September 3rd 2008) during Dr. Dieter Zetsche’s visit to coincide with the Telethon 2008. The car took part in the big challenge leaving Milan to join the studios of Telethon and France 2 in Paris, Saturday December 6th around 11 p.m. The challenge, in which volunteer fire-fighters take part, crossed
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thesmartclub ltd will be visiting the ‘birthplace’ of smart in May 2009. This will be thesmartclub’s ninth annual visit to the factory and is one of the Clubs most popular and successful Events. Full details of the visit can be found elsewhere in thesmartclub ’4site’ magazine or from thesmartclub web site. In addition, you can receive details by phoning thesmartclub directly on +44-845-299-0332.
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News from smart Detroit – January 11th, 2009 smart is producer of one of the worldwide most economical and environmentally friendly cars: the smart fortwo. The brand takes advantages by using alternative technologies to develop even more ecologically friendly vehicles. The smart fortwo electric drive demonstrates the pioneering role of the young car brand. As an electric car it is locally emission-free, highly efficient and quite. It represents sustainability at its highest level. The next generation prototype of the smart fortwo electric drive is being presented in the US for the first time during the NAIAS Autoshow. At the End of 2009, smart will start the production of the smart fortwo electric drive with a lithium-ion battery. The company is exploring opportunities for the United States market. Lithium-ion battery technology The smart fortwo electric drive series will be equipped with a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other type of batteries, including its compact dimensions, high performance, shorter charging times an higher reliability.
authorities have rewarded smart’s commitment by exempting drivers of electric smart vehicle from the expensive London congestion charge. London was selected as the perfect test city due to its high populations and infrastructure density, which has resulted in high traffic, parking shortages, severe noise and pollution. Participation in the project was first offered to companies that operate their own vehicle fleets and those who drive in inner city areas. The majority of the customers approached smart to participate in the London project. Participants lease the electric smart for four years or 40,000 miles, and the project will officially run until 2012. The company is using the test data and monitoring and evaluating many other different technologies to evolve the smart brand with new products as appropriate. “e-mobility Berlin” In addition to the London test program, smart is consistently working on the future development of electric drive technology. In September 2008, with the support of the German government and the state of Berlin, Daimler AG and the energy provider RWE introduced the “e-mobility Berlin” project. The two companies are jointly creating the conditions for zero emissions with battery electric drives, which is the world’s largest initiative in this field to date. RWE is providing 500 electricity charging stations and Daimler is contribution 100 electric vehicles. Both companies aim to create an intelligent system, and the first joint tests are scheduled for the spring of 2009.
London pilot project In 2007, smart started a pilot project in London, England to test the smart fortwo electric drive vehicle. smart leased 100 electric smarts of the former series to gain real world experience and determine the technology’s long-term sustainability. The project has proven to be very successful with customers giving very encouraging feedback. In addition, the English
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Additionally, an “on-board unit” is being developed that will communicate with charging stations to ensure that the battery is automatically charged with low-priced electricity when the network is not used to full capacity, for example at off-peak times. “e-mobility Italy” Daimler AG is launching its next electric mobility project in cooperation with Enel, Italy’s largest energy supplier. In 2010, the “e-mobility Italy” initiative will see more than 100 electric cars of the smart and Mercedes-Benz brands roll onto the streets of Rome, Milan and Pisa.
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Enel will be responsible for developing and setting up over 400 charging stations especially for this purpose in the three cities. The project aims to further develop automotive technology and an intelligent infrastructure, and also establish open standards. Infrastructure is a particularly important issue in Italy, where the majority of vehicles are parked in city streets.
Essen Motor Show 11th November to 7th December, 2008 BRABUS presented a superb collection of the smart fortwo/cabrio models at the 2008 Essen Motor Show last year. Full details, specifications and images are available on request from thesmartclub.
Evonik and Daimler establish strategic alliance for the development and production of lithium-ion batteries Evonik Industries AG, Essen and Daimler AG, Stuttgart are developing the energy storage of the future. Based on lithium-ion technology from Evonik and with Daimler expertise, both groups will drive forward the research, development and production of battery cells and battery systems in Germany. In the near future, Li-Tec cells will appear in electric vehicles of smart and Mercedes-Benz Cars. This will represent an important milestone in the series production of electric vehicles. En route to achieving its technological leadership in recent years, Evonik has invested around 80 million Euros. The outcome is production-ready hi-tech battery cells that are superior to competitor products in several key areas. On 15 December 2008, Daimler AG took over 49.9 percent of Li-Tec Vermögensverwaltung GmbH (Li-Tec). Evonik Industries AG already holds 50.1 percent. Both partners are seeking the involvement of a third shareholder in Li-Tec with expertise in electrical and electronic systems integration. Furthermore, the companies will also establish a joint venture with a clear focus on the development and production of batteries and battery systems for automotive applications. Daimler will hold 90 percent of this joint venture, and Evonik 10 percent.
BRABUS Ultimate 112
smart BRABUS “tailor made” 62kW cabrio
Smart BRABUS “tailor made” 72kW cabrio
The lithium-ion batteries produced by the joint venture will be used in both the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors. The capacity available at Li-Tec and the joint venture will initially concentrate on the needs of Daimler AG. Beyond that, the sale of cells and battery systems to third parties is planned. Images and data © smart BRABUS GmbH – Kai-Uwe Trillenberg
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