thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
June 2010
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Welcome Welcome to Issue 15 of our ‘4site’ international smart magazine, the second issue in this, our 10th Anniversary year. This is the time of year when the months of planning over the winter months begin to turn into reality.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: Club News How to join thesmartclub Our Membership Card Park & Go
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We’ve just completed our 10 Annual visit to the birthplace of smart in smartville, Hambach France and there’s a great article reviewing that trip in this issue of 4site. August sees the amazing smart times 2010 Event in Kaprun/Zell am See Austria and, of course, thesmartclub will be there and full information on the Event is also contained in the following pages. September sees the UK host the smart Festival 2010 which is again looking like being one of the largest (if not the largest) gathering of smart car owners and enthusiasts in one location on one day. Daimler Insurance Services UK Ltd (page 31) continue to provide superbly attractive offers to smart owners in relation to motor insurance and continuing through 2010. Sea France have extended their 20% discount offer to Members (contact thesmartclub for details). thesmartclub’s Online Shop has launched the official smart 2009/2010 smartware catalogue and we shortly launch with the 2010 range of smart and BRABUS accessories. Remember as a Member of thesmartclub, you benefit from 7.5% discount off all these products when purchased through our Shop. The club’s ongoing motorsport activities will be bigger, busier and better than ever and we’ve just completed the six hour endurance race at Mallory Park (UK) along with the first global ‘Tech Talk’ with smart times on the subject of ‘smart Motorsport – Performance and Safety’. My thanks to you for your continued support. Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
Event Review Hambach / smartville
Forthcoming Events smart times 2010 The smart festival 2010
Features Smart China TV advert Ocean Glamour Fantasy thesmartclub Motorsport
Mods & Maintenance Bulb changing (451 fortwo)
Local Meetings smart Community Dealership News* Office smart On the political road Retailer of the Year (UK)
Submit an Article News from smart * Submitted by Scott Fenn
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Advertisers Al’s Autos Daimler Insurance Services UK Ltd my-smart.com Pure smart smart Birmingham Smart of Croydon Smart Car Specialist Smart Car Superstore smart of Wolverhampton Smart Trailers thesmartclub Store Wellsmart
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
June 2010
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Club News How to join thesmartclub Joining thesmartclub could not be easier and we have a number of options available to you.
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:
NEW: Members of thesmartclub can save Money on Airport Car Parking by booking with Park and Go 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 of their airport car parking by entering a discount code when making a booking. Contact thesmartclub for full details!
thesmartclub ltd, PO Box 28549 Edinburgh, EH4 5WB, UK
Our Membership Card – smart saving!
Now in its 7th 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 Store and, better still, benefit from significant discounts on our Major Events prices. Full Membership of thesmartclub includes a Privilege Card as part of the ‘Pack’ and we also have a number of UK smart Dealerships providing Membership Packs with every new and used car purchased – contact thesmartclub for more details!
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
All loaded on to the Ferry, after the now customary detour through Customs for some, we headed off for Breakfast and to enjoy the May sunshine on the boat across the Channel.
2010 Event Review Hambach smartville 10th Anniversary Visit The annual trip to smartville in Hambach, France, organised by thesmartclub, is always a special event, but this year even more so, given that it was the tenth anniversary of the factory trip and the club’s founding. This was my fourth year on the trip, but it’s lost none of the excitement – there’s always something different and this year was no exception! smartSparky and I arrived at Dover early on the Saturday evening to check in to the Premier Inn where many of our fellow “Hambachians” had already gathered. We were issued with our polo shirts, Roadbooks and the car stickers which help to make sure that everyone’s very visible on the continent, not that this is normally a problem with so many smarts all in one place! The journey down to the Kent coast was a warm one, so by the time we arrived, the fronts of our previously nice, clean cars were rather coated with various bugs which needed to be blasted off before we could put on our 2010 tour car stickers! Bug removal completed and it was time for dinner! It’s a nice chance to sit down and relax with a drink and some good food after a journey which for some can be quite a hike – it’s amazing how big Kent actually is! Quite a few people were joining us the following morning but there was still a great turnout; most people headed off reasonably early though to catch some muchneeded sleep before the early start and the long journey the next day.
The next day was a lovely morning; bright and sunny, if a little chilly, so roofdown-weather for those of us with Roadsters and Cabbies! By 7am we were all decamped from the very comfortable beds in the Premier Inn and re-packed into our cars, ready for the off at 7.15 sharp. I always find the short hop heading down the hill towards the Port quite special – you see the long trail of smarts ahead of you (or behind you!) for the first time, but certainly not for the last!
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We arrived in Calais at around 10.30am, briefly regrouped to make sure that everyone had made it off the ferry OK, and then set off for the leisurely stroll to Saarbrücken. Some of us nipped into the first Shell station on the Auto route for a “splash and dash” – filling up a nearly full tank to make sure that we would get to Saarbrücken on that one tank but be nearly empty for the 100 Octane V-Power that can only be bought in Germany! The journey down was free from mishaps although we arrived at Victor’s Hotel quite late after a particularly leisurely drive. The staff were as friendly and welcoming as ever; with Thomas, behind the bar, now recognising quite a few of us (but I can’t think why!). Most people were rather tired after the journey down so after the run through of the events for the next day it was again an “early” finish for quite a few. The next day was the Factory tour and something that everyone, first-timers and old hands, had been hoping to see for a very long time. First of all, though, we had the task of getting to the factory. This year there was a slight problem in that the German and French police had closed various sections of the motorways around Saarbrücken – not so much a problem to get there, but could cause us real issues getting back. However Al Young assured us, that while we were in the Factory, he and Fiona would head out into the wilds of Alsace to find us the best route back.
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
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Hambach 2010 Review continued We set off in small tubes; those of us who had been before and were familiar with the route leading the groups. Unfortunately, it turned out that one of our number had a nasty argument with a German pothole, the size of which was later described as being something approaching that of an Icelandic volcano (it seems that potholes aren’t exclusive to the UK, though admittedly not quite as numerous!). This had unfortunately done horrible things to the rear Brabus monoblock wheel rim, which then had further punishment meted out to it in order to turn it back into a circular thing rather than square! There are rumours of videos of the poor wheel on youtube...
The Roadster did eventually arrive in smartville, no mean feat given the state of the original damage. Many brownie points indeed awarded to all those involved in getting the wheel back on the road in a workable state! After looking at a de-numbered Crossblade and a V6 Biturbo, which were on show, the everdelicious lunch was the then order of the day. This year we were treated to a personal greeting from the HR Director at smartville who welcomed us all to Hambach and, something that I thought was particularly thoughtful, thanked us all for our loyalty to the brand! (I’m sure the idea of asking if any jobs were going never passed through ANYONE’s minds...)
He then unveiled a very impressive cake that smart had made for thesmartclub’s 10th anniversary which was cut and brought to us as dessert – such a kind gesture and very much appreciated by all present! There was even enough to go round to the staff who were in the Communication Centre at the time, even Sabine (the tour guide from the previous trips) who had popped in from her maternity leave to see us! James and I were in the group who were due to go to the smart factory first while the other group headed towards Magna. They were very lucky indeed, as they were the first ever group of visitors who had been allowed to tour the Magna factory; no group had ever had this opportunity and we really can’t thank the Events Team and Magna International enough for the huge amount of behind-the-scenes work that had gone on in order to secure our access to this fascinating building. More of that in a moment! The smart factory tour itself is still always exciting – it’s great to see new cars passing through the assembly line! Last year there seemed to be a lot of cars bound for the US – this year we spied quite a few of the greystyle (a matt grey 451 with green wing mirrors and speedo surrounds). I was unconvinced when it was described to me, but I have to say that in the flesh (plastic!) it was very stylish and worked really well! Unfortunately for us the greystyle UK version won’t be released with the green wing mirrors, we will see it as the Urban Edition.
As interesting as the factory is, I have to admit that there was a real air of anticipation the closer we got to the end of the tour as we were then to walk down the road to Magna!
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Hambach 2010 Review continued We were greeted by Herbert Schnepper, Chief Operating Officer of Vehicle and Powertrain, Magna International, a friendly and larger-thanlife character who was evidently hugely proud of his factory and in particular his robots. We soon found out why! We had day-to-day life working at Magna explained to us. All tridions are built to order so, unlike today, there can be times where the robots are not in use. Walking out into the factory, we could see showers of sparks coming from fenced off corrals of robots, firstly welding the floorpans together (sparks), then spot welding the familiar-looking side panels (more sparks) and then welding them all together (lots and lots of sparks!). Al Young said that Magna was like “watching smarts being born”, and I really understood what he meant by that. In the smart factory, you see the familiar tridion shape as soon you enter – at Magna, you see random slices of metal becoming that familiar smart skeleton! It became evident that our hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide really was someone very high up in the company, especially when he allowed us all up to the section that each tridion passes through to be checked by hand to make sure it’s suitable to go forward for painting – much to the consternation of the workers on the line who now had the top Boss watching them work! Eventually, though many of us could have quite cheerfully stayed to watch the robots all evening, we had to leave. We thanked “Herbie” for allowing us to walk around Magna and all hope that we’ll be able to see it again soon!
We headed back to the Communication Centre for some to take pictures of their cars in front of
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the smart tower, but then took a slight detour to look over the test track and some of the cars already finished and waiting to be shipped out by train. We were intrigued to see many fortwos with their dashboards covered up, and not even J500ANT or mccsmart2002 could see through the cloth with their paparazzi lenses! We’ll wait with interest to see what was under the sheeting! We headed back to the hotel to discuss the day’s happenings, compare scorch marks from Magna (only joking!) and to wind down a little after some packed days.
The next day was a free day, so the first stop had to be Saarbrücken Smart Centre. Shopping from their extensive smartware selections is great fun, especially with items many of us have never seen before! The fortwo cake tins went down well, so I’m sure we’ll all have fun trying them out! The damaged wheel from the previous day was also replaced as they had one in stock for its poor owner! He was very pleased with it, once replaced, and his petrol station hooter was then heard again on the streets of Saarbrücken! Some then went to the Nürburgring – although the track itself wasn’t open until 6pm, the new visitors’ centre and shopping district certainly proved more than a distraction for those who made the journey! Some of us took a nice leisurely drive out to the Mosel River and Bernkastel-Kues, where we met Josef, the incredibly efficient (and only slightly scary) waiter who made our lunchtime stop very memorable indeed! Bernkastel is a very pretty riverside town and is certainly worth a stop if you’re ever in the area. It offers stunning Roadster roads en route as well!
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Hambach 2010 Review continued Our last night in the Hotel was a (relatively!) early evening for some, as we had an earlier than normal start to get our ferry back from Calais. Thesmartclub team were setting off at 7.30am to ensure that there was plenty of time for any delays on the motorways and to make sure that they didn’t miss the Ferry that afternoon. We were in a tube which had decided to leave slightly later after a relaxed breakfast, but as we were all experienced in the route we had let everyone know what we were doing so that they knew not to wait for us. We arrived back in Calais bang on time for our Ferry crossing after a rather rapid, but fortunately uneventful, journey! There were few people travelling to Dover at that time but there was some stunning sea fog to be seen coming across to the cliffs. The final chapter – more food! We arrived at the normal meeting haunt of the East Kent Smarties in Sellindge, to sit down, take a breath and then carry on along the home straight. A wonderful trip, for many reasons and not all which can be fitted in here; the Magna trip, without all of the other wonderful things that had been organised for us this year (and every year!) by thesmartclub, would have almost been worth it alone. Huge thanks again to Al and Fiona, Barrie and Amanda (love the new notebook and definitely much better than the backs of receipts!) and Tony and Andrew (we’ll get you back in the bar next year!), plus all the staff at smartville, Magna and Victor’s Hotel, Saarbrücken. I say this every year, but it’s the most welcoming bunch of people you could hope to meet – if you’ve ever considered going to smartville, I can only heartily recommend it and say (from my experiences of this year!): “it might just change your life!” Submitted by Helen Cooke Editorial Note: thesmartclub would like to congratulate Helen Cooke and James Mackenzie-Burrows on their recent engagement James popped the question to Helen during the Hambach 2010 visit
www.thesmartclub.com
TECH TALK In advance of the 2010 smart times event, the team at smart times have launched an innovative online fortnightly ‘Tech Talk’ session. The concept is simple – representatives from a range of companies are invited to host a live online chat and debate on a topic relevant to that company’s service offering. The sessions are open to anyone with access to the internet and run for two hours, normally from 1900hrs (UK) to 2100hrs (UK). The great news is that you can drop in and out of these sessions to suit your own time commitments. thesmartclub was delighted to be invited to be the very first company to participate in the inaugural Tech Talk session that took place on 1st June. We covered the subject of “smart Motorsport – Safety & Performance” discussing the history of the world of smart and motorsport, current developments and plans for 2010. In addition, we answered a range of ‘on the spot’ questions on everything from brakes to exhausts, engine modifications to clothing, race series and tyres. Participants to the session came from across Europe, North America and Australia and it made for some superb ‘dynamic’ online chat. Our thanks go to Isabella Andric and the smart times’ team for the successful launch of this initiative. In addition, Isabella has kindly produced a short summary paper from this inaugural Tech Talk available in both English and German. Copies (electronic or paper versions) will be available in July 2010 from thesmartclub. Future Tech Talks are already being scheduled and you can find out more information from thesmartclub or directly from the smart times team by logging on to the smart times Facebook page at:
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
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‘4site’ : Issue 15
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thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
2010 Forthcoming Events smart times 2010 Travel, Meet, Experience It’s nearly that time of year again and smart times 2010 in Austria gets closer and closer! This will be one of Europe’s largest gatherings of smart cars, smart enthusiasts and smart traders and it all takes place from Wednesday 18th August right through until Sunday 22nd August.
thesmartclub will again be present at this unique event and here’s a taste of what’s in store: Pre Event: Wednesday 18th August Krimmler Waterfalls A unique experience of nature with smart: First, we'll travel together through mountains and valleys, then, relaxed, we'll take a hiking trail and experience Austria's most-visited attraction: the Krimmler Waterfalls are Europe's largest waterfalls! The meeting place is at the compound. Tentative reservation is not required. smart times cocktail smart fans arrive at smart times from 16 different countries. Cool drinks on the summer terrace with a view over the lake offer an ideal opportunity to intermingle and get to know each other, before the event even starts! All details on the selected smart times cocktail lounge in Zell am See follow. Pre Event: Thursday 19th August Power Drives Brave smart drivers test their own limits and, with an expert driver, drive along the most demanding stretches in the region. The limited number of participants guarantees fun at the steering wheel. 2 or 3 drives with a maximum of 10 "smarts" per drive are scheduled. Registration is therefore definitely necessary! Around the lake A program for all smart fans who enjoy relaxing, as well as for all fans traveling from afar: An excursion to the lake is ideal for enjoying the afternoon before the event in a relaxed manner. The meeting place is at the compound.
www.thesmartclub.com
smart times cocktail Cool drinks on the summer terrace with a view over the lake offer an ideal opportunity to intermingle and get to know each other, before the event starts! All details on the selected smart times cocktail lounge in Zell am See follow. Event: Friday 20th August Accreditation smart times 2010 offers more. More on its program, more entertainment and of course more service. Starting at 11:00am, smart fans can become accredited for the event and all activities. Our team has a valuable information pack for three unforgettable days ready for all participants. Going way up! The start is promising - it goes way up! We'll head together along the picturesque alpine road to the tallest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner. On the way back, you'll have the opportunity to visit the wildlife and recreational park. Come buy! Numerous exhibition pagodas have the best and latest currently on the market ready for all smart fans - be it tunings, special parts, smart merchandising or non-standard accessories. As several exhibits are unique specimens, it will pay off to come early. Dreams come true... All smart fans who ever sought to have a go at a special model are spoilt for choice. Very special, even rare, smart models can be borrowed easily and without charge for test drives in 2010. Never before seen! When is the last time you've said, "Wow!"? It will be at this unbelievably acrobatic stuntman show - smart has never had such a wow factor! No pre-registration or reservation is required. smart times cocktail The evening arrives and is ideally suited for a refreshing smart times cocktail to put you in the mood for the official opening ceremony: as an ideal accompaniment to strolling along the exhibition mile or as an aperitif before the smart times barbecue.
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during the exhibitors' happy hour or as an aperitif before dinner.
smart times 2010 (continued) smart times barbecue At ease, delectable and entertaining - how could the evening begin better, if not with a smart community barbecue? Grill masters can prove themselves - the necessary equipment is provided at the compound.
Talk with the smart designers Arriving from Stuttgart for the occasion, in order to intermingle with the European smart community, the sought-after smart designers are available for questions. Let's party! All smart fans and smart times visitors of many years mustn't miss this evening for any reason! Kaprun Castle will once again be the backdrop for a magical evening. And after the glamorous tribute to the contest winners, a sensational novelty awaits you..
Event: Saturday 21st August The big day has arrived. At the Corso and EMMA (European Mobile Media Association), Contest you can show the world what your smart car can do. Also at the many additional program segments, you can see what the smart community has to offer. smart times Corso Get out of bed! Still during the morning hours, smart will be polished to high-gloss and decked out: The smart Corso is on the program! smart times Corso lunch After so many emotions, refreshments are announced - at smart times 2010, we want to wind up the Corso with a lunch together at the compounds
We are also pleased to announce that the future will be presented at the smart times 2010: the new smart fortwo electric drive will be on show and will be available for test drives. At the smart times future lab, located in the interactive information area in the hospitality tent, smart fans can find out all the latest information on this subject. A highlight on Saturday will be the Daimler designers who will be on site to answer questions from the community. Event: Sunday 22nd August
The EMMA Contest! Now they're here: the experienced top jury members of EMMA will take a very careful look at every smart car registered for the contest.
EMMA Contest evaluations All EMMA Contest participants will receive their personal, detailed evaluation at the accreditation desk.
The smart is incredibly strong Can you fuel up on so much energy that you can lift a smart car with your bare hands? Mister Strong Man will bet with the community that he can do so very well...
smart times exhibitor sale To close off three unforgettable smart days, and following the success of the last edition, we're once again presenting the incredible smart times sales along the exhibitors' mile. Here, everyone is certain to find a special bargain.
Fifteen in the smart car The smart car is an innovative and creative automobile that offers considerable free space. smart owners know this as do the cheerleaders and will they prove this to us. smart times cocktail & happy hour The evening arrives and a refreshing smart times cocktail is once again on offer to put you in the mood: as an ideal accompaniment to a stroll
www.thesmartclub.com
All's well that ends well! At this time, the smart community and the entire smart times team ready themselves for the return trip. Sad? Just wait another year... then it's smart times once again! More information available via thesmartclub home page and at www.my-smart.com Submitted by the smart times 2010 team
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The smart Festival
The 2009 smart Festival at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, UK was the world’s largest gathering of smart cars for any single Event. Of course, with 2010 being thesmartclub’s 10th Anniversary, we are absolutely certain that this year’s smart Festival will be even more successful. Once again, there will be a number of Competitions held on the day and smart are encouraging all owners to enter their car for one of the three competitions that day namely Best Kept, Best Dressed and Most Modified. The judging will again be done by the public and winners announced that same day. A range of additional information about the event can be found via www.thesmartfestival.com web site, the UK smart community web site (www.destinationsmart.co.uk) and a number of twitter and facebook services.
www.thesmartclub.com
In addition, there are a number of smart Dealerships acting as start venues for the drive to the Mercedes-Benz venue at Brooklands. In 2009 smart of Portsmouth had, by far, the largest number of cars at any one start venue and 2010 already sees that record being repeated. You should Register for the event now by visiting thesmartfestival.com web site and for anyone who does not have access to the Internet, you can register by phoning smart directly on +44 (0) 808 156 0207 For any questions regarding your Registration or specific event related queries you should email info@smartinfocentre.co.uk or phone +44 (0) 808 156 0207 thesmartclub will, of course, have a significant presence at the Event with a range of club products, Membership offers and our superb hospitality within thesmartclub marquee. If you have any other questions about the Event, or thesmartclub’s presence at this Event in the meantime, please email events@thesmartclub.com or call thesmartclub on +44 (0) 845 299 0332
thesmartclub – a decade of dedication
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As with any filming there is a vast amount of preparation, waiting, more preparation and take after take. The great news is that our smart owning participants proactively dedicated their time throughout the day of filming and the BBDO team on site were superbly hospitable and always ensured that people knew exactly what to do when.
Feature – TV advert! thesmartclub and smart China
As the smart brand continues to grow around the world, China is rapidly growing both its Dealership network and number of smart owners and enthusiasts. At the time of writing (June 2010), there are: •
FIVE Dealerships in Northern China (three in Beijing, one in Liaoning and one in Shenzhen).
The first of the TV adverts, being shown exclusively in China, lasts 30 seconds and features a mix of shots from London, Rome and Beijing with some starring roles Members of thesmartclub!
•
SEVEN Dealerships in Eastern China (three in Shanghai, one in Wuxi, one in Hangzhou, one in Wenzhou and one in Xiamen).
For our Readers with access to the Internet, you can see the first of the TV adverts at:
•
FOUR Dealerships in Southern China (one in Shenzhen, one in Guangzhou, one in Chongqing and one in Chengdu).
Establishing the Dealerships is one thing but promoting the brand and establishing what it means to own and drive a smart is quite another. In May this year thesmartclub was approached by BBDO China, the Creative Agency tasked with producing a number of TV commercials to promote smart in China.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhN9bEteatk
Our thanks must go to all of you who gave up your time to participate in this TV opportunity and the time you dedicated on location. thesmartclub would also like to thank Tim Evill, Susie, Lu, Anthony Hoffman, Michael Xu, Ray Leakey, Polly Georgieva and the rest of the team and representatives at BBDO.
The BBDO team wanted to shoot in a number of international cities with the objective of reflecting actual smart owners driving their own cars in a number of landmark locations. thesmartclub worked closely with BBDO and, despite incredibly tight timescales and liaison across different timezones, successfully gathered together a number of smart owners and their cars to participate in this unique filming opportunity. The UK filming was to take place in central London and would be mixed with shots from owners in Beijing China and Rome, Italy.
www.thesmartclub.com
A selection of images from the day’s filming is shown on the following page.
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thesmartclub, the BBDO team and the smart China TV advert – May 2010
Pictures by BBDO Worldwide, Bee Lee, Loretta Pritchard, Paul Gill and Sarah Martin
www.thesmartclub.com
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www.thesmartclub.com
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Features
Mods & Maintenance!
Paul & Steph’s Ocean Glamour Fantasy
Bulb changing – fortwo (451 model) Courtesy of www.fq101.co.uk
Readers will have seen the article in Issue 14 of 4site on Paul and Steph’s ‘Ocean Glamour Fantasy’ smart. Paul now has the latest update on this amazing car’s graphics: Following a ‘makeover’, with new airbrush artwork for the doors and bonnet for 2009, my good friend and highly talented Jersey airbrush artist Steph Newington has created yet more new work for 2010. So far he’s completed fresh designs for the doors, with a new bonnet and grille soon to be finished, hopefully in time for the summer. I think this year’s artwork is the most dramatic and colourful yet and is still very much in keeping with the overall theme of ‘Ocean Glamour Fantasy’.
Throughout all our issues of 4site ‘Mods & Maintenance’ sections, we try and maintain a balance between the more major modifications and customisations through to the day to day basics. In this Issue we focus (if you pardon the pun) on bulbs and how to replace the bulbs in the front of your fortwo (from 2007 models). We’ll take each of the bulbs in turn – Indicators, Side lights, Main Beam and Dipped Beam. Each of the bulb locations are shown below:
Open the drop down front panel of your fortwo.
As with all the previous airbrush artwork that has graced the Smart over the years, the panel preparation, base coating, lacquer and final polishing was entrusted to Paul Miere at the Bel Royal Garage, Bel Royal, Jersey.
Issue 16 of 4site Magazine will include details of the car’s finished bonnet area.
INDICATOR BULB REPLACEMENT The indicator is the upper most bulb on the outside of the panel. The bulb is mounted in a big twist holder.
Twist the holder about 30 degrees anticlockwise, and the holder will release. You may need a little force to over-come the seal on the holder.
Submitted by Paul Bussey
www.thesmartclub.com
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'stalk'. The stalk itself has flex in it, which means that you need to twist the stalk even harder to release. Twist the stalk anti-clockwise by about 50 degrees (including flex).
The actual bulb has a standard bayonet fitting into the holder. Replace as required. When refitting, ensure the holder is tight in the headlamp unit. The side light bulb is a standard 501 push fit, remove and replace as required. Carefully push the side light back into the housing, watching the front lens to ensure that it's located properly. Twist clockwise to lock back in place.
SIDE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT The side lights in the 451 have been designed to make changing them easier, but in reality their design can still prove troublesome! They are located in the bottom 'corner' nearest to the panels.
MAIN BEAM BULB REPLACEMENT The main beams are the innermost bulbs. Remove the simple rubber cap from the back of the unit.
The side lights are mounted at the end of a long
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www.thesmartclub.com
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The 451 now has a new fitment style to secure the bulb in place. There are now no 'hooks' to undo, you simply pull on the bulb - it will release from 3 spring clips on its own.
DIPPED BEAM BULB REPLACEMENT The dipped beams are the central bulbs. Remove the rubber cap from the back of the unit. Unplug the connectors from the back. The dipped bulbs have the conventional bulb retaining springs as found in the original fortwo. Push the spring clip down and clockwise by about 5 degrees.
Remove the bulb from the fitting.
When refitting ensure that you push the bulb in securely, so that all 3 spring clips are used. Refit the wires and firmly press the cap back into place. Replace the bulb as required, refit the spring clip and the connectors. Refit the protective cap and test.
Future issues of 4site will include additional DIY hints and tips from FQ101. For any specific questions regarding these Bulb changing instructions, please contact thesmartclub directly or visit the FQ101 web site at: www.fq101.co.uk
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Regular Local Meetings If you regularly meet with a group of local smart owners and enthusiasts and you would like your meeting included in our future listings, please email events.team@thesmartclub.com or telephone us on +44 (0) 845 299 0332 with details for inclusion in the next issue of our ‘4site’ magazine. For LATEST information and location details always check the Events Diary via the ‘News & Events’ panel on our homepage (www.thesmartclub.com).
DAFT Mansfield meet 1st Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm The Snipe Pub, Alfreton Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 1JE Edinburgh meet The Melville Inn, Lasswade. First Sunday every month from 2 pm Shepperton meet 1st Wednesday of every month 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm: The Thames Court, Towpath, Shepperton, TW17 9LJ.
East smart Cambridge meet 2nd Monday of every month, Grantchester
East Kent smarties nd 2 Wednesday of every month, from 8:00 pm Dukes Head Pub, Sellindge, nr Ashford, Kent
St. Albans Meet 4th Thursday of every month from 7:30 pm The Three Horseshoes, 612 Hatfield Road Smallford, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HP
Sussex Smarts Sunday breakfast Our Breakfast meet is every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month.10.00 am, Chalet Cafe, Cowfold, West Sussex. (approx half mile south of Cowfold on A281).
Essex smarties meet 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm The Grange, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 3HJ
NWsmarties meet 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:30 pm The Hollow Tree, Tarporley Road, Stretton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4LX
Milton Keynes & Northampton smart meet Every 2nd Monday, 7:30 pm onwards Check Meetings Section of thesmartclub MessageBoard, Navigation Pub, Stoke Bruerne
Please note that as many of the above 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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Smart of Wolverhampton Pride of the Midlands smart of Wolverhampton is ‘the business’ as far as private and corporate customers are concerned – not only in the West Midlands but those living further afield too. The retailer’s reputation for great value new and approved cars, affordable finance packages and unrivalled customer service is spread far and wide and no wonder. Conveniently located on the city’s inner ring road and just a few miles from the M6, smart of Wolverhampton offers everything that an existing or prospective smart owner could need.
“As a business, we have always taken smart seriously and we treat every customer with the same exceptional level of service whether they are buying a new smart or enquiring about an accessory,” said General Manager Matthew Harris. “This approach has paid dividends as sales have continued to rise even at the height of the recession,” he added. “That shows no sign of abating and we’ve taken recent orders from places such as Aberdeen and the West Country as more people are attracted to the low running costs of the latest diesel and mhd models.” Closer to home, smart of Wolverhampton has recently supplied a fleet of seven smarts to the Shropshire-based Adfield Group, which specialises in marketing, events and communications. The vehicles will be used as company cars to visit client sites by members of its thriving automotive telemarketing team, with a smart fortwo cabriolet bought as an incentive and given to the top performer each month. “We wanted a car that had a unique identity – one that was practical, fun, economical to run and made an environmental statement – so smart was an easy choice for us to make,” explained Adfield Group Director Paul Phillips.
Catherine Harris, smart of Wolverhampton’s smart sales supervisor and her team Richard Hayward and Robert Smith
In addition to a standalone smart showroom displaying eight new cars, smart of Wolverhampton stocks an impressive selection of approved used vehicles with prices starting from as little as £3,995. This extensive choice of cars is complemented by an experienced After Sales operation featuring a dedicated, manufacturer-trained service team.
“The service received from smart of Wolverhampton has been excellent – Matthew Harris and his team have really looked after us,” he added. “As we are now working at more than 30 franchised dealer sites, our plan is to increase our smart fleet as this service expands.” If you would like to call upon smart of Wolverhampton’s sales or after sales expertise, please call them on 0844 573 6310.
A loyal customer base clearly appreciates the reassurance that comes from utilising the expertise of an official smart retailer but they are also able to call upon a host of other benefits ranging from a complimentary collection and delivery scheme to highly competitive fixed price servicing and discounted MoT tests. Owners of older smart models can also take advantage of some special discretionary terms.
www.thesmartclub.com
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smart of Wolverhampton's Catherine Harris with the Adfield Group's Jacqui Amison and Paul Phillips
www.thesmartclub.com
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Features thesmartclub – Motorsport 2010 thesmartclub entered two cars for the 6 hour Endurance event at Mallory Park (UK) in May.
the Armco barriers in a ‘car destroying manner’. This led to the safety car being deployed on a number of occasions. As pit stops were allowed under a safety car, it called for some significant radio exchanges between our Roadsters and the pit wall to maximise the benefit of the safety car and slower laps.
The first car entered (driven by Al Young and Ernie Mellor) was our motorsport prepared Roadster with the event acting as a valuable proving ground in advance of our Corsica Rally later this year. The second Roaster entered was a more conventional Roadster Coupe (driven by Paul Maskens and Oliver Whittaker). With air temperature around 28C degrees and track temperature at 34C, it was a long hot day both inside and outside the cars. With each car having to complete 240 laps within the 6 hour time window, and both cars being on track simultaneously, it was a challenge for our crew on the pit wall (Fiona Young and Shona Mellor) to handle refuelling strategy and timing.
Whilst we were the only ‘smart’ team entered, we were up against tough competition from Lotus, Porsche, MG, Caterham, Westfield and Vauxhall VX220. Furthermore, with up to 34 cars on track at any one time (all with very different power and handling characteristics) it meant full concentration throughout the day. Our early hours started well with good reliability from both smarts. During second hour, speeds were gradually increasing with lap times decreasing whilst the track surface and track temperature varied leading to improved tyre grip and handling. There were a few incidents throughout the morning, some of which led to competitors leaving the track and visiting
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As the day progressed, the temperatures increased and the excessive heat finally got to Oliver in the Roadster Coupe who retired through heatstroke (not the only competitor to suffer this fate through dehydration) – the paramedics did an excellent job and before long, Oliver was back in the car for the closing part of the day. Superb effort.
The final results (at the time of writing this) are still being computed by the Organisers but it appears that from 34 starters our Motorsport Roadster finished 6th, having completed 207 out a target 240 laps with our Roadster Coupe finishing 15th with 171 laps completed (a great result considering the heatstroke dramas). Our thanks to smart of Edinburgh for their continued support. You can find out more about our Motorsport Roadster at www.thesmartclub.com/motorsport
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Smart Community
thesmartclub SHOP
my-smart.com
thesmartclub is delighted to announce the launch of the official smart 2009/2010 smartware catalogue and this range of products is now available directly from the thesmartclub shop!! thesmartclub Shop now has a superb range of official smart merchandise from the Pure, Pulse, Passion and Ecological lines and we deliver these straight to your door. What’s more, as a Member of thesmartclub, you benefit from 7.5% discount on ALL these products.
Coinciding with the smart times 2009 event, smart launched a new international Online smart Community at www.my-smart.com. The simple Registration process is free (and multi lingual) and provides the opportunity to create and upload your own Profile, smart story and images. Whilst also allowing you to network with other smart minded enthusiasts from around the world, it is the primary focal point for current and future smart times’ Events. Videos of the 2009 Event are available for download and the site will also publicise dates and details for the 2010 European Festival.
Smart Community
Get connected to the latest news, the top experts, and loads of other smart fans. Set-up your profile and share videos, photos and organise events with the official online community from smart.
You will also shortly be able to order any product for you and your smart from the superb 2010 ‘smart and BRABUS’ collection!! Again, Members of thesmartclub benefit from 7.5% discount on all the BRABUS products available via our Shop.
Offering a range of official smart video, images and information directly from smart UK you can also set up groups and topical discussions. You can access the service at: www.destinationsmart.co.uk
Follow us on
You can access our Shop from our home page www.thesmartclub.com or go directly to www.thesmartclubshop.com
To ensure you keep up to date with the latest news from thesmartclub, make sure you follow us on twitter.
If you do not have access to the Internet, you can call thesmartclub directly on:
We have regular updates covering Events, news about the latest products in our Club Shop plus ‘on event’ updates fed back live from our teams around the world.
+44 (0) 845 299 0332 or write to us at the address shown on Page 28 of this issue of 4site Magazine.
www.thesmartclub.com
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“But whilst the car is a real head-turner, we are also conscious about our impact on the environment and the smart will enable us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint compared to our previous vehicles.”
Dealership News Office SMART It is now a case of ‘Office SMART by name office smart by nature’ for a growing Cornish company, which is putting a new division on the road to success with the first model of an all-new fleet. Redruth-based Office SMART has taken delivery of a brand new smart fortwo coupé that will be used as a pool car, but predominantly by Unlocking Cornish Potential candidate Shiraz Jiwa in his new role as Marketing Manager for the firm’s Office Interiors Division. The vehicle, acquired from smart South-West and its retail outlet in Truro, is the first of three environmentally friendly vehicles that the company intends to purchase over the next year as it replaces its existing fleet. With its striking red and black livery, the smart car will certainly promote the Office SMART brand as it continues to grow from strength to strength. The company has already established itself as the largest independent stationers in the county and supplies more than 30,000 office and computer products, ranging from a ream of paper to business machines.
smart South-West’s Business Development Manager, Andrew Storey-Barrett, concluded: “smart is becoming an increasingly popular solution for companies that are environmentally conscious and are also looking to drive down their motoring costs. We’re delighted to be supplying such a thriving business as Office SMART with their first smart car for their latest exciting venture, which we’re confident will have a tremendous impact in terms of getting them noticed and providing them with more costeffective transport.” On the political road A smart car has received the vote of Marcus Wood, the Conservative Party’s parliamentary candidate for Torbay. It certainly is a time for change in more ways than one for Marcus, who has abandoned the traditional ‘battle bus’ to go on the hustings in his new two-seater smart acquired from his local official smart retailer in Exeter.
The Office SMART team with their new car (left to right): Eamonn Barry – Director; Shiraz Jiwa – Marketing Manager; Barry Wilkinson – Managing Director; Anthony Gilbert – Office Interiors
The official launch of the Office Interiors Division is a natural progression for the family-run firm, which was set up eight years ago. The newlycreated department builds upon existing projects such as moving multi-billion pound company Nuon Renewables from Long Rock to Penzance, as well as the re-fit of Hayle Community School. “The smart car is made for us not only because of the name but even the colour scheme which is identical to our own,” explained managing director Barry Wilkinson.
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The self-confessed petrolhead swapped his previous V8 Saloon for the smart fortwo cdi – the world’s lowest CO2-emitting series production car with a combustion engine that also returns 85.6 miles per gallon (combined). “I have gone from one extreme to another in car ownership terms so it has been a significant change but one that I felt I should make to reduce my own carbon footprint,” he explained. Marcus has been instantly impressed by his car’s performance, economy and comfort on local roads and on several trips to London. “One of the things that has impressed me the most is just how brilliantly the smart is on long drives, cutting through traffic and parking around
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with After Sales notable for its contribution, alongside high profile, successful smart-centred customer events.”
Dealership News
Mike Wickins, Mercedes-Benz and smart South West’s Manager Director, was delighted that the hard work of his colleagues and their commitment to the brand and customer service had been acknowledged. “smart has established itself as an integral part of our business and we have built up a loyal following of customers not only in the West Country but in other parts of the UK too,” he said. London,” added Marcus. “What’s more, I can fix my magnetised ‘Vote Marcus’ stickers to its tridion cell so it can be used for campaigning and its size means it is perfect for visiting constituents to deliver leaflets.” Joe Hurrell, smart Sales Executive, added: “An increasing number of drivers are giving their vote to the smart car because of its winning combination of high levels of refinement and low running costs. As Mr Wood is discovering, it really is a car that delivers ‘General Elation’ in abundance to owners.” Smart Retailer of the Year smart South-West continues to put the iconic brand on the map after being named Retailer of the Year by the manufacturer for an unprecedented third time. The group, which sells and services smarts at its Mercedes-Benz retail outlets in Exeter, Taunton, Plymouth and Truro, secured its prestigious hattrick after previous wins in 2007 and 2008. Despite not winning the title last year, smart South West was still ranked among the top three smart retailers in the country. The award was presented by Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, at the recent Mercedes-Benz Retailer of the Year awards and he was full of praise for the group’s all-round performance. “smart South West are extremely focused on the brand, supporting it through strong customer service and excellent sales,” he said. “smart makes a positive financial impact to the group,
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Mike Wickins (centre), Mercedes-Benz and smart South West’s Manager Director, collects the smart retailer of the year award from Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, and TV presenter Vicki ButlerHenderson, who compeered the event
“To win any award once is fantastic but to have been named Retailer of the Year for a third time is a phenomenal achievement,” added Mike. “It is a credit to everyone involved, particularly as they have continued to perform at the top of their game in what was a very challenging year for the motor trade.” Submitted by Scott Fenn
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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 per 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 2010 and global Daimler media © 2010 Daimler AG. All rights reserved. The submit button © Kiankhoon, email image © Tomislav Stajduhar, party people image Poznyakov, 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.
www.thesmartclub.com
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News from smart Smart fortwo electric drive New York : 14th June Following the successful launch in European cities the new smart fortwo electric drive will take to the roads of North American cities from the autumn. The electrically powered trendsetter has been rolling off the production line since November 2009 – and due to the huge demand the initial production volume has been increased from 1000 to 1500 vehicles.
The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is equipped with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery. It is neatly accommodated between the axles, which means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle. A 30 kW electric motor is fitted at the rear. The smart fortwo electric drive can be charged at any normal household socket. The fully charged battery has sufficient power to cover approximately 135 kilometres in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle, making it ideal for urban use. smart has made electric drive a practical alternative for mobility with zero local emissions in urban areas. The first of the new smart fortwo electric drive vehicles were handed over to customers in Berlin at the end of 2009, and the environmentally friendly pioneer will now demonstrate its suitability for everyday use in further cities in Europe, North America and Asia. From 2012 the smart fortwo electric drive will be available to anyone interested in almost 40 smart markets. Marc Langenbrinck, responsible for brand management at smart says "In 1998 smart revolutionised urban mobility with the unique
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smart fortwo vehicle concept. Now smart is once again taking on a pioneering role and redefining zero-emission urban mobility. We are the first manufacturer to launch a series-produced electric vehicle. Daimler is spearheading electric mobility with the smart fortwo electric drive. The smart fortwo electric drive is a further logical step in the evolution of the smart brand which boasts the fleet with the lowest fuel consumption anyway." Powerful drive A 30 kW magneto-electric motor is installed at the rear of the new smart fortwo electric drive and reacts directly without delay. Powerful torque of 120 Newton metres is immediately available. This results in a surprising amount of power when pulling away. The smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0 - 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds – just as quickly as a petrol model which it initially leaves behind it. After a year of driving the first generation smart fortwo electric drive in everyday conditions on British roads one of the participants in the large-scale London trial said "You can beat anything at the lights". The maximum speed of the smart fortwo electric drive has been deliberately limited to 100 km/h, a suitable maximum speed for the city. Thanks to the power characteristic of the electric motor, just one single fixed gear ratio is required. There is no need for any gear changing – a major advantage in dense city traffic. To reverse, the engine's direction of rotation changes. "Fantastic and easy to drive. You just get in, turn on and go" was how experienced users from London summed up the smart fortwo electric drive. The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a lithium-ion battery developed by Tesla Motors Inc. with electrical energy of 16.5 kWh. It is simple to charge at any fused 220 Volt socket. A fully charged battery is sufficient for up to 135 kilometres of driving fun (NEDC). This range is more than enough for city traffic as studies have shown that cars drive an average of 30 - 40 kilometres per day in towns and cities. For this, the vehicle only needs to be charged for three hours. At an average speed of 25 - 30 km/h that is normal in city traffic the smart fortwo electric drive can drive for around four to five hours continuously before it needs to be recharged. Plugging the car in overnight will fully recharge the battery.
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Special electronics ensure that all is well with the battery. This battery management system constantly monitors voltage, electricity and temperature. If one of these parameters reaches a specified limit – for example when driving up long hills at constant peak power (kickdown) – the electronics reduce the power output. However, this is barely noticeable and it rules out the risk of battery overload. The electronics also monitor the charging process and control the capacity display. The vehicle's power electronics supply the vehicle's electrical system with electric current from the battery via a DC/DC converter. In addition, they also control the heating and air conditioning, for example, to minimise the strain on the battery. Clever drivers can air condition their smart fortwo electric drive in advance as long as their vehicle is being charged at home – the longstanding dream of stationary cooling becomes a reality! No other car offers this comfortable option. In the autumn of 2010 the smart fortwo electric drive will then also be launched in cities in the USA and Canada, and from 2011 in some Asian countries.
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From 2012 it will be produced in large volumes as a normal part of the smart range and sold via the smart dealer network. This third generation will be fitted with a new lithium-ion battery which Daimler is developing to production maturity in co-operation with Evonik. The lithium-ion battery currently used comes from Tesla and represents state-of-the-art technology. The Tesla battery consists of lots of cylinder-shaped cells. The Daimler battery will be made up of fewer but larger plate units. This will first and foremost enable a greater energy density to be achieved (with greater energy content for a higher range) and an even longer life. With the smart fortwo electric drive the brand is underlining its pioneering role on the road to attractive individual mobility with no local emissions in cities and urban areas. Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars says "All in all we believe that the outlook for electric mobility is good. Whilst our competitors are still presenting electric show cars, smart brought production models that are fully suitable for everyday use to the roads last year. This once again demonstrates our technical expertise and responsibility."
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www.thesmartclub.com
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