thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010 Insert
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 1
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 2
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Welcome Welcome to Issue 17, the Winter edition of our ‘4site’ international smart magazine. Looking back at 2010, we had wonderful local, national and international events aided by the fantastic efforts of our Events team supported by our members and smart enthusiasts from around the world. In May, we visited Hambach (smartville), the birth place of smart and that brought us into the heart of the factory where the robots welded the ‘tridion’ shell components together prior to their journey through the remaining production process. August saw smart times in Zell am See/Kaprun with over 4000 smart enthusiasts gathering for the most successful international smart event to date. Only a few weeks later, we had the hugely successful smart festival at Mercedes-Benz World with Lewis Hamilton presenting the awards to the competition winners. A number of smaller national gatherings also took place with dozens of local club meetings being held across the UK, Europe and elsewhere in the world.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: Club News How to join thesmartclub Our Membership Card Park & Go
Event Review Hog Roast
Special Professor Gordon Murray
Event Preview smarttimes 2011
Features Digitec Ltd Letters Stuck for something to say? smarts4you Racing Interview
Mods & Maintenance Smart fortwo (451) Guides
2011 sees even more smart related activity – we will have our Hambach visit, the ‘mega’ visit to smart times event in Riccione, Italy, a number of new local meetings across Europe, the start of the 2011 smart Race series (the 4two Cup) and we’ll again be liaising with smart UK in respect of plans for a 2011 smart Festival.
smart Community Local Meetings Dealership News
We are both delighted and privileged to have been invited to Gordon Murray Design Ltd for an interview with Professor Gordon Murray. You can the all the interview content on Page 6 of this Issue and gain an insight into Professor Murray’s experience of owning smart cars and his exciting work on electric vehicles and the iStream manufacturing process.
News from smart Submit an Article
And if one interview was not enough for you, we also have an interview with the smarts4you racing team in advance of them launching the 4two Cup race series later this year.
Al’s Autos Daimler Insurance Services Ltd Digitec Ltd S2smarts smart Birmingham smart Car Specialist smart Car Superstore smart Manchester smart of Wolverhampton smart Tow
As ever, my thanks to you for your continued support of thesmartclub and my best wishes to you for a happy, healthy, prosperous and smart filled 2011. Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
smart of York smart of Basingstoke smart of Exeter smart Centre Saarbrucken
……..
4
……..
5
……..
6
……..
9
……..
10
……..
12
…….. …….. ……..
14 20 21
…….. …….. ……..
23 24 25
…….. ……..
27 30
Advertisers … … … … … … … … …
5 31 2 26 10 9 22 10 16,17 18,19
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 3
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
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.
thesmartclub ltd, PO Box 28549
Contact thesmartclub for full details! Tel +44-845-299-0332
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
Page 4
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Events – Review Hog Roast Lorraine and Rod : A witch to ride with. This was our fourth year of attendance and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Congratulations to Ernie and Shona who's hard work made the whole event so enjoyable for everyone. Our stay at the Cornwallis hotel was comfortable and made very pleasant by the friendly and hard working staff.
with a buffet and a safety briefing before starting off, and the treasure hunt itself was a lot more relaxed this year with really pleasant stop off searches. It was lovely to be able to relax and enjoy the sights. Although the “drive by” clues were still a lot, they were not rushed or as manic as previous years making it a lot easier between the driver and navigator, so no divorce proceeding's yet! The evening buffet and hog roast were delicious, and we felt that having the hog roast in the evening was a lot nicer as we felt we enjoyed it more after a days driving through the countryside. The lunchtime slot for the hog roast of the previous year was slightly too close to the full English most people had indulged in the morning. Congratulations to Ernie and Shona for the evening auction who raised over £1000, for a very worthwhile charity 'The Royal British Legion. It was a shame the weather did not support the other two events organised by Ernie & Shona including the Balloon Ride and the Archery, but the weekend was still a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The cars gathered at the Cornwallis hotel and drove to Ipswich Smart where we were greeted,
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 5
Submitted by Lorraine Ambler
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
thesmartclub meets Professor Gordon Murray thesmartclub was delighted to have the opportunity to meet up with Professor Gordon Murray, CEO and Technical Director at Gordon Murray Design Limited, in Surrey, UK. Professor Murray spent seventeen years with the Brabham Formula One team followed by eighteen years at McLaren involved in both Formula One and ‘Road Car’ Design. Leaving McLaren, Professor Murray then established Gordon Murray Design Limited. The Company has a clear goal to be the world leader in automotive design, having a complete in-house capability for design, prototyping and development.
Upon arrival at the Gordon Murray Limited HQ, we were delighted to see a number of ‘smart’ models in the Company car park, including a 2003 Roadster Coupe sitting in the ‘CEO’ space. It had to be Professor Murray’s and that led us to the opening question in what was an informative, informal and fascinating insight into Professor Murray, the iStream® initiative and his T.25 and T.27 cars.
What was it that interested you in smart cars and what was it that brought about your decision to own a smart car? “I have always been into small cars and I’ve never been a ‘big car’ person. I had been working on a small car of my own since 1993 when I had a ‘light bulb’ moment, sitting in traffic, looking around at these huge cars with one person stuck in London traffic. So I started thinking, why is it that people don’t make ‘sub A segment’ cars (i.e. cars a little smaller than the Ford Fiesta, Ford Ka, Citroen C1 etc)?
www.thesmartclub.com
Nobody ever did that other than Japan who have had K class cars since 1949.The answer is partially because people like bigger cars but mainly because people don’t make money making small cars. This is mainly because the capital investment for stamped steel and equipment to make small cars is about the same for larger cars. In other words the raw material content and tooling is about the same. And so, in about 1998, I bought a smart from Europe. At that time I was in the middle of sorting out this conundrum about why people don’t make profit on small cars and had come to the conclusion that the cars would have to be made in a different way. Typically a small car has around 300 steel stampings and tooling is expensive and high energy. And then smart came out, which went half way, by reducing the number of steel pressings. It had the tridion and about 130 (compared to 300) pressings plus they introduced the plastic for the body to keep the rain out. So I was fascinated for two reasons: one because it was the sort of car I wanted (a small city car great for congestion and parking, it looked like great fun to drive and was lightweight) but the second one was a more practical one: I wanted to see how they had solved the problem of this huge capital investment and high energy intensive manufacturing process for such a small car. So I bought one from a dealer in France, brought it back (it was only just available in Europe) and then we drove it and stripped it down and had a look at it. Then, when they became available over here, I bought another one as a company car at McLaren and I had that for a couple of years. Then I got friendly with the (then) MD of BRABUS UK and I got a few goodies for it, like wheels etc. I tend to drive cars over the limit most of the time - I used to be a racing driver myself in the 60s. The first thing I did was just buy another pair of rear wheels and stuck them on the front and even although the offsets were completely wrong and the wheels stuck out totally illegally from the body, the thing was fantastic fun round roundabouts and you could get it on two wheels. Then the Brabus version came out and I had that for two years - I think I could change it every year but I quite like to keep cars. I ordered another one and managed to get the bill up to £24000 which I thought was pretty good going!
Page 6
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
I just went for the motor, wheels and suspension but I spent a lot of money on the colour scheme for the interior. I was chasing a lime green, a bright lime green that Lamborghini used on the original Murcielago. Brabus actually sent someone down to Italy to try and find this colour and eventually we found a bright luminous green and I had the interior done in the Murray tartan - it was a really funky car. I had that car for years. I had been to Hambach a number of times for technical and business reasons. Then, on one of the trips about a year before the Roadster came out, they said to me they had a prototype and would I like to drive it? It was the smart Roadster. Again I fell in love because it is not only small and lightweight and simple but a sports car and I have always loved that. I have six cars that are under 900 kilos I am a real lightweight fan, one is a 1959 Austin Healy Frog Eyed Sprite which I wanted since I was 17 years old but could never afford second hand as it never came below £300 and it was well above my budget. However I succeeded in buying one about three years ago. So I love that sort of small footprint, chuck about, sportscar. I drove it around Hambach and loved it, so when they came out I bought one of the first ones in the country and I changed the Lime Green smart for the Roadster. I have had three smarts altogether and that one [the smart Roadster in the car park] I have had ever since. I do have a small collection of cars I use for fun but the Roadster is my every day car and I have had it since 2003. And now, in our little company, we have three roadsters and we only have 30 people [working here]. It is a real fun car and it is a real lesson for people that you do not need any more than 700cc in a car. On a dry road in the right conditions, I can worry a 911 because it is just so light!”
So tell me a little about iStream® “Our iStream® manufacturing process needs so little money for capital investment, it does not use steel stamping, we do not need a press shop, spot welding shop, paint plant, we do not need a e-coating plant. It is just a small factory making a very simple steel frame. Then, the big invention, is Formula 1 thinking, namely a composite plastic monocoque which can be made in two minutes. We are using very, very low energy so it is very
www.thesmartclub.com
light and very stiff and that gets robot bonded into the frame. Once it is bonded in you have a massively strong structure, much stronger than a steel car and much lighter. The main advantages are low capital investments and low energy in the factory as it is much smaller and much less energy intensive - the full life cycle CO2 is much less than a stamped steel car. The frame plant is 20% the size of a stamp steel factory and it uses 60% less energy. We got investment from our investor in America to develop and industrialise iStream® but part of that was to build a running prototype car, any car we liked, to show iStream technology. The other thing iStream® offers is a lot more internal space, because in a standard car you have these huge steel sections to manage crash loads, a bit of contortion and bending but mostly crash. Our [T.25] floor is only 20mm thick because you are sitting in a Formula 1 monocoque so we have no cross beams in the car and so we pick up huge cabin volume.”
Where do you see car design in 10 years time? “I think there will be legislation. Japan is the only country in the world that legislates for small cars and they had the problem of congestion long before we did. I do not think we are too far away from having urban car legislation. I know it sounds counter productive but I think people have to own more than one car in future. They will have a car for the city for commuting, for urban life for dropping the kids and going to the shops and then they will have another car for going to see Granny at the weekend, if they have a family, or going on holiday etc. The overall effect is better for congestion and pollution. If everyone drove smarts we would have far less of a problem in London or Manchester etc. The production process at Hambach is very clever and is still, I think, the most efficient car plant in the world.”
What’s your view on the mix between conventional petrol and electric vehicles? “Over the last 15 years, people keep falling in
Page 7
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
love with different fuels. The most powerful tool we have as designers is to have a say on emissions and the damage we are doing with weight. It is much more powerful than engine technology or different fuels or electricity. We are starting to get to a period now in the next 10 to 15 years where certain power trends and fuels will start finding their feet, but they will be very much niche markets. This concept that we shall all be driving hydrogen cars or electric cars is nonsense. What we should be doing, and a lot of people are to be fair, is putting a lot more effort into making the fossil fuels go longer and last longer by driving small cars, lighter cars with more efficient engines, while we sort out the real direction for hydrogen and electric. If you take the situation right now with the current battery technology (and there is definitely a niche market for electric vehicles) the only answer for electric cars is tiny small lightweight city cars. It is pointless making anything else because with a heavy car it’s a non virtuous circle - you need a bigger battery pack, a bigger battery pack makes the car heavy therefore you need a bigger motor and then you need a bigger inverter and bigger charger that makes the car heavier then you need a bigger battery and so on.
Clarify for me the differences with your T.25 and T.27 cars and iStream process “People think that there’s a T.25 company. That’s not true. Our core business is intellectual property and what we are selling is a licence to manufacture any vehicle using iStream® with which we can guarantee low capital investment, low energy and low weight with high safety and flexibility of different bodies. We have had over enquiries from numerous countries for buses, taxis, all sorts of things into iStream® and it’s our mission to sell as many licences to as many companies for as many vehicles as we can. We chose the T.25 because it was a long standing passion of mine for an ultimate small city car and that is for sale, but it’s not our business plan. Henry Ford stamped steel and welded it together, painted it and then put all the mechanical bits in. Cars are still made like that - the smart, in high volume, was probably the only example I can think of anywhere in the world where someone has tried to do something a bit differently with the tridion and the plastic panels.”
A small i-car goes the right way. Our electric car is 650 kilos with the battery, which means you can have a tiny battery, which means the inverter is smaller and charger is smaller. It is a huge difference if you have a £4000 battery or if you have a £14000 battery. So a big heavy car with current battery technology does not work, and the other thing that doesn’t work is the performance. With lithium ion batteries you can only draw down a certain amount of energy at a certain rate without overheating the battery. So, if you are trying to get acceleration, you could have a car with quite a reasonably small range and high acceleration with a small battery if you could draw down the energy – but you can’t. So, if you want a performance car, you need a huge battery just for the acceleration and then you lose all the packaging space for the people and you end up with a heavy car. In the case of Tesla, they tried to save weight with expensive body technology but then you end up with a very expensive car. So you can’t win unless you are building a small lightweight city car and that does make some sense.”
www.thesmartclub.com
Al Young with Professor Gordon Murray next to the T.25 You can read more about the iStream process, the T.25 and T.27 cars and in depth information about Gordon Murray Design Ltd at www.gordonmurraydesign.com
Page 8
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Events – Preview smart times 2011 Riccione, Italy smart times 2011 in Riccione, Italy is sure to be one of the best, if not the best, smart time events yet. The move to Italy follows a hugely successful number of years in Austria and not only provides smart times participants with a totally new range of activities and attractions but also brings with it the City of Riccione, it’s beach and sea. It is also sure to provide the organisers of smart times with endless possibilities to keep fellow smart owners and enthusiasts from across Europe totally engaged from 4th to 7th August inclusive. As always, thesmartclub will be present and we’ve pulled together a package for UK Members providing a range of fantastic opportunities and solutions. Of course, whilst there are countless ways and options for people to get to and from Riccione, we always prefer to offer an option that takes the hassle out of the organisation for our members. We arrange great hotels en route, excellent accommodation perfectly located in Riccione plus accommodation for the return
www.thesmartclub.com
journey to the UK. Couple with this fully documented Road Book and Information packs, dedicated online information services and en route support and you can see why expression of interest has already exceeded places available for the packaged trip. However, the package is only one way of getting to Riccione from the UK and we know that the smarts4you Racing team will also be attending. Add to this a potential 3500 to 4000 additional smart owners and enthusiasts from multiple countries heading into Riccione during the peak summer season and you can see it will be a busy and active few days in and around the Italian city! We are liaising closely with the organisers and will be publishing additional information about thesmartclub’s support and involvement with this event in the March 2011 issue of 4site Magazine and via thesmartclub web site. Meantime, for the latest details of the smart times 2011 event and associated FAQ, visit the my-smart.com web site or visit the smart times pages on facebook. If you do not have access to the internet, you can always contact thesmartclub directly on +44 (0)845 299 0332
Page 9
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
MCR – BRM
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 10
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Features
Stuck for something to say?
Digitec Ltd Based in Shepton Mallet, DIGITEC offers everything for the Smart Car owner… including Servicing, Repairs, Tuning, Parts and Accessories and a choice of quality used Smarts at affordable prices. Under the Directors and smart owners Paul, Kate, Gavin & Amy are building an enviable reputation for providing a truly customer-focused service for all its clients. “We are smart specialists which makes-up 99% of our vehicle throughput giving us the edge over main dealers whose main alliance lies with Mercedes-Benz.”
Following the amazing attendance at the 2010 smart Festival and the equally huge number of visitors to thesmartclub marquee, we were delighted to see the popularity of our four different ‘in car’ stickers for you and your smart. Each of these stickers is designed to be displayed on the inside of your windscreen, rear window or any other glass surface and are easy to apply and remove.
Servicing costs* only £99.44 for an A-Service on the roadster & fortwo (upto 2007); £104.33 fortwo (2007-on); from £104.36 forfour, inclusive of parts, labour and VAT. Visit their website www.digitec-ltd.co.uk for all their servicing prices, menu pricing for common repairs, detailed tuning packages and a link to their online shop: www.smart-stuff.co.uk for parts, accessories and tuning goodies for the smart fortwo, roadster and forfour. Digitec Ltd, Centurion Business Centre Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4PW, Tel: 01749 347777 Email: sales@digitec-ltd.co.uk
Stickers measure 50mm high and are 250mm wide and are priced at £2.99 each (2,99 GBP) plus postage and packing. They are available now from our Online Shop or by calling thesmartclub on +44-845-299-0332.
*based on UK VAT rate December 2010
Letters Thought I would drop you a line with these photos attached because it made my day to see this! I've been the proud owner of a smart fortwo (red with silver tridion cell) since April 2010 and I absolutely love it! It's a dream to drive and certainly draws people's attention. One day a few months ago my husband and I went shopping in our local supermarket and parked the car in a fairly empty car park. When we came back we found another red with silver tridion cell smart car parked facing us, a sports version this time. I thought it was such a lovely sight that I just had to take a photo and if I'd have had the time to wait for the driver to come out then I would have thanked them very much, it was a lovely thing to do. The camaraderie that smart car drivers share is really something else! Katie Whitham.
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 11
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
parts and so we approached some of our old race suppliers and manufacturers and started development on performance parts for the 451 such as brakes, suspension, anti-roll bars, wheels, exhausts etc. Once we put all the parts on the car we took it to Brands Hatch to test it. The rest is history. Great car and a lot of fun.
Features thesmartclub – Motorsport
What was it that prompted you to contact thesmartclub? You are both obviously really fanatical about motorsport and the 4two cup but tell us more about your motorsport background. Paul: I have always been interested in racing of any kind and used to do some karting when I was younger. Then I got the opportunity to race a BMW E30 M3 in the Khumo BMW championship which I did for a year and came 3rd in class. But I got a bit fed up with all the expense and traveling for 10min warm up and 10 lap races, so James and I entered the Britcar series (or Europeon Endurance Racing Championship [EERC] as it was known then). We had a very reliable car, quite quick too, and we managed to win our class and the overall series in 2002. The car was awesome in the rain and we had quite a few class wins at Donington, Pembery and at the 6hour race at Snetterton. James: From a boy I started with a small motorbike at the age of 5 and then did motocross from age 13 to 16 followed by bike track days. I then joined up with Paul to do the BMW Khumo Championship. That seemed like a lot of work and preparation for not a lot of racing so we did the 2002 first session of what was called the EERC and won the overall championship. This was all down to a car that was reliable, not just outright speed. The following year was all about defending the Championship position but that also meant a lot of money and this is were Paul and I had to stop as it was about the size of your pocket not driver or car ability. What was it that interested you both in the smart fortwo and it’s potential as a race car? James brought a 450 BRABUS about 5 years ago, he said to me "You must drive this, it's crazy". After a few modifications the car, as he said, was crazy. He then brought a 451 BRABUS about 18months ago and tried to get upgraded parts but there was not many on the market and what was available, was from a range of different suppliers. There did not seem to be a brand that you could get good quality
www.thesmartclub.com
We needed to advertise the parts and the race series and soon realised that thesmartclub would be the right place for us. As you say thesmartclub is the place "for all things smart" and we found that your enthusiasm for the race series was the same as ours. In addition, thesmartclub is a well respected and a long established club. It seemed like a good starting point and the more we learnt, it became clear we made the right choice. You seem to have made fantastic developments since only August 2010 when we saw the cars at smart times that year – tell us what has happened since then and your plans for the next few months. Back in August the car was still in it’s infancy as a race car and we had not done a lot of testing. Between August and now we have done over 60 hours testing.
We tried numerous makes and styles of tyre, various wheel sizes and many different suspension settings. After breaking some of our competitors' components we decided to improve them further with British made parts - we know Britain has some of the very highest standards in motorsport and we are, after all, in the home of motorsport. As for the race series we have now struck a good deal with the Britcar series and nearly decided on the circuits that will suit the car. We are delighted to say that already, we have customers buying the race cars in advance on the 2011 series and we have taken delivery of the first 5 to start to race prepare. Roll on 2011!!
Page 12
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
The 4twocup starts April 2011 – what has interest been like and are you confident about 2011? We have decided that the first race will be at Donington Park in May 2011 giving us more time to get the cars from smart and provide extra time for customers to test their new race cars. The interest has been amazing so far and we are anticipate starting the first race with at least twelve cars on the grid, possibly even fourteen. Once the cars are on track and people can see the kind of racing that is possible I am positive there will be even more taking up the challenge. Our aim is to have over 20 cars starting the 2012 season with the possibility of an additional class being available. Watch this space... As we all know we are in hard times at the moment and the money just is not there to be spent like it was. As such, people see this as a great, cost effective form of motorsport but with all the kudos that comes with the newly officially badged MSA Britcar Championship Is it true that the race car is also road legal in the UK? Yes, the cars are road legal and have purposely been built that way. There are a few reasons. Firstly, we believe it will enable owners the possibility of using the car for corporate events and not having to go through the pain barrier of transportation to and from events. Secondly, it will be easy to book a track day and drive to the circuit for a quick couple of hours testing without having to have anyone with you to load unload etc. Finally, it keeps the expense of building the car to a minimum whilst still retaining all the safety features of a race car. It really is a great car and as we demonstrated in August, it's good for long journeys too as we drove the car to Austria and then came back via Nurburgring to do eight laps prior to driving to Calais to catch the ferry home. What are the key differences between the standard BRABUS fortwo and the race car? The car is stripped of all it's sound proofing, carpets and anything that the MSA regard as flammable. We then weld in a fully approved roll cage, add the race seats and full FIA approved harnesses. Our team of mechanics then remove all the brakes (we all know it's easy to go fast, but hard to stop so all the brakes are upgraded 300mm 4 pot callipers on the front 280 rear disk conversion with built in handbrake.) suspension, exhausts, induction system, battery and replace them with Smarts4you Racing parts.
www.thesmartclub.com
All the other safety features are then added. Once complete the cars go off to the rolling road to be re-mapped, weighed and checked. There you have: it a smart fortwo BRABUS S4R race car. Are circuits lined up for next year? We are still deciding on this. We think it will be Silverstone, Rockingham, Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Castle combe and Donington Park. But Thruxton is also on the Britcar calendar and we want to go and test this circuit first as it’s the fastest circuit in the UK and we want to know that for the smart, it will not just be flat out all the way. Believe me it's scary in an M3 BMW, let alone a smart car. We are very lucky in Britain as we have got some very old and very good circuits with a lot of character. We understand that there is a Race Supporters Club being launched – can you tell us more about that? Smarts4youracing and thesmartclub are joining forces to launch a new joint venture "The smart Racing Club". This will offer all members discounts on products from thesmartclub, all smarts4youracing products, special discounts on tickets to the race meetings as well as set aside parking and hopefully special events. The objective is to get Members of the Racing Club involved as close to the action as possible something that is lacking in a lot of motorsport activities at present. In addition, at the 24hr Race on October 3rd-4th 2011 at Silverstone, there will be a special area set aside for all Racing Club Members for parking, camping and parade laps for all smart cars. The 4two cup will be a support race on the Saturday and (still to be confirmed) a smart car in the 24hr race. As far as we know this will be the first smart car to do a full 24hr endurance race on a competitive level. Details of the Racing Club will be launched in January 2011. Where can we find out more about the 4twocup? You can find all the details of the 4two cup at any of the following websites: the4twocup.com or smarts4youracing.com and you should keep checking thesmartclub.com for further details on the forthcoming Racing Club and special offers. In addition there are a range of social media sites (facebook, twitter and YouTube) that also feature the 4two cup, smarts4youRacing and, from January 2011, the smart Racing Club.
Page 13
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
For information, the wiring of the OBD socket and functionality of the pins are detailed below:
Mods & Maintenance! Reference guides and Information for your smart fortwo (451 model) Year 2007 on
Diagnostics All fortwos use an OBDII interface to create a link between the car's systems and the user. (Note, if you have an old fortwo, this statement is only true in part). You can buy generic code readers online with varying costs for various functionality and look similar to this:
If you wanted to wire in anything directly to the port then the wiring colours into the back of the port are as follows: From > To > Colour
These units will read information from the engine control unit but the ultimate tool (that smart dealers use) is a STAR machine which can read all smart-specific codes as well. However, these are far out of the price range of individual owners. With generic code readers you can do basic functions such as reading fault codes and clearing them. However, to fix faults with the airbag system and ESP controller you will need access to a STAR. The OBD port is located below the dash, adjacent to the 12V interior socket. The picture below shows location on an RHD car. For an LHD car, the port is on the other side of the socket. There is a cover over the port which unclips from the top and swings down. Plug in your code reader as follows and read out the codes from the car.
Pin 4 > Ground > Brown Pin 5 > Ground > Brown Pin 6 > CAN Bus (High) > Green / White Pin 8 > SAM > Black / Yellow (Switched Live) Pin 14 > CAN Bus (Low) > Green Pin 16 > SAM > Red / White (Permanent Live)
Identifying your Tridion build date The first part to be built for every smart that rolls off the production line is the tridion safety cell. This is manufactured by Magna-Steyr at 'smartville' in Hambach, France. As the tridions are completed, they are etched with a series of numbers which allow you to trace when the car was passing through production. Lift up the carpet in the boot and you will see a series of numbers in front of the engine lid. The first six digits represent the date in the format: YY,MM,DD. The following digits are the sequential number of tridions made that particular year from the 1st January.
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 14
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Fuse Layout
Our ongoing thanks to the team at FQ101 for their invaluable guidance and help with these DIY pages. You can find out additional supporting information at www.fq101.co.uk
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 doors 32 33 34 35
25A 25A 20A 25A 10A 7.5A 7.5A 25A 7.5A 15A 25A 10A 15A 15A 15A 15A 10A 7.5A 10A 15A 7.5A 7.5A 15A 7.5A 7.5A 7.5A 40A 30A 40A 20A
Neutral Engine Neutral Windscreen wipers Yellow Electric windows L&R Neutral Interior fan Red Front fog lamps Brown Right parking light, instrument lighting, terminal 58R Brown Left parking light Neutral Engine Brown Engine Blue Engine Neutral ESP Red Switches strip, OBD, indicators, rear fogs, transmission control unit Blue Charge air cooler, air conditioning compressor Blue Audio, subwoofer, interior light Blue Fuel pump Blue Rear Wiper (coupé only) Red ESP, EPS, airbag, instrument panel Brown Motor control unit Red Aircon, electric mirrors, washer pump, audio, heated seats, SE drive switch. Blue Power Socket, cigarette lighter Brown Low Beam L Brown Low Beam R Blue Brake lamps, rain/light sensor, combination switch L Brown High Beam R Brown High Beam L Brown ECU Orange Rear window heater (coupé) / engine fan Green Softop drive unit (cabrio) Orange Relay for auto gearbox / SE drive unit Yellow Horn, central locking, (R1 5A Brown Mirror heating) (R2 (R3 Backup fuse (ignition)) 50A Red Ignition (R4 Backup fuse (ignition)) 40A Orange ESP Pump (R5 Backup fuse (batt. +)) 30A Green EPS (Power Steering) (R6 Backup fuse (batt. +)) (R7 Backup fuse (batt. +)) (R8 Backup fuse (batt. +)) (R9 20A Yellow Heated Seats)) Fuses 32-35 can be found on the rear of this SAM unit. Expansion slots R1-R4 are switched with the ignition. Expansion slots R5-R9 are constant live slots.
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 15
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Smart of Wolverhampton Unbeatable offers at smart of Wolverhampton 0% finance, £500 deposit contribution, 2 years free servicing or a 2 year free warranty. Smart of Wolverhampton is one of the most popular and successful smart dealerships in the country. And right now they are bringing smart drivers an unrivalled choice of offers on a selection of 60 plate and Approved Used smart cars. As part of the award-winning Midlands based Drayton Group, smart of Wolverhampton has a dedicated flagship dealership in Wolverhampton, as well as additional sites at their Worcester, Shrewsbury and Stoke locations. A further dealership in Stourbridge also offers after sales support, giving the Group a strong central, easily accessible location base. General Manager, Matthew Harris explained the advantages. “We have tremendous group buying power and a fantastic relationship with smart UK. This relationship has enabled us to create this unbeatable package of offers for our customers.”
www.thesmartclub.com
Smart of Wolverhampton has a unique agreement with the manufacturer and has purchased a significant number of 60 plate smart fortwos. In addition to their current extensive Approved Used stock range, the 60 plate cars are also available with interest free finance. You can benefit further by choosing either a £500 retailer deposit contribution to your deposit, 2 years free servicing or a 2 year free warranty. Matthew Harris again. “It’s a terrific opportunity for smart drivers to upgrade their current car. You will enjoy a fabulous package including the option of 0% finance with competitive part exchange available too. I would encourage anybody thinking of changing their car to contact us for a part exchange valuation of their current car and to take advantage of these special offers.”
The offers will be available into the New Year, but only while stocks last. Please visit smart of Wolverhampton or call 0844 573 6310 to get your car valued and find out more.
Page 16
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010 Summary pof what’s happening when – dates, race series dates, tbcs etc
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 17
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 18
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 19
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
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.
Continuing to build on the huge success of smart times 2009 and smart times 2010 Events, the my-smart.com web site continues to embed itself as the international smart community’s official social media web site sharing news, views and experiences. With BLOG and Forum features, the site is multi-lingual and is the primary information source for smart times 2011. Registration process is free, simple and requests the minimal amount of information enabling you to create and upload your own Profile, smart story and images. Videos of the 2009 and 2010 smart times Events are available for download and, in association with the smart times facebook web site (www.facebook.com/smarttimes) it’s a ‘must bookmark’ page on your browser.
Smart Community
You can also 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. You can access our Shop from our home page www.thesmartclub.com or go directly to www.thesmartclubshop.com
Smart UK’s official online community enables you to 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. 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
If you do not have access to the Internet, you can call thesmartclub directly on:
+44 (0) 845 299 0332 or write to us at the address shown on Page 30 of this issue of 4site Magazine.
To ensure you keep up to date with the latest news from thesmartclub, make sure you follow us on twitter. 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. http://twitter.com/thesmartclub
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 20
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
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 from 7:00 pm Normally The Six Bells Pub, Main Road, Boreham, Chelmsford. CM3 3JE Check Meetings Section of thesmartclub Forum
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
Page 21
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010 PAUL
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 22
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Dealership News This means that all models are exempt from the cost of the annual road fund licence for at least the first year from registration.
Retailers welcome smart new arrivals Things are looking good buyers following the generation smart fortwo special edition models retailers.
in every sense for car launch of the new and a trio of stunning at the UK’s smart
Retailers across the country recently unveiled the latest version of the iconic smart fortwo coupé and cabrio along with the exclusive gb-10, pink passion and ICE edition models. As well as cutting a striking dash, all the new arrivals feature impressive specifications and allow motorists to enjoy a fun driving experience with the added benefits of exceptional economy and low, tax-friendly emissions. The smart fortwo is renowned for its unique style and the new generation model is even more eyecatching, both coupé and cabrio variants now benefiting from body-colour front and rear aprons, side skirts and filler cap, along with new alloy wheel designs and new light blue and matt light green exterior colours for selected models.
Customers searching for motoring that is even more individual need look no further than the three new special editions. However, interested motorists need to be quick as only 100 examples of the gb-10 and pink passion will be produced and the ICE edition is limited to a production run of 200. The pink passion is based on the new model, while the gb-10 and ICE edition build on the comprehensive specification of the outgoing smart. With striking styling and interior customisation by BRABUS, the smart gb-10 edition celebrates 10 years of the right-hand drive smart in the UK, while the pink passion has such features as heated seats and air conditioning in addition to its bold and beautiful metallic paint finish. To coincide with October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, smart will also donate £100 from every pink passion edition to the Breast Cancer Campaign. The ICE edition is certain to grab attention too, the stunning smart looking and sounding very cool thanks to a deep black finish and the custom-installed Pioneer AVICF920BT Navigate package. “The previous smart attracted many new customers to the brand when it was launched in 2007 and the latest smart is certain to continue this trend, its much-enhanced specification making it even more appealing,” explained Tim Purslow, smart of Basingstoke’s smart specialist. “We have demonstrator models available for test drive and we’re inviting local motorists, especially those who have yet to experience the brand, to come and try the new smart for themselves – I’m certain they will be impressed.”
smart of York Brand Manager Tony Wright (left) and Miles Broome, smart sales executive
Interior improvements include a new upper dashboard design and upgraded materials, while the pulse model gains USB/iPod® connectivity and the passion and BRABUS Xclusive now have the impressive smart highline audio and navigation system as standard. The new generation smart uses the same petrol and diesel engines as its predecessor and both the 71bhp micro hybrid drive model fitted with softip transmission and the now more powerful 102bhp BRABUS Xclusive have reduced CO2 emissions of 97g/km and 119g/km respectively.
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 23
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Journalist enjoys an electric service from smart of Exeter smart of Exeter has literally used its power to help award-winning travel and conservation journalist Gill Williams to promote the south west as an energy-efficient and affordable holiday location. Gill and her husband, Steve Hills, recently called on the Marsh Barton retailer and its designated charging bay to top up the battery of their smart fortwo electric drive during the filming of a production for greentravelguides.tv Through greentravelguides.tv and parent company Wildside (UK) Productions, which were both established by Gill and Steve, the couple and their vastly experienced team provide holidaymakers with all the information they require to make the greenest-possible travel choices.
“We firmly believe that a holiday should be a relaxing and fun experience as well as one that has minimal environmental impact, so the smart was perfect for our trip to the South West,” explained Gill, the Editorial Director of greentravelguides.tv. “With it only costing 50p in electric to cover 85 miles, the smart helped make the week very affordable and the holiday to have a very low carbon footprint. What’s more, it’s amazing what you can actually fit in it and we had plenty of room for our luggage and even filming equipment.” Gill continued: “Compared to the very efficient diesel car that we usually use, we believe the smart would make a saving of £1,500 on our motoring costs a year. When we stopped at smart of Exeter, we were delighted to find that customers were also very aware of the potential savings. We enjoyed a fantastic welcome and the reaction to the smart was very positive, the retailer’s customers surprising us with their knowledge of the concept and their own commitment to lowering their personal carbon footprint and preserving the beautiful area where they live.” www.greentravelguides.tv Submitted by Scott Fenn
The Royal British Legion
The smart fortwo electric drive has been provided to greentravelguides.tv as part of the UK’s biggest electric vehicle trial and Gill was one of the first to receive the cutting-edge smart. And since the June handover, Gill and her colleagues have certainly been ‘on a charge’ – racking up over 2,000 miles in the smart.
Our Hog Roast Treasure Hunt (see review on Page 5) held an auction to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. A total of £1061.77 was raised and our thanks go to Ernie & Shona Mellor for all their hard work!
However, it’s the recent week-long trip from the Hertfordshire base of greentravelguides.tv to Devon and Cornwall that was the longest journey that the smart had completed. The round trip came to well over 500 miles and with the smart having a range of 84 miles between charging, Gill and Steve reached their final destination of Woodovis Park near Tavistock in just over two days. The couple broke up the drive with stays in locally-owned hotel and bed & breakfast establishments where the smart was also charged overnight via a normal three-pin mains socket.
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 24
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Saarbrücken. Mit den Sendungen im Fernsehen und im Radio, mit den Berichten in den zahlreichen Printmedien und im Internet genießt die Erstauflage des smart Gourmet-Marathons eine sehr hohe Medienresonanz.
Dealership News Smart Centre Saarbrucken Gourmet Marathon 2010 1.822 Laufbegeisterte und über 30.000 Besucher des Gourmet-Markts machten das Wochenende des smart Gourmet-Marathons zu einem vollen Erfolg.
Am Samstag und Sonntag schlenderten zahlreiche Gäste bei strahlendem Sonnenschein über den Tbilisser Platz und genossen das abwechslungsreiche Programm in ansprechendem Ambiente vor dem Saarbrücker Staatstheater. Am Sonntag lieferten vor allem die aus ganz Deutschland und dem Ausland angereisten Läufer in farbenfroher Bekleidung beeindruckende Bilder. Viele Läufer waren auch im Original smart Trikot auf der Marathonstrecke unterwegs.
Das smart Center Saarbrücken nutzte die Gelegenheit das neue Modell des smart Fortwo der Öffentlichkeit vorzustellen. Bei der Modellpflege standen die neuen Farben, das überarbeitete Interieur, sowie die innovativen Audiosysteme im Vordergrund. Die Siegerehrungen der einzelnen Klassen fanden auf der Hauptbühne vor dem Staatstheater statt. Smart Verkaufsleiter Daniel Fries überreichte die einzelnen Pokale an die Sieger.
smart Centre Saarbrucken thesmartclub is always grateful to Daniel Fries and his team at smart center Saarbrucken for their support and assistance provided during our annual visit to Hambach (smartville) when a visit to Daniel’s team has now become something of a tradition.
Auch die Medien zeigten sehr großes Interesse an der Veranstaltung: Das SR Fernsehen sendete vor und nach dem Event umfangreiche Beiträge, das ZDF berichtete in der Sendung „Drehscheibe“ über den Gourmet-Marathon in
www.thesmartclub.com
2011 will see that visit not only maintained on the Hambach (smartville) visit in May, but we will also be passing by on our way to the smart times 2011 event in Riccione, Italy in August.
Page 25
You can find further details about the Saarbrucken centre at http://www.smart4saar.de/
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
S2
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 26
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Hertz Global EV and smart USA Park Ridge, NJ – 6th Dec 2010
News from smart iPad app from smart Stuttgart: 4th Jan 2011 The first iPad app from smart can now be downloaded from the iTunes store. smart is presenting an interactive history of great visions and visionaries entitled "Ideas in motion". iPad owners can add their own contributions and continue writing the story together with smart. The eBook will keep growing and new updates will be added for users to read on their iPads. The world is driven forward by pioneers who think outside the box; opinion makers who don't just talk but act, and idealists who defend their ideals against all resistance. smart is presenting some of these people. There are stories about visionary people and revolutionary events in 17 subject areas. The wide topics range from society and politics to philosophy, science, lifestyle and communication. Film, fashion, architecture, environment and mobility – iPad users can write their own contributions in all the areas that move people and the world and they can share their thoughts, opinions and convictions with others. In this way an eBook will be created that reflects the ideas that move people today.
"We want to use the new smart iPad app to create a platform where people can examine the world in a creative way, write down their views and share and discuss them with others. This will create a unique kaleidoscope which reflects the diversity of people and their ideas", says Dr. Annette Winkler, head of smart. The eBook will be updated and new contributions published every two months. The smart iPad app "Ideas in motion" is now available free of charge at http://store.apple.com/.
www.thesmartclub.com
The Hertz Corporation and smart USA, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. today announced a joint partnership to bring smart fortwo electric drive vehicles to Connect by Hertz car sharing and Hertz Rent A Car locations in New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco. The vehicle placements are part of the Hertz Global EV program , which will offer a variety of 100 percent electric and plug-in hybrids to car sharing and rental customers worldwide. The smart fortwo electric drive will be available for rent through Connect by Hertz car sharing in New York City beginning December 15. “Hertz’s partnership with smart USA is another strategic element of our long term plan to provide consumers with electric vehicle access on a global scale,” said Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “With its worldwide recognition, smart was a logical choice for our program and we’re excited to begin offering the smart electric drive to our customers later this month.” “The smart fortwo electric drive is the ultimate statement on conservation, from materials to space to natural resources, and further defines the independent spirit of smart” said Jill Lajdziak, president of smart USA. “We are thrilled to place vehicles with Hertz and offer consumers the opportunity to experience the joy of driving a smart fortwo while showcasing the benefits of electric technology.” smart USA is strategically deploying a fleet of 2011 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles across the United States. Vehicle placement is nationwide, targeting early adopters of electric drive technology who are helping define new alternatives in transportation for the United States and interested in making a passionate statement on conservation and environmental awareness. Series production begins in 2012 for sale through smart USA’s dealer network. During the next several months, Hertz Global EV will leverage the company’s car sharing and rental locations as bases for vehicles and charging stations, and tap into its technology – including sophisticated fleet management tools and the consumer-facing NeverLost GPS system – to help form an EV grid.
Page 27
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
Daimler and Europcar launch car2go in Hamburg 18th Oct 2010 Following the successful launch of car2go in Ulm (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) and Austin, the capital of Texas (USA), Hamburg is the first city in which car2go is being introduced as part of the planned international market launch. The launch is scheduled for the end of the first quarter in 2011, starting with 300 vehicles. The fleet will then be further expanded if there is enough demand. The First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Christoph Ahlhaus, welcomes the new mobility concept: "I am pleased that we are the world's first city of over one million inhabitants to introduce car2go. The people in Hamburg are traditionally very open to new ideas – and I am therefore confident that car2go will be a great success for Hamburg and its citizens." The city's Senator for Urban Development and the Environment, Anja Hajduk, adds: "Those who have trouble finding a parking space every day, those who live near a main traffic thoroughfare and those who are stuck in traffic during the rush hour know that it makes sense to reduce the amount of car traffic in the city. A service like this, offering an alternative to using one's own car, helps us to achieve this aim. car2go is a good option for people who mostly use other forms of transport but still want to use a car from time to time. car2go can play an important part in making Hamburg's traffic more environmentally compatible and more suitable for urban life. The scheme has arrived right on cue, as Hamburg is the European Green Capital." Individual mobility without compromise Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, emphasises the link with the company's strategic orientation: "With car2go, Daimler aims to develop a further answer to the challenges of urban transport. 125 years after we invented the motor car, we are underlining our innovation leadership in the urban-mobility domain by expanding our highly respected concept. Additionally, car2go offers an ideal platform for new propulsion technology such as the electric drive." The new partner of car2go, Hamburg-based company Europcar Autovermietung GmbH, will have a majority 75-percent stake in the joint
www.thesmartclub.com
venture car2go Hamburg GmbH, which was formed specifically for this purpose. The partnership offers both partners far-reaching advantages: car2go can benefit from Europcar's vast expertise in terms of fleet management and logistics as well as using its partner's extensive network of branches to offer customers further places to register for the scheme alongside its own car2go Shop. Free parking anywhere The operating area in which the car2go vehicles can be rented either spontaneously or by booking in advance will initially cover Hamburg's central zone – an area of around 65 square kilometres (25 square miles). The zone essentially stretches as far as the Hanseatic city's ring road no. 2 ("Ring 2") and includes the popular residential areas around the Alster such as Eppendorf, Winterhude, Uhlenhorst and Rotherbaum, inner city areas such as St. Pauli, Neustadt and Sternschanze, as well as parts of the Eimsbüttel and Altona districts. This area is especially suitable for car2go, as the population density and demand for individual mobility here are higher than average and, in addition to this, the smart cars make optimum use of the available parking areas. In contrast to station-based carsharing and vehicle-rental businesses, car2go vehicles can be found and rented immediately by customers throughout the entire operating area – without the need for reservation. At the end of the rental, the vehicles can be parked in any public parking space that offers unlimited parking. Additionally, the cars can be parked on city-managed car parks and parking spaces which require a parking disc without having to pay & display, feed the parking meter, or display the blue parking disc. These parking charges are included in the rental price. car2go Hamburg GmbH calculates the cost automatically and then pays the money to the city of Hamburg. car2go also provides a large number of marked parking spaces in selected privately owned car parks, which can only be used by car2go drivers, so that customers don't have to wait to find a parking space. The cost for parking in those garages is also included in the rental price. Parking a car2go is just as easy and hassle-free for the customers as the driving. The rental price in Hamburg will be 29 euro cents per minute or a maximum of 14.90 euros per hour. Customers are always offered the cheapest available tariff.
Page 28
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
smart at the Los Angeles Design Challenge 17th Nov 2010 For the Los Angeles Design Challenge international car design studios were invited to design a visionary car weighing 1,000 American pounds (approx. 454 kilogram). The four-seater small car had to be safe and comfortable, offer good handling performance and first-class design. Steffen Köhl, Head of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design says: "As the prototype of the lightweight and environmentally friendly city car smart is predestined for this challenge. It met all the basic requirements. We just had to further optimise the lightweight construction coupled with a distinctive and individual design.” Lightweight design with different materials for an individual look Every single component of the smart 454 is made of different materials to give it characteristic features and a specific look. Every part is manufactured with the precise materials necessary for a perfect balance between weight and function. The windows, fenders, and bumpers are made of recyclable, coloured plastic. The roof is made of thin yet highly durable recycled textile fabric in various printed and woven patterns. The WWT carbon fibre tyres with integrated suspension have an extremely lightweight design and rule out the risk of a flat tyre. The unique SGR technology is the best lightweight design technology for rims and enables truly unique rims to be produced. The smart 454 is driven by two 15 kW electric motors which are powered by a replaceable lithium-ion battery. The motors are housed between the rear wheels. In the interior the city runabout does not need an instrument panel at all. All functions are controlled and managed via an iPad, for example speedometer and battery charge indicator, navigation system, or air conditioning. The modular "clip-on" design principle familiar from smart enables a sheer endless spectrum of customer wishes to be easily realised. Doors, roof, engine, and transmission are simple to exchange – for an individual look and driving fun and the best possible vehicle configuration for every occasion.
www.thesmartclub.com
smart USA plans to launch five-door model Detroit/Stuttgart, 6th Oct 2010 Detroit/Stuttgart. smart USA intends to launch a five-door car on the US market within the next 15 months. This was announced by smart USA in Detroit today. The B-segment five-door car is to be sold solely in the United States and is based on vehicle architecture from Nissan. This will allow the demand of US smart customers and dealers for a larger but smart-typical car to be fulfilled very soon. “We are faced with continuing customer demand for a smart car with more seating capacity,” explained Roger Penske, Chairman of the Penske Automotive Group. “Sales and service of the five seater will be carried out exclusively by our approximately 75 smart dealerships in the United States. Together with Nissan, we will bring to market a fully equipped small car for our customers and dealers in the USA. It will fit in well with the smart brand.” Further details of the product and its distribution will be announced at a later date. smart USA, a company of the Penske Automotive Group, opened up the micro-car segment in the United States with the launch of the smart fortwo in 2008, and recently created great interest with the announcement of the smart fortwo electric drive.
Page 29
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
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 2011 and global Daimler media © 2011 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
Page 30
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 31
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11
thesmartclub ltd … a decade of dedication. 2000 to 2010
www.thesmartclub.com
Page 32
‘4site’ : Issue 17
Winter Edition 2010/11