the columns supporting thesmartclub’s website ISSUE 29 - 2015
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Welcome Welcome to 2015 and to the latest issue of ‘4site’ smart Magazine. In this issue, we not only look forward to some key events and smart related features coming up this year but, we also take a look back to 2014.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: Smartville test drive
News from smart New vehicle generation provides foundation for growth - 2015: smart accelerates its success
Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332
In particular, 2014 marked the 10th Anniversary of the original smart forfour and we thought that there was no better time to reflect on this milestone given the launch of the all new smart forfour in 2015. Indeed, rather than include a bunch of technical specifications of the original smart forfour and come up with some head to head comparative information, we wanted to throw the topic out to our smart forfour owners enabling a lucky few to tell you about themselves, their smart forfour and showcase their pride and joy. It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm out there for this much loved model. This year is a BIG year for smart following on from the ‘#FOR’ Roadshows launching the new smart models and already, many of our readers and members have enjoyed either viewing or test driving the new models in their own home region. There’s much more to come of course including the release of the much awaited twinclutch model offering unbelievable sequential up shift and down shift capabilities - we cover more of that in this issue. Plus, we build up to our 15th annual visit to Smartville in Hambach in June, offer you our own views of the test drive undertaken last year in the new smart fortwo and bring you latest news and views from smart HQ both UK and from Stuttgart. We also look at the development of the race BRABUS smart forfour now having some significant work undertaken on it by Rob Baker and the team at S2smarts. Finally, we are delighted to see more UK Retailers joining the UK smart Retailer initiative offering customers purchasing new or used smart cars, one year free Membership of thesmartclub - joining us recently are smart of Wolverhampton, smart of Lincoln and smart of Hull. And don’t forget smart times 2015 in Budapest - more on this in the next issue of 4site!
Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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smart fortwo now available for ordering with twinamic dual clutch transmission: Hands-on or automatic gear shifting
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smart fortwo edition flashlight: Spring is in the air
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New smart generation successfully launched
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50,000 fans celebrate five years of smart in China
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smart UK Retailer Initiative - New for 2015
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Dealership news Fun new smart forfour at smart of Wolverhampton
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Regular Local Meetings
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thesmartclub Shop 18 You and your smart 19 How to guide Smart 451 – fortwo door panel removal Smart 451 – fortwo Mirror removal (manual) My Smart Forfour Karl Barclay Brulaw Mo Khan 23 Greg Knight Jonathan Swinfen Nanak Lall helpmysmart
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Smart motorsport
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Advertisers Fudgesmart JCMotorhomes S2Smarts smart Insurance smart of Wolverhamption
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Smartville test drive
The new smart fortwo – Hambach, smartville, our test and some spec!
In Issue 28 of ‘4site’, we covered the launch and initial details of the new smart fortwo and smart forfour from both a design and technical perspective. As many of our readers (and virtually all of our Members) will be aware, we run an annual visit to smartville in Hambach, France – the birthplace of the smart fortwo and this year in June, we’ll again be returning to this most impressive of smart facilities. Details of the event itself will be issued shortly and may be available online by the time you are reading this. The visit (now in its 15th year) is always amazingly popular and, given the fact that for legislative and logistical reasons, places on the trip around the smart production factory are limited, the event is always overbooked extremely quickly. Not only does this make it a somewhat ‘special’ event in which to participate, the event itself has become something of a focal point each year both for the visit to smartville itself and the associated social gathering and interaction with other ‘die hard’ smart enthusiasts. In preparation for the 2015 visit, four of us visited smartville in December to meet up with key personnel from smart to research and plan the June event. This helps ensure that we again offer something special. and indeed unique, in the smart event calendar. We were delighted to not only successfully gather and plan all the visit details but the having toured the smart production plant means I can honestly say that this 2015 event will be both exciting and (if it’s not a contradiction in terms) even more unique. You’ll be able to see the production of the new (453) models of the smart fortwo and all the changes in process and technology that involves – such details are currently confidential but for those of you successful enough to gain a place on the 2015 trip, you will see the vast differences in construction between the ‘existing’ smart 451 fortwo production techniques and that used for the new 453. But I hear you say ‘Aha .. but how will I be able to compare such processes?’ and the simple answer is that as production of the 451 model runs down, the two processes are currently being conducted in parallel within the same production plant. It offers you an unrivalled ability to see both processes and witness the wonderful ‘end to end’ construction of the new 453 model. Following the completion of our 2015 research tour around smartville, we were privileged enough to test drive the new 453 fortwo and I’m delighted to see that drives of the LHD models are now being launched across the UK. In a scenario similar to that of even the original 450 models, for anyone who has not yet set foot inside such a car, even with the best of perceptions, it’s only when you actually sit inside the car does the inner space and ergonomic design ideas really begin to kick in. 4
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The internal layout is superbly spacious with a well laid out, clear and technologically ‘smart’ dashboard configuration (apologies if all that sounded a bit ‘corporate’ but it’s a fact) irrespective of whether you select the ‘passion’, ‘prime’ or ‘proxy’ models on offer (see later in this article for the key features of each model). However, one can tell all this just by sitting in the car but what’s it actually like when you are on the move? The models we used were the manual version (as the ‘double clutch’ model was not available at the time of the test - see elsewhere in this issue of ‘4site’ for details of the double clutch version!). Of course, even the concept of a manual gearbox and mysterious 3rd pedal hanging around in the footwell of the driver’s side of the car seemed a bit surreal – the gear selection is excellent however (perhaps the travel on the gear lever a tad lengthier than expected) and it really was ‘fun’ to be in a fortwo going up and down a manual gearbox! As one might have expected from the launch publicity of course, even before one looks at the ‘uber’ technology such as cross wind assist and lane assist etc. there is the world class turning circle! To experience turning the car around within the width of a conventional city road and, better still, reversing around tight corners, the ‘old’ 3-point turn is sure to be a thing of the past – it really is impressive so get yourself into a 453 model and experience this for yourself. With RHD models in the queue and the much anticipated double-clutch sequential version due out within months, it’s going to be a huge and innovate year for smart. And then externally, there is the new colour range of panels – matt options in titania grey or moon white. Or you can opt for metallic colours such as midnight blue, cool silver, lava orange or hazel brown. There’s also a couple of flat (uni) colours namely white or black. What makes all this neat is that there’s no colour in the new 453 range that is a duplicate of any of the colours used since launch back in 1998 (if you excuse the two ‘uni’ colours perhaps). Most of these panels options compliment three tridion shell colours offered as black (uni), white (uni) and metallic cool silver. With models running a ‘stop/start’ 3 cylinder engine, there’s the 52kW (71 PS) or 66 kW (90 PS) options and the data that follows is based on the 5 speed manual gearbox versions of the car: The 52kW unit is a 999cc delivering that 71 PS at 6000 rpm with a 10.5:1 compression ratio and propelling you from 0 to 100 km/h in 14.9 seconds up to a top speed of 151 km/h. The car is Euro6 compliant in terms of exhaust emissions and chucks out only 93 g/km3. By way of comparison, the 66kW unit is a 898cc delivering that 90 PS at 5500 rpm with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and propelling you from 0 to 100 km/h in a swifter 10.7 seconds up to a top speed of 155 km/h. The car is also Euro6 compliant in terms of exhaust emissions and chucks out a fraction more stuff at 97 g/km3.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Smartville test drive continued...
OK so what about the highlights of each of the models? The fortwo Passion • 15” 8-spoke alloy wheels painted in silver • Radiator trim in black • Solid roof in black • Exterior mirrors - manually adjustable • Dashboard and door centre panel in orange fabric • Upholstery in black/orange fabric • Alternative of dashboard and door centre panel in black fabric • Alternative upholstery in black/white fabric Cool & Audio package with automatic climate control and Audio-System. • smart Audio-System with AUX/USB interface, Bluetooth® interface with hands-free system, audio streaming for music transfer and for connection with smart cross connect app for iOS and Android (separately available on the App Store) • Automatic climate control The fortwo Prime • 15” 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels painted in black with a highsheen finish • Panoramic roof with sun protection • Radiator trim in black² • Exterior mirrors - manually adjustable • Dashboard and door centre panel in black fabric • Dashboard instruments with cockpit clock and rev counter • Grab handle for front passenger • Sunglasses holder Functions and electrics. • Heated seats for driver and front passenger • 12 volt socket with cover • Automatic climate control Safety and assistance systems. • Lane Keeping Assist with acoustic and visual warning • Airbag – kneebag for driver • Airbags – driver and passenger airbags Cool & Audio package with automatic climate control and Audio-System. • smart Audio-System with AUX/USB interface, Bluetooth® interface with hands-free system, audio streaming for music transfer and for connection with smart cross connect app for iOS and Android (separately available on the App Store) • Automatic climate control 6
The fortwo Proxy • 16” 8-Y-spoke alloy wheels painted in black • Panoramic roof with sun protection • Radiator trim in white • Exterior mirrors - manually adjustable • Dashboard and door centre panel in blue fabric • Dashboard instruments with cockpit clock and rev counter • Grab handle for front passenger • Sunglasses holder Safety and assistance systems. • Lane Keeping Assist with acoustic and visual warning • Airbag – kneebag for driver • Airbags – driver and passenger airbags • Airbags – sidebags for driver and front passenger (combined head/thorax airbags) Functions and electrics. • 12 volt socket with cover • Automatic climate control • Central locking with radio remote control, visual lockingverification signal • Electric windows • Sports package. • 3-spoke multi-function sports steering wheel in leather • Brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs • Exhaust system with chromeplated tailpipe Sports suspension lowered by 10 mm Cool & Audio package with automatic climate control and Audio-System. • Outside temperature display with frost warning • smart Audio-System with AUX/USB interface, Bluetooth® interface with hands-free system, audio streaming for music transfer and for connection with smart cross connect app for iOS and Android (separately available on the App Store) • Automatic climate control We’ll continue to bring you more news and reviews online and by 4site magazine of course and in the next issue of 4site, we’ll be reviewing the new 453 smart forfour.
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
News from smart
New vehicle generation provides foundation for growth 2015: smart accelerates its success
smart is celebrating global success. The smart electric drive already accounts for almost one in four sales of the smart fortwo in the USA. And China is already smart’s second most important market, just five years after the brand’s launch there. Following a successful launch of the model initiative with the new smart fortwo and forfour in Europe, 2015 will see smart laying the foundations for sustained growth in the overseas markets. “smart fortwo and smart forfour had a strong start in the market at the end of November. In 2015 we will be upping the ante: with the global market launch, with our fully automatic dual clutch transmission and with a broadening of the engine range to cover six versions,” says smart boss Annette Winkler. “smart is the brand that pushes urban mobility and thereby sets the benchmarks. With extremely compact and agile models, the electric drive, the car2go car-sharing programme and many valuable features to make daily life easier, especially to facilitate parking. Thus, smart is far more than just a car.”
Here are some more topical facts:
There is a great deal of interest in the new smart generation: Almost a million people visited the smart roadshow promoting the launch of the new smart fortwo and smart forfour. 995,000 visitors took up smart’s invitation to celebrate the joy of living in their cities and to experience the new smart models liveQ. Running from the end of July until November 2014, the smart roadshow’s itinerary took it to 15 major European cities.
…car2go is the largest car-sharing enterprise in the world? On 10 December 2014, smart’s affiliated company welcomed its one millionth user overall in Florence, Italy. This makes the mobility service the largest car-sharing service worldwide. Since the company’s launch, the white and blue fleet now totalling some 12,500 smart fortwos has chalked up over 32 million hire transactions and is on the road in eight countries and 30 cities.
The market launch of the new smart models took place in many European countries on 22 November. In Germany alone, over 50,000 customers visited dealers on the launch weekend and over 6000 test drives were agreed upon. “For our smart dealers and for ourselves, this was a very special day that we had all been working towards for some months,” notes Andreas von Wallfeld, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars Germany. “Apart from the exciting design, there has been a real buzz about the new driving experience and, in particular, the outstanding agility. The response gives us great grounds for optimism.”
…smart is now on the market in 46 countries all over the world? Over 1.7 million fortwos have been delivered worldwide since 1998.
smart is preparing the ground for further growth with the launch of the dual clutch transmission in March, which is without parallel in the segment, and with the market premieres of the new smart generation in the USA and China in 2015. Today, both countries are already very important markets for the young Stuttgart-based car brand and saw rising sales figures also in 2014. In the United States, almost one in four smart sold was an electric drive in the last year. And only five years after smart’s market launch, China already became the second-largest sales market for the smart fortwo in 2014, directly after Germany.
Did you know that... …China is now the second-largest market for smart after Germany? The first smart fortwos made their way to China in 2009. The smart brand now has 143 showrooms in 77 cities. Over 60,000 units have been sold to date. And the smart fortwo has been voted Chinese “Car of the Year” in its segment every year since its market launch.
…the smart sales and distribution network underwent substantial expansion in the final months prior to the launch of the new generation? The number of sales outlets has risen by 300 in the last four years, to a total of 1270, for example. China, the second-largest smart market, has witnessed particularly rapid growth: there are now more than 143 sales outlets in the Middle Kingdom, compared to just 16 in 2010 …the sales figures for the smart fortwo electric drive in the USA have risen from 10 percent (end of 2013) to 25 percent at present? In Germany the smart fortwo electric drive was the market leader in 2013 and currently ranks second in the registration statistics.
“In 2014, we planned lower worldwide sales due to the ramp up of our new models and reached our goals. In 2015 we will be launching the new models in our most important markets outside of Europe, and in 2016 we aim to build on this and play an instrumental role in shaping mobility and life in the world’s cities on a sustained and sustainable basis,” states Annette Winkler.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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News from smart
smart fortwo now available for ordering with twinamic dual clutch transmission: Hands-on or automatic gear shifting
As the first model of the new smart generation, the smart fortwo rated at 52 kW/71 hp is now available for ordering with the twinamic dual clutch transmission. This enables gear shifting to be carried out either fully automatically or manually. Manual shifting is possible using the selector lever in a separate gate or by means of the shift paddles included in the Sports package. The additional charge for the twinamic in Germany in the standard version is 1275 euros (RRP, incl. 19% VAT); in combination with the passion, prime and proxy lines 1000 euros (RRP, incl. 19% VAT). The dual clutch transmission is available in combination with the passion, prime and proxy equipment lines. The first smart fortwos with twinamic will be delivered in March 2015. The twinamic offers the advantage of particularly smooth gear changing without any interruption in tractive power. The smart fortwo rated at 52 kW/71 hp will be available with this state-of-the-art dual clutch transmission as of March 2015. With twinamic, the fortwo accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 15.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 151 km/h. The combined fuel consumption stands at 4.1 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres, corresponding to a CO2 figure of 94 grams per kilometre. The twinamic dual clutch transmission is unique in the small car and microcar segments and meets the wishes of all drivers who appreciate the convenience of an automatic transmission in urban traffic. The data for the version at a glance:
smart fortwo twinamic 52 kW
Number of cylinders/arrangement
3 in-line
Displacement (cc)
999
Rated output (kW/hp)
52/71
at rpm
6000
Rated torque (Nm)
91
at rpm
2850
Combined fuel consumption (l/100 km)
4.1
Combined CO2 emissions (g/km)
94
Efficiency class
B
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)
15.1
Top speed (km/h)
151
Price (euros) starting at
12,170
Recommended retail price for Germany, incl. 19% VAT
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twinamic: Convenience coupled with efficiency The twinamic automatic transmission is designed as a 3-shaft dual clutch manual transmission and has six forward gears and one reverse gear. Both clutch actuation and gear changing are fully automatic and enable particularly smooth shifting without any interruption in tractive power. The transmission operates fully automatically. Manual shifting is possible using the selector lever in a separate gate or by means of the shift paddles included in the Sports package. Thanks to the two sub-transmissions, changing to the next highest or lowest gear is immediate and without any loss of tractive power. If required, the electronic controller skips individual gears instead of changing down through each individual gear. It therefore offers the comfort of an automatic transmission combined with the efficiency of a manual transmission. 4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
News from smart
smart fortwo edition flashlight: Spring is in the air
Detroit/Stuttgart. A colourful smart cabrio special model is heralding the approach of spring: the exclusive smart fortwo edition flashlight can be ordered from January 2015. The limited special model is available in Europe as a cabrio with a petrol engine or electric drive. It will reach the first customers in April 2015. The bodypanels of the edition flashlight come in the colour matt crystal white, exclusively reserved for this model, or alternatively in deep black. By contrast, the tridion safety cell always comes in lava orange, as do the door mirror caps. Further distinctive features of this model are the black radiator grille, black alloy wheels in a 3-twin-spoke design with lava orange hub covers providing striking accents, H7 projection headlamps with a titanium-coloured background and the edition logo in the mirror triangle[1]. The premium, sporty feel continues in the interior. All edition flashlight models come with seats in black leather look with black fabric inserts on the seat backrests, orange stitching and a contrasting orange stripe that is also found on the kneepad. The 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel features orange stitching, as does the dashboard. The interior is rounded off by exclusive "edition flashlight" floor mats. The AudioSystem basic is already on board as a standard feature. It comprises an RDS radio with USB and AUX ports for MP3 or CD player, two integrated loudspeakers and an additional drawer below the operating unit. As the special model is based on the passion equipment line, softouch automatic gearshift programme comes as standard. The special model's exclusive equipment package offers customers a saving of up to 44 percent. Prices for the edition flashlight start at €17,580.
The smart fortwo edition flashlight will be making its début at the Detroit Motor Show as the special model will be going on sale worldwide. Configuration and equipment may vary in different countries. Here is a price overview for the versions available in Europe: smart fortwo edition flashlight cabrio [1]
Different equipment possible in the individual markets
Engine version/output
Engine
Displacement
Price in € (incl. 19% VAT)
1.0 l (52 kW/71 hp) petrol mhd
3-cyl. in-line naturally aspirated engine
999 cc
17,580
1.0 l (62 kW/84 hp) petrol
3-cyl. in-line turbo engine
999 cc
18,150
55 kW electric drive
Electric motor (magneto-electric motor)
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22,992
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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News from smart
New smart generation successfully launched
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Böblingen/Paris. The smart roadshow through 15 European cities only recently reached the half-way mark, yet far more than 300,000 people have already responded to the motto “FOR a new urban joy” and have visited one of the events with the new vehicles and local artists. The new smart fortwo and the new smart forfour are now celebrating their trade fair premiere at the Paris Motor Show. While the first vehicles will be delivered to customers next month, sales of the next version are starting: the smart fortwo with a 66 kW/90 hp top-of-the-range engine can be ordered now, with prices starting at €11,790. In Paris smart is also offering a glimpse of the possibilities to be offered by the smart BRABUS tailor made individualisation programme in the future, with two customised smart fortwo exhibits.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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News from smart
New smart generation successfully launched continued...
Even more fun behind the wheel, and not just in the city: The smart fortwo recently became available with the 66 kW/90 hp top-of-the-range engine. Prices for this version of the dynamic two-seater start at €11,790 (incl. 19% VAT). The 898 cc engine delivers maximum torque of 135 Nm at 2500 rpm. The fortwo therefore sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds and reaches speeds of up to 155 km/h. The combined fuel consumption is 4.2 litres of fuel per 100 km, which corresponds to a CO2 value of 97 grams/km. Delivery of the smart fortwo with 66 kW/90 hp starts in November 2014. Individualisation is one of smart’s great strengths. smart BRABUS tailor made is correspondingly successful: since it was launched four years ago, the individualisation programme has become established across Europe and also in the USA and China. Two customised smart fortwo at the Paris Motor Show reveal how smart BRABUS tailor made could look for the new smart generation. Its special features include the special “evening red” and “darknight blue” finish, plus the customised leather seats and steering wheel rim, with nappa leather in “graphite” or “ivory”. The new smart fortwo & smart forfour: Adding a new shine to a proven concept The revolution enters the next round – the smart fortwo has undergone improvements in virtually all areas and is markedly more comfortable. The hallmark smart rear engine concept is being offered for the first time in the four-seater smart forfour as well. Drive power is supplied by state-of-the-art three-cylinder engines rated at 45 kW/60 hp, 52 kW/71 hp and 66 kW/90 hp, while power transmission is performed by a five-speed manual transmission or the twinamic dual clutch transmission. At €10,895 the new fortwo with 52 kW costs exactly the same as its predecessor; the forfour is available for €11,555. The new smart fortwo and the new smart forfour are clearly recognisable as members of the same family. Many design features such as the headlamps, the cooling air grille in the front and the iconic tridion safety cell are identical, for example. And both vehicles are fitted with rear engines, making them particularly agile in urban traffic. The new models also come up trumps once again with regard to the maximum space packed into minimal dimensions. This is documented by the excellent body space index, confirming the best ratio between the vehicle length and the vehicle interior in the segment. Additional highlights include the rear doors opening by almost 90° on the smart forfour and the folding front passenger seat backrest which comes as standard for all variants. The essential safety concept embodied so successfully by the preceding models has been retained. Like a nut, the soft interior is protected from harm by a rigid shell: the tridion cell. Advanced assistance systems which were previously the reserve of higher classes of vehicle further enhance safety and comfort. These include crosswind assist (standard), forward collision warning (option) and Lane Keeping Assist (option).
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
smart UK Retailer Initiative - New for 2015 We’re delighted to announce that smart of Wolverhampton, smart of Hull and smart of Lincoln are now participating in the above initiative. These Retailers join a growing number of Retailers where Customers purchasing a new or used smart car benefit from one year free Membership of thesmartclub. Contact thesmartclub for more information.
As many of our readers and Members will know, our trusty WEE CAR, now in its 15th year, is still going strong and continuing ‘fly a flag’ for thesmartclub. This wee fortwo has been involved in a wide range of smart related events and publicity for all these years – one of the first to benefit from factory fitted original BRABUS paddle shift, countless ‘research and development’ remaps, accessories and more. Instrumental in some of the work carried out 18 months ago Mark and the team at Fudgesmart in Isleham, Suffolk, UK. The guys there continue to offer a bespoke range of services from servicing, rebuilds and diagnostics including a somewhat unrivalled pickup and drop-off service, something we’ve personally made use of despite us being based up in Scotland. You can find out more about Fudgesmart at www.fudgesmart.co.uk or calling them on +44(0)1284-711743.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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News from smart
50,000 fans celebrate five years of smart in China
Big Success for the Small City Car in the Middle Kingdom Stuttgart/Shanghai. Five years after market launch, smart has firmly established itself in China as a trendsetter and pacesetter for urban mobility. After Germany, the Middle Kingdom is now the second biggest market for the innovative two-seater. This success was celebrated at the end of “smart times 2014 China” by around 50,000 fans of the brand at the “LIVE smart China 5-Year Anniversary Concert” in Shanghai Stadium. At the event, smart surprised its Chinese fans with two new special models: Painted in typical China red is the exclusive smart special edition to mark its fifth birthday, only five of which will be produced, and the traditional Chinese smart New Year edition, of which 666 will be made available next year. The first smart fortwo headed for China in 2009, taking their place in showrooms built in twelve cities. Since then, the small city car has been driving on the urban fast lane in the Middle Kingdom – in cities both large and small. The smart brand is now represented by 143 sales outlets in 77 cities. More than 60,000 units have been sold so far. And, to-date, the smart fortwo has been voted Chinese “Car of the Year” in its segment every single year. This enormous popularity has continued this year, too, with an increase in sales of 4.2 percent through November. In just a short period of time, this sustained growth has turned China into smart’s second biggest market worldwide. Here, the smart brand is not only the pioneer in urban mobility solutions, but also a groundbreaker in the use of digital platforms for marketing and sales. For instance, in spring 2014, smart succeeded in selling all 388 units of a special edition in the space of just three minutes in cooperation with “WeChat” (China’s answer to “WhatsApp”). The extent to which smart is now entrenched in China’s cities is evidenced by the bandwidth of customers and fans. It unites an avant-garde lifestyle across all ages, professions and income segments. “smart times 2014 China” also stands very much for an avant-garde lust for life and innovation. Four major events in Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai spanned a wide arc from fashion, through film and sport to music. The climax was the live concert to mark the fifth anniversary of smart in Shanghai. This extraordinary audio-visual event thrilled smart fans with performances from some of Asia’s most successful music stars. These included South Korean singer Rain, Chinese singer and fashion pioneer Chris Lee and the winner of “Voice of China 2014” Zhang Bichen. The concert was the biggest ever gathering worldwide of smart customers and fans. smart in China – continually growing line-up and new benchmarks smart China has been able to attract more and more customers with its continually growing product line-up. The special additions have proven particularly popular and are always in high demand. The Chinese customer is constantly in search of products that set them apart from the masses and are able to underscore their individuality. smart is thus continually setting new benchmarks in urban mobility, which are adopted enthusiastically by young, open-minded customers. This is a euphoria that will play its part in ensuring that smart remains successful in the Middle Kingdom in the years to come, too.
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
How to guide Smart 451 – fortwo door panel removal
Our continued thanks to FQ101 for their continued contribution to 4site Magazine. To remove the door panels, you must first remove the mirrors using the guide here.
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With the mirrors removed this now exposes a T25 torx bolt to be removed.
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To aid removal it is easier to slacken off the door handle mechanism to give you more movement in the panel later. On the passenger side, remember to remove the plastic rivet pin (on the side of the door panel), push through the centre into the door and retrieve when the panel is removed. It is secured with 2 T25 torx bits.
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Leaving the window seal firmly in place, slide your fingers carefully behind the top edge of the door panel and pull. There are 3 clips, which do not require much force to release.
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Now firmly hold the door panel and push it towards the front of the car, it needs to travel 8-10mm. This action releases a slide clip at the top of the panel where it is supported against a cross-member.
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Slide the door downwards from the front first (pivoting on the back edge).
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Once the panel is ‘free’ from the edge of the door frame on the front, pull the door horizontally towards the rear of the car, this releases a lug from underneath the door handle (using the clearance you created earlier).
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The door should now be free.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Fun new smart forfour at smart of Wolverhampton
The waiting is finally over. smart of Wolverhampton now has the UK specification smart forfour alongside the smart fortwo. Both are available to view and test drive at the flagship Wolverhampton dealership.
Smart of Wolverhampton is a dedicated smart dealership at the Penn Road Mercedes-Benz of Wolverhampton site. As part of the award-winning Drayton Group, smart of Wolverhampton is committed to a programme of investment and the dealership is to be refurbished with an exciting, contemporary new look. In addition to the new dealership, smart of Wolverhampton customers benefit from a dedicated smart workshop with factory trained smart technicians. General Manager, Matthew Harris is delighted with the Drayton Group’s investment in the smart franchise. He commented: “The Drayton Group is one of the UK’s leading dealer groups with an award-winning customer service philosophy and track record. I am delighted that they have recognised the potential of the smart brand and are going to back that with a significant investment in the dealership refurbishment. We will have one of the most impressive smart dealerships in the country, just minutes from the M6, M5 and M42 motorways.” He added: “We are also delighted to be amongst the first dealerships in the UK to have the UK spec smart forfour available. It has all the brand values of the smart fortwo – it’s fun, funky and functional!”
Four with the forfour. General Manager, Matthew Harris at the wheel with Richard Hayward, Georgina Taylor and Aaron Powell.
The forfour features the 71 hp engine and like the fortwo will be twinned as standard with the manual gearbox. On the combined cycle the forfour will return up to 67.3 mpg while emitting just 97 g/km of CO₂ going on to a top speed of 94 mph and boasting a turning circle of just 8.65 metres kerb-to-kerb. The rear doors open at an 85 degree angle making access easy, while the rear seats and front passenger seat fold flat making the forfour practical for passengers and large loads alike. Items up to 2.20 metres in length and 0.95 metres high will fit in the car. A 90 hp version, and the optional automatic gearbox, will follow. There are three model lines available for the fortwo and fourfor; passion, prime and proxy. With the passion model 15” eight-spoke alloy wheels are fitted to the car along with automatic climate control, the smart audio system with Bluetooth® connectivity, and a choice of either an orange/black interior or a white/black interior. The prime features 15” five-twin-spoke black alloys with high sheen finish, is fitted with a panoramic glass roof with sun protection, as well as black leather upholstery, heated seats and lane-keeping assist. Additional dashboard instrument pods with a cockpit clock and rev counter are a returning smart staple. The proxy model is fitted with 16” eight-Y-spoke alloy wheels in black and features a panoramic glass roof. It also features a blue and white interior with Artico® and cloth upholstery, lane keeping assist and the Sports Package which includes: a sports leather multifunction steering wheel, suspension lowered by 10 mm, rubber studded alloy sports pedals and an exhaust finisher in chrome. To find out more or arrange a test drive, please call 01902 276961 or visit www.draytongroup.co.uk
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
FOR CITY SLICKERS.
THE NEW SMART GENERATION OFFERS. PERSONAL USER OFFERS smart fortwo passion 71 hp manual metallic* 36 monthly payments of £139 per month smart fortwo prime 71 hp manual
36 monthly payments of £149 per month
PERSONAL USER OFFERS
PERSONAL USER OFFERS smart forfour passion 71 hp manual 36 monthly payments of £149 per month smart forfour prime 71 hp manual 36 monthly payments of £159 per month
Representative example for a smart fortwo passion 71 hp manual Metallic* 36 Monthly Payments of £139.00
On the Road Price £11,420.00
Customer Deposit £1,687.76
Retailer Deposit Contribution £500.00
Total Deposit £2,187.76
Duration of Agreement 36 Months
Optional Final Payment £5,450.00
Credit Total Amount Amount Acceptance of Fee Payable Credit £140.00 £9,232.24 £12,876.76
Purchase Activation Fee £95.00
Fixed Interest Rate 5.47%
APR Representative 6.9%
Drayton Group
Smart of Wolverhampton Penn Road, Wolverhampton WV2 4HD 01902 276 961
www.draytongroup.co.uk
Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the smart range: urban 55.4(5.1)-58.9(4.8), extra urban 72.4(3.9)-76.4(3.7), combined 65.7(4.3)-68.9(4.1). CO2 emissions 99-93 g/km. *Annual mileage for the smart fortwo passion 71 hp is 10,000 miles. Credit Acceptance Fee payable with first payment. Finance based on a 3 year PCP at 10,000 miles per annum. Finance isIssue subject to approval and vehicles must be credit approved and ordered between 01.01.2015 and 31.03.2015 and registered before 30.06.2015, subject to 29credit - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk 17 availability. Excess mileage charges apply. Amount of retailer deposit contribution dependent on model. Finance available from Mercedes-Benz Financial smart – A Daimler Brand. Services UK Ltd, MK7 8ND. Model images shown for demonstration purposes only. Finance subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required.
Regular Local Meetings
Although thesmartclub is represented in multiple countries around the world, we are aware of a number of ‘local’ regular smart related meetings that take place in the UK. The meetings we currently have in our Events’ Diary are shown below and the map provides you a quick overview of ‘what’s on where’. 1 Bristol Area Smarties Meet Meet 3rd Sunday of every month at 12.00 pm. Gordano Services, just off M5 at Junction 19. Meet then moves on to a different venue.
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Sussex Smarts Sunday Breakfast
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Baldock (North Herts & Central Beds) Smart Meet
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South Coast Smarts Meet
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DAFT Smart Meet – Nottingham
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Shepperton Meet
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Please note that as many of the above meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.
Breakfast meet every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 10.00 am. The Chalet Cafe, Henfield Road, Cowfold, West Sussex. RH13 8DU (approximately half mile south of Cowfold on A281) Meet 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7.30 pm. The George IV, Baldock, London Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire. SG7 6LZ Meet 1st Tuesday of every month from 7.30 pm. The Fox Inn, Waterloo Road, Felpham, Nr Bognor Regis, West Sussex. PO22 7EH Meet 1st Wednesday of every month from 7.00 pm. The Snipe Inn, Alfreton Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. NG17 1JE Meet 1st Monday of every month from 12.30 pm (believed to be one of the longest running meets). The Thames Court, Shepperton, Towpath, Shepperton. TW17 9LJ
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) 8452 990332 with details for inclusion in the next issue of our ‘4site’ magazine. For LATEST information and location details always check the ‘Diary’ link in our Online Forum (www.thesmartclub.com)
thesmartclub Shop
thesmartclub has launched a whole new range of branded clothing for Members and non-Members of thesmartclub. In previous years we had a limited range of products but now we are pleased to bring you clothing and clothing accessories across a wide range of products. Many of the products offer you colour choices plus, of course, a wide range of sizes across the clothing range. What makes the new range even more exciting is the option to personalise the majority of clothing items with up to 20 characters of your choice under the logo. So, for example, you may simply wish your name embroidered under our logo or include the name of your local meeting or event. It only costs £2.50 for this feature and represents great value and superb personalisation. The range of products now available ranges from a simple branded ‘ripper wallet’ through a full range of T-shirts, polo shirts, caps, fleeces, rugby shirts, lightweight outdoor jackets and full ‘heavy duty’ outdoor clothing. Members of thesmartclub also benefit from an automatic and superb 7.5% discount across our entire product range simply by selecting the Member Shop link on our homepage or, for our ‘offline Members’, by phoning thesmartclub and quoting your Membership number. 18
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
You and your smart
We really want to hear from you if you have a special story about your car whether it’s a special car by way of modification or simply a standard car that is special to you in some way.
NEW We understand that you may have a story to tell but the last thing you want to do is sit down in front of your computer and type up some text. So this year we’re making it even easier – as well as having the options to email or post us your story, you can now do it by phone! Just let us know a good number to call you on and we’ll have a chat with you – that will then form the basis of a printed story that you can preview and approve prior to publication.
No typing and you still get your story and pictures in 4site! 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. We’ll acknowledge all submissions received and advise you when/if your article is being included. Just let us know a good number to call you on and we’ll have a chat with you – that will then form the basis of a printed story that you can preview and approve prior to publication.
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 ‘News & Events’ menu option, then ‘4site Magazine’.
Your text can be created in an email, pasted into an email or sent to us in any file format.
You can type your text directly into the page we provide or paste text you have created elsewhere.
Emails should sent to: 4site@thesmartclub.com
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. Letters should be sent to:
Click ‘SUBMIT’ and you’re done!
‘4site’ magazine thesmartclub ltd Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK
Or you can phone us on +44 (0) 8452 990332
‘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 2012 and global Daimler media © 2012 Daimler AG. All rights reserved. The submit button © Kiankhoon, email image © Tomislav Stajduhar, party people image Poznyakov, girl writing © Showface | Dreamstime.com. Design and layout 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. * Note that any pictures posted to us cannot be returned. Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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How to guide Smart 451 – fortwo Mirror removal (manual)
Our continued thanks to FQ101 for their continued contribution to 4site Magazine. You will need to remove the mirrors if you ever want to remove the outer door panels.
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The interior trim comes in two sections. Start by removing the single securing screw for the adjuster housing using a Torx T20 bit. You will find the awkward to get to but a 90degree tool will do the job:
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Pull the trip upwards and away from the door to remove the cover. You will feel force against this, as it is held in place with 2 plastic tabs under the cover. You could lever the cover up at the bottom edges, but to avoid marking the interior plastic we advise against this. As you look down the cover you can see the adjuster mechanism secured into the cover with a single clip, gently lift this clip to release the adjuster.
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With the first section of the interior trim removed, you can now turn your attention to the section section. This is held in place with two T20 screws in the following locations:
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The trim will now be free to remove. Pull the lower section towards you to unclip it. Then lift the rubber section upwards to remove it from the mirror housing.
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You will now be able to access the 3x T20 screws which hold the wing mirror to the door frame. Remember to hold the mirror when you undo the screws otherwise it will fall off!
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Slide the mirror adjuster through the hole in the door frame and lift the mirror away from the car.
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
My Smart Forfour
I would like to be considered for inclusion. The reason being that it is the most highly modified 44 there is. A piston melted some months ago and I decided to upgrade every part. My thread is on the forfour forum http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4044.0 username Wangswong. It’s a fully forged build and it will be the first 44 with a limited slip diff installed (en route from quaife) I have many, many pictures of the progress so far and I’m happy to talk about any aspect of the car. A few of those are attached. Article by Karl Barclay.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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ITV Documentary Series About Car Parking
Do you hate parking fines, parking restrictions or camera‐cars? Are you forever getting or appealing tickets? Can’t stand extortionate car park costs and trying to find ways around them? Do you experience parking wars in your local area or as part of the commute? BAFTA award-winning TV company Century Films, are making a 3 part prime-time series about all things parking. If you’re experiencing parking issues and would like to find out more, email: anna.dickeson@centuryfilmsltd.com or Parking@centuryfilmsltd.com
My Smart Forfour
I’ve had my forfour (a 1.3 passion AMT) since they were launched in 2004. I believe mine to be one of the first privately registered examples (24th Sept 2004). This is the longest I have ever kept a car, and I don’t see myself parting with it for a good while yet (if ever). In the 10 years I have owned it, it has been superb, it is still a very low mileage example, having only covered 30,000 miles up to now, ten years on and the car still gets plenty of admiring looks, and still creates a lot of interest as it’s still (even now) quite a rare car. It’s a shame that Mercedes-Benz have never seen fit to celebrate the model and give it the recognition it deserves. Hopefully your feature in the next issue of your magazine will raise some interest and get our cars some well deserved recognition... I include a couple of picturs of my pride and joy. Article by Brulaw.
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4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
My Smart Forfour
This is my second forfour brabus and I think they are great, a car well ahead of its time in terms of style and performance figures. What i didnt like about my first brabus was, it was just a little too sedate in its silver styling but with my current one it turns head with its performance and is instantly recognisable as a smart courtesy of the unique 2 tone colour job. Article by Mo Khan.
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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My Smart Forfour
Black Smart Forfour Brabus Purchased Apr 2013
Before my Forfour i owned a BMW 316Ti compact, which was alright but boring and really a stop gap car before i could find something i really wanted. I wanted something that was fun to drive on my 50 mile round daily commute to work, had a decent amount of poke, preferably turbo, but returned reasonable economy. (And NOT diesel!) Quite a tough list to get a car to tick all those boxes but the Forfour has done it admirably. The first day I got her
Whilst looking for inspiration I stumbled across the Forfour from a Pistonheads article http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ default.asp?storyId=25664.htm I loved the fact it was rare, lightweight, and high powered for what it is, and with a book figure which i have to say has been pretty accurate for me of 41.5MPG combined i was sold and had to have one.
Coilovers fitting
Manifold
I bought mine from a previous forfour.co.uk forum member, as it had a few select modifications i was happy about (Pipercross open cone induction, Colt CZT seats with bigger bolsters, wider 8J rear wheels on the front instead of 7.5J standard.) I have carried on modifying the Forfour to make it my own / upgrade parts that have failed or coming to the end of their life, some purists will be put off by this but I have tried to keep it subtle and with choice, quality modifications including: Bilstein B14 Coilovers CKS Performance Full exhaust system incl Decat Tubular Manifold Broze Rota Torque Alloys 17x8 Tune for performance remap (205bhp / 246lb ft) Mishimoto Intercooler
Exhaust
Article by Greg Knight. 24
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At Donington supporting the S2 Smarts race Forfour
New alloys
Intercooler fitting
Random pics
Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Earlier this year, a new service for UK based smart car owners launched helping such owners to find a smart service or repair centre in a location to suit them. The ‘Help my smart’ online service allows users to select a geographic location, address, town, postcode of even part of a desired Retailer or Independent 3rd party company name. With full Google map functionality, once the desired area has been selected, markers identify smart Retailers and/or 3rd party companies who may be able to assist. A ‘pin’ on the map identifies the specific location of each such company and, when clicked, will offer full contact details and a direct link to that Retailer or 3rd party web site. As the service uses Google Maps, one can zoom to street level and use Google Street View to locate the premises. Retailers and 3rd Party companies (Independents) are further categorised indicating whether a company is a ‘Featured Retailer’ or ‘Featured Independent’. Such ‘Featured’ companies have further details, offers and promotions available via thesmartclub’s web site and/or ‘4site’ smart Magazine.
The service is providing incredibly popular with over 400 unique visitors per day visiting the service and this is increasing exponentially each month. You can find out more at www.helpmysmart.com or, if you are unable to access the web, you can contact thesmartclub directly on +44 (0) 8452 990332.
My Smart Forfour
I recently bought a 2006 1.1 petrol Coolstyle to use as a local runaround. This isn’t my first 44 as I bought one 7 years ago that we’ve kept in the family – my Mother has used it for the past 5 years in the south of France. In a market that is saturated by 5 door hatchbacks, the Smart for four stands out for its style, design and bullet-proof mechanicals, not to mention cheap running costs and insurance. For an 8 year old car, it is still current and I love the two-tone white and black of my car. Cool style it certainly is. Article by Jonathan Swinfen. 26
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
My Smart Forfour
I bought my Forfour in 2010 after my ‘W’ reg Smart City Coupe was written off. After looking through AutoTrader and eBay, a 55 plate, orange and grey 1.1 caught my eye (amongst all the silver on silver, blue on silver ones advertised). I wanted another Fortwo but my dad wanted me to ‘get a proper car’ with ‘metal panels’, following what he saw with my city coupe after the accident, who could blame him. The other reason was that I was getting married the following year and eventually a bigger car would be needed. It was 5 years old at the time with 60,000 miles on the clock and was at a garage in Birmingham. About a week after seeing the advert on eBay, I was in Leamington Spa on a training course, I managed to get away early and went to see it. On the way to Birmingham I got a call from my dad saying that he had seen the SAME car at the SAME garage for less than the price on eBay advertised elsewhere. After some unsuccessful humour and some hard bartering with the sales man, I put a deposit down and picked it up the following Saturday with my dad. He was a little surprised to see that the orange panels were plastic. 4 years later it has now clocked 126,500 miles, it’s been to Germany and back (with my dad and sister and a boot full of luggage), and it’s still going strong. It’s been unbelievably reliable, even with my lead foot. In the 4 years I’ve had it its cost me nothing to run. All I have done is service it, put a set of rear disc & pads and tyres. It still surprises me that fellow Smart owners fail to recognise the Forfour as part of the Smart family. I know that it was in production for 2 years and it was high priced compared to the rivals it was up against, but it is one car that I have huge respect for and will treasure it for as long as I own it. Article by Nanak Lall. Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Smart Motorsport
Many of our Members and Readers will recall the feature we ran in a late 2013 edition ‘4site’ smart magazine covering thesmartclub’s BRABUS Race forfour that was sold to Rob Baker FDSc of s2smarts in Watford, UK. The car had not only gone to a good home but Rob and his team were keen to race not only the forfour, but also run a couple of smart fortwo cars in the Classic Sports Car Club Championship in 2014. Well, not only was that the plan, but the team at S2Smarts Racing (formed in 2012) have been very successful and have a great year of competition ahead of them in 2015. Their first Season was an inauguration season for Rob and the Team as they prepared a Smart 451 84BHP Race Car to compete in the Smart Cup alongside the Brabus 451 versions. At the time, they were also the official tuners for the season, tuning the cars for the series and developing them throughout on there in house Rolling Road. More of a development season, the team still accumulated various trophies in their class and gained further knowledge for the following season. In 2013, their second season, the team increased their portfolio to 2 cars with the introduction of another Smart 451 84BHP car owned by S-Mann in Holland and a partner in the team for the season. With the second car in the same livery, the team attracted much attention and with both drivers saw various 1st places in their class. Towards mid season Rob also entered and competed in the Classic Sports Car Club Championship, in the Modern Classics Class competing against other cars such as, Mazdas, Lotuses and Ginettas. 28
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Still the team were able to attain Third overall in their class at the end of the season. Last year, their third consecutive season saw Rob and S2SmartsRacing signing up with the Classic Sports Car Club Championship and competing the full season with not only the Smart 451 84BHP Race Car which is having many new modifications being carried out for the forthcoming 2015 season, but the Brabus ForFour Race Car purchased from Al Young of the Smart Club. Our Readers may recall that this was the car that competed in (and completed) the 2011 24 Hour Britcar race with no serious problems or issues throughout the 24 Hours. This car has been completely rebuilt for the 2014 season to attain an approximate 250BHP, making it a very competitive car for the season. The two cars run by Rob and the team (numbers 52 and 58) had a very active and successful season in the Classic Sports Car Club Championship. Car 52 (the BRABUS forfour) has a fully approved Roll Cage welded in to the car to add even further stiffness to the chassis. A New Corbeau Revenge Seat and harness have since been added for the driver with a complete new dash from Race Technology which incorporates a data logging system. Certain parts of the system has been rewired to give a different starting system and control over lights etc and a full FIA approved Extinguisher system has been fitted for safety for the Driver. The Engine is being replaced for 2015 with another Brabus Engine with a Paddle Clutch and strengthened Gearbox Internals along with a Quaife LSD Differential to enable the car to put down the extra power better. A Roller Bearing T28 Turbo with the original Mandrel Bent Exhaust system to be modified with a different exhaust box to accommodate the new Turbo. Injectors again supplied by ASNU and the tuning by Tony of Tune4Performance on our in house rolling road. The chassis has been further modified from when it arrived to have Bilstein Suspension replace the Gaz system on there, with Bilstein looking at developing a Coilover kit for both front and rear in the near future. A rear Anti Roll bar has been added and Nylon Bushes added where necessary with even more chassis modifications and tweaks to be done for the 2015 season. The brakes are currently Hi-Spec 6 pots on the front and single pots on the rear. The wheels are 16� Compomotive and are shod with Yokohama AD04 Rubber for the dry and a spare set of wheels with Yokohama AD08R Tyres for extreme wet conditions.
Externally, the body work which was showing signs of wear has been completely re-sprayed by Automaster GB in the S2Smarts Colour scheme of Black and Red. The graphics again will be laid by Tony. In mid 2014, a new gearbox had to be fitted as there were traces of aluminium in the oil of the old one. A new race clutch was installed in addition to an EVO performance radiator and new front mount intercooler, hoses and induction. Issue 29 - 2015 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
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Smart Motorsport continued...
The last race of the season at Snetterton saw Matt House drive the ForFour to a win in his class and with further improvements to be made, hope the 2015 season will see many more trophies for the team.
Car 58 (the 451) started as an 84BHP smart 451 which was then stripped and completely rebuilt to its current state. The engine has remained the same with additional custom turbo induction and an exhaust manifold and race exhaust from S-Mann. The injectors are from ASNU, having a variety of Injectors to test throughout the season if we so wish. Running a race clutch and mapped by Tony of Tune4Performance on our in house Rolling Road. The interior was stripped of as much as possible at the time and is undergoing further changes to reduce weight with even more items to be removed. A full roll cage was fitted which was initially a bolt in, but has now been welded in for better rigidity, A new Corbeau Revenge Seat and 5 Point Harness have been added with controls from Race Technology for the data logging with additional gauges for boost and water temperature too. An FIA approved fire extinguisher system is fitted for protection for the Driver. The chassis has been heavily modified to help increase corner grip with the addition of Custom Built Bilstein Coilovers both front and rear which has enable us to drop the car a further 20mm from the previous GAZ system. The Front has fully adjustable wishbones for Camber adjustment with a stiffer anti roll bar and nylon bushes all round. A different suspension setup to standard the car is able to run zero bump steer making it a dream to drive hard. The brakes are Hi-Spec 4 pot callipers and vented discs at the front and a single pot calliper and disc conversion at the rear over the standard drum brakes. Wheels are 15” Compomotive Race Wheels with the original Hankook tyres now replaced with much better Yokohama AD08R road legal tyres. Externally we are using body panels from S-Mann with all the paint work on all the race cars prepared by Automaster GB and graphics by Tony. 2014 saw Rob take overall First Place in his class for the season and with the new chassis setup and extra reliability and power given by Tony at Tune4Performance saw lap times improve considerably giving even some of the classes above a run for their money… For 2015 Rob and his crew are hoping to shed even more weight and gain more power to see if they can retain the same position at the end of the season they attained in 2014… You can find out more about S2smart and their services on the inside front cover of this magazine or you can contact them directly on +44(0)1923 771222 or email rob@s2smarts.co.uk
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Protect the car you love. Thousands of our smart car owners each year trust our motor insurance policy to look after their smart. Motor Insurance by smart has been rated 5-Star by a UK independent financial research company Defaqto and offers superb features such as: • Guaranteed GenuineParts and repairs carried out by a smart Approved Repair Centre • 24/7 UK accident recovery In addition to the above, if you insure a second car with us you’ll receive a 10% multi-vehicle discount on your premium.
Join in. Call now for a quote on 0345 600 3429 Or visit us at thesmart.co.uk/ins OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN MPG (LITRES PER 100KM) FOR THE SMART FORTWO & FORFOUR RANGE: URBAN 55.4 (5.1)-58.9 (4.8), EXTRA URBAN 72.4 (3.9)-76.4 (3.7), COMBINED 65.7 (4.3)-68.9 (4.1), CO2 EMISSIONS 99-93 G/KM. Motor Insurance by smart is arranged by Daimler Insurance Services UK Limited and underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Registered in Scotland, No. 2116. Registered Office: Pitheavlis, Perth PH2 0NH. Daimler Insurance Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Aviva Insurance Limited are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Issue Issue 29 28 -- 2015 2014 -- www.thesmartclub.co.uk www.thesmartclub.co.uk
smart – A Daimler Brand.
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Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker Š 2014 32
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website