4site Issue 33 - 2016 by thesmartclub

ISSUE 33 - 2016

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

4site - the columns that support thesmartclubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website

Welcome Welcome to issue of 33 of 4site smart Magazine.

In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: BRABUS Test Drive

News from smart smart BRABUS – the urban sports cars

We’re well and truly into summer and it’s a welcome relief to, at long last, see the roofs of many smart cabrios and Roadsters being reclined enabling the summer breeze to clear out the paperwork from the cars!

Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332

It’s been a packed few months since Issue 32 and we saw the launch of the new range of BRABUS 453 models of fortwo, cabrio and forfour. thesmartclub and The smart Racing Club in association with smarts4you Racing was privileged to be part of the launch event in Dusseldorf and you can find a full write up about the event and the fantastic range of cars that feature heavily in this issue. We have news from a range of smart Retailers and, of course, reviews from a number of smart related major gatherings and events. One of these was another successful meeting at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon where there was not only a superb number of cars attending, but the sun yet again appeared to add to the day’s success. There must be something special about Gaydon, smart and the sun – always a winner. For the crossblade owners, there was another wonderfully arranged crossblade event taking owners, passengers and cars through the scenery and winding roads in Switzerland. You’ll find a range of pictures inside this magazine. And just in time to catch this issue, we have a quick review of the very successful smart times event that took place in Hamburg, Germany at the end of August where over 3100 people attended in over 2000 smart cars. It was a weekend preceded by some great local tours of famous landmarks and industries and, of course, finishing on the Saturday night with the announcement of the venue for smart times 2017. We’ll have a complete run down of the 2016 event in Issue 34 of 4site in addition to more information about smart times 2017.

4 9

Top version with 80 kW/109 hp coming in 10 the summer: More power than ever: the new smart BRABUS smart reveals revised range

From the autumn, smart car drivers can test a new logistics service smart car boot = parcel drop-off point

smart UK announces pricing for new BRABUS range

smart UK Retailer Initiative

Regular Local Meetings

thesmartclub Shop

helpmysmart

Event Review smart times 2016 - Hamburg

Gaydon smart cars 23rd July 2016

Crossblade Days’ 2016

Dealership News New-look revealed by smart at Mercedes-Benz of Teesside

Advertisers bob! Bounce Off Bumper Protector JCMotorhomes S2Smarts smart Insurance smart of Wolverhamption

21/25 23 2 31 16/17

Unfortunately due to content limitations, we’ve had to move the article “small car, big city!” by Roger Machin to the next issue of 4site. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Meantime, we are always keen to capture your news and view about your own smart car so if you have a story to share with our readers, simply drop us an email or call us directly and we’ll take it from there Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

BRABUS Test Drive

BRABUS smart Press launch – Dusseldorf, July 2016 In early June 2016 I received a call from smart advising me of the forthcoming Press Launch of the new BRABUS fortwo, cabrio and forfour range of cars in Dusseldorf, Germany. Attending the event would be 150 of the world’s top Motoring Journalists. There was the usual impeccable and impressive Launch planned by smart but smart were looking for something ‘extra’ that would enthuse and excite the Journalists, something to add to the more conventional but impressive Launch. I was advised that part of the Press Launch would use a test track each day to allow the full potential of the BRABUS smart to be demonstrated and experienced. smart were aware of our motorsport successes and, of course, the 4twocup series of races. It quickly became clear that there was some synergy between the world of smart motorsport and the launch of the BRABUS smart range. Agreement was reached that it would be superb if I, and some of the 4twocup drivers, could be in Dusseldorf all week to demonstrate the handling capabilities of the BRABUS smart to the Journalists around the test track. Timing was tight to get this organised (only four weeks) and it would mean everyone taking time away from their day to day UK activities in order to participate. After a few frantic calls and emails James Palmer, David Nash and Martyn Clatworthy, from the 4twocup world, would join me to provide this additional ‘buzz’ element to the BRABUS smart Launch. There were 150 Journalists from multiple countries and a range of media sectors, including radio, automotive and lifestyle magazine and TV, attending over a five-day period (30 Journalists per day). BRABUS smart cars were provided to each Journalist for a drive from Dusseldorf south on a route using autobahn, country road and city driving such that they could begin to get to grips with the features of this car. The mid way point on the route led the Journalists to the Proving Ground at the Aldenhoven Testing Centre (ATC), some 50 minutes due south of Dusseldorf.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

The ATC is used by the majority of automotive manufacturers to test and develop models, prior to and post production, given the venue’s unique layout of track, handling area, gradients, variable friction surfaces, etc. Every conceivable driving condition can be simulated and experienced within the one venue and smart had booked out the entire venue for the week of the Press Launch. Smart had established a quick yet challenging route around the inner test track at the ATC to ensure that the cars could demonstrate their handling capabilities rather than just their straight line performance. Having spent the previous weekend at the ATC in Aldenhoven, becoming familiar with the BRABUS smart fortwo, the four of us were ready and waiting for the first group of international Journalists to arrive on the Monday morning.

Prior to lunch we took two cars around the track, at any one time, led by a Safety Car – all cars were in radio contact with the Safety Car and this allowed us to provide the Journalists following with details on the best line through the corners and associated braking points. After that, the Safety Car would pull off and the Journalists then had four laps ‘on their own’, where the target was for lap 2 and lap 3 to be an identical time. Technically that could mean one could drive slowly and aim for a carefully managed time on each lap time but, it will come as no surprise that, virtually all Journalists aimed to set the fastest (rather than identical) lap times! Timing was controlled by our ever helpful timing girls (Sandra and Saskia) and ADAC Marshals were on stand-by around the circuit throughout each day.

Upon arrival at the ATC, the Journalists were provided with a presentation about the BRABUS smart range, features, technical development and vast range of options available. These sessions were presented personally by Dr Annette Winkler for the earlier part of the week.

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

BRABUS Test Drive

BRABUS smart Press launch – Dusseldorf, July 2016 continued... Following the Journalists lapping the track, we then offered to take many of them out again as a passenger in the BRABUS fortwo with one of us (David, Martyn, James or myself) jumping into the driving seat, enabling us to really show what the car could do around the track. The BRABUS fortwo really does handle superbly well and, importantly, whilst the DSC cannot be fully disengaged, BRABUS have allowed for a good degree of ‘slip’ when the car is genuinely pushed. One of the reassuring elements was that the car never really broke away at any point – a slide could be started that was progressive through any of the track’s tightening corners enabling some fairly rapid laps to be completed. Another feature was the ‘launch control’ – unlikely to be used for the majority of city driving but great fun, even if only to see the look on the Journalist’s face once strapped into the cars.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

BRABUS Test Drive

BRABUS smart Press launch – Dusseldorf, July 2016 continued... Simply engage 1st gear, press the brake pedal with your left foot, press the accelerator pedal hard to the floor with your right foot – the revs hold around the 5000 or 6000 mark – then simply lift your left foot. There’s about a half second delay and then launch kicks in – with the dual clutch gearbox (twinamic), there’s fairly rapid pace up through the gears especially if one leaves the box to auto upshift. Continued use of this facility may prove to be a tad stressful on the mechanical elements of the car (or its occupants!) but, unlike other manufacturers, there does not appear to be any software limit on the number of times this facility can be used. After five solid days of on track activity, the feedback from smart and Journalists was extremely positive about the use of this additional ‘driving experience’ element. We were also fortunate enough to have the JC Motorhomes 4twocup car on site at the ATC. Our sincere thanks go to Oliver, Ingo and all at smart GmbH, the team at the ATC, ADAC, Kristina Schultz at OSK and the guys from smarts4you Racing for responding to the request for support so quickly and enthusiastically.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

News from smart

smart BRABUS – the urban sports cars

Stuttgart. Unique agility and outstanding dynamics - these are the two outstanding traits of the new smart BRABUS. This exceptionally sporty and exclusive variant is being introduced to broaden the range of smart cars for urban mobility. Available as either smart BRABUS or smart BRABUS Xclusive – both model lines are a license to indulge in sheer driving pleasure, each boasting an output of 80 kW (109 hp). To coincide with the market launch of the new city sports car – available as fortwo, cabriolet or forfour – smart launched an extensive, worldwide marketing and advertising campaign on 8 July 2016 on all relevant communication channels, fronted by the claim “smart BRABUS. The urban sports cars.” In addition to relying on classic forms of communication, the smart campaign for the new sports runabout will feature a viral video as well as interactive event marketing. “With the smart BRABUS, smart fans can discover the city in an extremely sporty and exclusive smart variant. The campaign is aimed at highlighting this aspect. We are presenting a sporty, dynamic and exclusive car which is truly out of the ordinary,” states Michael Schaller, Head of Marketing Communication & Brand Management at smart. “The feeling of driving a smart BRABUS is hard to describe. You have to experience it on the road. It is, quite simply, a traffic highlight.” Exclusive test drive The emphasis is firmly on the experience with a viral film entitled “Most Xclusive Test Drive” demonstrating what a unique feeling it is to drive a smart BRABUS. The film shows three different groups of unsuspecting people who just wanted to test drive the smart BRABUS – a family, a couple and a group of friends. Just as they leave the smart dealership, a police escort is waiting to accompany them on the entire test drive. A camera captures the surprised reactions of the drivers and their police escort on this highly exclusive test drive, which can be seen in the film. The film is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/2ddfrXVIQcw from 8 July 2016.

To support the market launch of the new smart BRABUS on an international scale too, smart will be staging a mobile smart BRABUS Live Escape Game in Hamburg, Vienna, Barcelona and Rome from September onwards. The participants are randomly selected people in the respective cities who are interested to play. In groups of two to four people, they will be trapped inside the BRABUS Live Escape Game with the smart BRABUS Xclusive and given a set length of time to escape. Within this set time, the players must solve interactive puzzles with and about the smart BRABUS to liberate the car from the garage. Participants will get a small prize but that is going to be a surprise.

Classic communication focusing on the sports car for the city The classic communication likewise focuses on the exclusive feeling of driving a smart BRABUS. Six print motifs for the different variants of the smart BRABUS will be published in national magazines, daily newspapers and the economic press. With headlines like “More Newton. Less meters.”, “Airdrenaline” and “Interiyeah”, they arouse desire for the city sports car with the sporty and dynamic looks. Prospective customers can take the next step at smart.com, where they will find a product film as well as the latest information about the smart BRABUS and the smart BRABUS Xclusive with its highly exclusive interior and exterior features. Here they can use the Car Configurator to put together their very own dream model. All of the communication activities can likewise be seen on the smart social media platforms. The campaign also has a dealer-marketing component. The BBDO agency in Berlin is responsible for designing and implementing the campaign.

smart UK Retailer Initiative We’re delighted to announce that smart of Wolverhampton, smart of Edinburgh and smart Brooklands 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’s free Membership of thesmartclub. Contact thesmartclub for more information.

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

Top version with 80 kW/109 hp coming in the summer: More power than ever: the new smart BRABUS Düsseldorf/Stuttgart. With 80 kW/109 hp, the new smart BRABUS is among the sportiest vehicles in its segment. Alongside the powerful turbo engine, this is down to the BRABUS Performance sports suspension with specially adapted ESP®, the sports power steering and sporty configuration of the twinamic dual-clutch transmission with Race Start function. The vehicle also comes as standard with a sporty look both inside and out. Available in fortwo, fortwo cabrio and forfour versions, the new smart BRABUS celebrated its world premiere at the Beijing Automotive Exhibition (25 April to 4 May 2016). The first models will be in European dealers’ showrooms from July 2016.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Anyone for a spot more driving enjoyment? The new smart BRABUS models are more powerful than any previous standard smart. That’s because, compared with the previous model, rated power and maximum torque have been increased by 5 kW and 23 Nm, respectively, to 80 kW/109 hp at 5750 rpm and 170 Nm at 2000 rpm. The result is a correspondingly sporty level of performance, with the smart BRABUS fortwo accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, while the smart BRABUS forfour boasts a top speed of up to 180 km/h. Yet the more powerful turbo engine is not the only technical highlight. The sporty performance is due also to the following extensive modifications: • The springing/damping of the BRABUS Performance sports suspension are 20 percent firmer than the BRABUS sports suspension, with the anti-roll bar on the front axle reducing the roll tendency by 9%, while the ESP® has been specially adapted. • The sports-tuned Direct-Steer system with speed-sensitive power assistance and variable steering ratio comes with a specially increased return torque for the smart BRABUS. This means that the steering gives even stronger feedback on the current grip status of the tyres, thereby improving the communication between driver and vehicle. This allows better control over the vehicle while making for enhanced driving enjoyment. Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

• The fuel pressure has been raised by 2 bar. The air supply to the engine has been optimised. • With an up to 40 percent faster response time and shorterlegged ratios than in the 66 kW model, the twinamic 6-speed dual-clutch transmission is configured for sporty performance. It also features a Race Start function, which automatically sets the optimal rpm and clutch slip for maximum acceleration from rest. To use the Race Start function, the driver simply needs to release the brake pedal after previously depressing it and flooring the accelerator. • The BRABUS sport exhaust system has been optimised in terms of back-pressure. 11

News from smart

the new smart BRABUS continued... The BRABUS Xclusive also comes as standard with LED & Sensor package, heated seats for driver and front passenger, while the smart forfour readyspace features rear seats with a removable cargo box. The new models at a glance: Number of cylinders/arrangement Displacement (cc)

Rated output (kW/hp) at rpm

Rated torque (Nm) at rpm

NEDC consumption (l/100 km) urban/extra-urban/comb. Combined CO2 emissions (g/km) Efficiency class

Acceleration 0-100Â km/h (s) Top speed (km/h)

Price from (euros) smart BRABUS

smart BRABUS fortwo

smart BRABUS fortwo cabrio

smart BRABUS forfour

898

3 in-line 80/109 5750 170

2000

5.2/4.1/4.5 102 B

9.5

165

3 in-line 80/109 5750 170

2000

5.2/4.3/4.6 104 B

9.5

165

3 in-line 80/109 5750 170

2000

5.4/4.2/4.6 104 B

10.5 180

smart BRABUS Xclusive

19,710 22,710

22,970 25,970

20,520 23,520

Data apply to vehicles with twinamic. 1Non-binding recommended price for Germany including 19% VAT.

Long-standing cooperation: smart-BRABUS GmbH smart-BRABUS GmbH is a joint venture of smart and BRABUS and stands for automotive refinement at the highest level. In the last twelve years, over 60,000 customers have opted for products that were developed or produced in cooperation with BRABUS engineers. The smart BRABUS tailor made individualisation programme enables creative customers to configure their smart entirely in accordance with their personal preferences.

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The sporty top models of the latest smart generation stand out visually through their matt grey rear diffuser insert with chrome-look tailpipe trims as well as their grey, high-sheen and matt painted BRABUS Monoblock IX light-alloy wheels. The smart fortwo comes with Yokohama sports tyres of size 185/50 R 16 H (front) and 205/40 R 17 H (rear). The smart forfour is shod with 185/45 R 17 H (front) and 205/40 R 17 H (rear). All smart BRABUS models come as standard with a lockable glove compartment, the Cool & Audio package and the proximity warning function. The smart BRABUS fortwo coupé and forfour also sport a panoramic roof ex factory. smart BRABUS Xclusive: the new premium equipment line The new high-end equipment line BRABUS Xclusive makes for even greater sporty elegance in the city. The special features: • BRABUS sport seats with upholstery in perforated nappa leather/black leather with specific grey topstitching • BRABUS instrument panel with a material mix of man-made leather/fabric • BRABUS dashboard instrument with cockpit clock and rev counter • BRABUS floor mats • Xclusive badges in mirror triangle and B-pillar

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

smart reveals revised range

• New trim strategy introduced; proxy models replaced by prime sport • New BRABUS sport line available from £13,810 • passion models now come standard with solid roof with fabric cover smart has announced its latest updates to the range, including pricing for the new BRABUS sport line which is available from £13,810. The range now consists of the entry-level passion, followed by prime, prime sport and BRABUS sport.

The fortwo coupé passion now comes with a fabric-covered roof, creating an even more striking look. At the other end of the range, the forfour night sky prime and prime sport models come with an electric fabric opening roof. Across the range, passion models come equipped with smart audio system; automatic climate control; a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel wrapped in leather; and silver 15-inch eight-spoke alloy wheels. prime models offer heated front seats; black leather upholstery with grey topstitching; dashboard instruments with clock and rev counter; sunglasses holders; and 15-inch five-spoke alloys painted black with a high sheen finish. prime sport adds a perforated leather sports steering wheel (with shift paddles on models equipped with the twinamic automatic transmission); sports suspension lowered by 10 mm; chrome exhaust finisher; and black 16inch 8-Y-spoke alloy wheels. Available only on models with the higher powered 90 hp engine, the BRABUS sport line includes matt grey 17-inch BRABUS alloy wheels (the fortwo has 16/17-inch wheels (front/rear)); BRABUS front splitter and rear apron in black; BRABUS stitching and logo on hand brake lever and gear shift; BRABUS sports steering wheel; and brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs. Prices start at £13,810. The Premium equipment line (now £845) includes a height-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel; electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors; rear parking sensors; smart media system; and Mirror Link. Premium Plus (not available on passion models) adds ambient lighting; LED head lights and tail lights; fog lamps with cornering function; and rear view camera. Premium Plus is available for £1,345. The Comfort Package is available for £295 and includes a height-adjustable driver’s seat; electrically heated and adjustable mirrors; and a heightadjustable steering wheel. The Comfort pack is included in the Premium and Premium Plus equipment lines. Forfour models can now also be specified with a no-cost option cadmium red metallic radiator grille. Customers can also choose from black, white, silver, grey, or yellow for no extra cost. The twinamic six-speed DCT gearbox is available across the range for £995.

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Prices for all smart models: Model line

g/km CO2

% - BIK tax rate

£ - P11D value

£ - Price OTR

fortwo coupé – 71 hp with five-speed manual transmission

Model line

g/km CO2

% - BIK tax rate

£ - P11D value

£ - Price OTR

fortwo cabrio – 71 hp with five-speed manual transmission

passion

11,070

11,125

passion

13,210

13,265

passion Premium

11,915

11,970

passion Premium

14,055

14,110

prime

11,765

11,820

prime

13,905

13,960

prime Premium

12,610

12,665

prime Premium

14,750

14,805

prime Premium Plus

13,110

13,165

prime Premium Plus

15,250

15,305

prime sport

12,360

12,415

prime sport

14,500

14,555

prime sport Premium

13,205

13,260

prime sport Premium

15,345

15,400

prime sport Premium Plus

13,705

13,760

prime sport Premium Plus

15,845

15,900

fortwo coupé – 90 hp with five-speed manual transmission

fortwo cabrio – 90 hp with five-speed manual transmission

passion

11,665

11,720

passion

13,805

13,860

passion Premium

12,510

12,565

passion Premium

14,650

14,705

prime

12,360

12,415

prime

14,500

14,555

prime Premium

13,205

13,260

prime Premium

15,345

15,400

prime Premium Plus

13,705

13,760

prime Premium Plus

15,845

15,900

prime sport

12,955

13,010

prime sport

15,095

15,150

prime sport Premium

13,800

13,855

prime sport Premium

15,940

15,995

prime sport Premium Plus

14,300

14,355

prime sport Premium Plus

16,440

16,495

BRABUS sport

13,755

13,810

BRABUS sport

15,895

15,950

BRABUS sport Premium

14,600

14,655

BRABUS sport Premium

16,740

16,795

BRABUS sport Premium Plus

15,100

15,155

BRABUS sport Premium Plus

17,240

17,295

Model line

g/km CO2

% - BIK tax rate

£ - P11D value

£ - Price OTR

Model line

g/km CO2

% - BIK tax rate

£ - P11D value

£ - Price OTR

forfour – 71 hp with five-speed transmission

forfour – 90 hp with five-speed transmission

passion

11,565

11,620

passion

12,160

12,215

passion Premium

12,410

12,465

passion Premium

13,005

13,060

prime

12,260

12,315

prime

12,855

12,910

prime Premium

13,105

13,160

prime Premium

13,700

13,755

prime Premium Plus

13,605

13,660

prime Premium Plus

14,200

14,255

prime sport

12,855

12,910

prime sport

13,450

13,505

prime sport Premium

13,700

13,755

prime sport Premium

14,295

14,350

prime sport Premium Plus

14,200

14,255

prime sport Premium Plus

14,795

14,850

night sky prime

12,885

12,940

BRABUS sport

14,250

14,305

night sky prime Premium

13,730

13,785

BRABUS sport Premium

15,095

15,150

night sky prime Premium Plus

14,230

14,285

BRABUS sport Premium Plus

15,595

15,650

night sky prime sport

13,480

13,535

night sky prime

13,480

13,535

night sky prime sport Premium

14,325

14,380

night sky prime Premium

14,325

14,380

night sky prime sport Premium Plus

14,825

14,880

night sky prime Premium Plus

14,825

14,880

night sky prime sport

14,075

14,130

night sky prime sport Premium

14,920

14,975

night sky prime sport Premium Plus

15,420

15,475

night sky BRABUS sport

14,875

14,930

night sky BRABUS sport Premium

15,720

15,775

night sky BRABUS sport Premium Plus

16,220

16,275

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

smart of Wolverhampton

Our friends at Drayton Group smart of West Midlands have some great end of year offers on the new smart fortwo with 0% finance available, plus a complimentary vehicle health check & wash/vac PLUS a chance to win an iPad when you take an extended test drive. And every new & used car purchased from a Drayton Group dealership qualifies for One Year’s complimentary membership of thesmartclub. (Terms & conditions apply - contact Retailer for more information)

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 33credit - 2016 - 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 Ace Cafe London meet

Twice-annual meet at Ace Cafe. Saturday 5th November 2016 from 11:00 AM. Ace Cafe London, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. NW10 7UD

2 Baldock (North Herts & Central Beds) Smart Meet

Meet 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7.30 pm. The George IV, Baldock, London Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire. SG7 6LZ

3 East Kent Smarties

Meet 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm. The King & Queen, 1 New Road, East Malling, Kent, ME19 6DD

4 Simply Smart

Annual meet at Beaulieu. Sunday 13th November 2016 from 10.00am. Beaulieu National Motor Museum, New Forest, Hampshire, SO42 7ZN

2 1 5

5 Sussex Smarts Sunday Breakfast 3

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 9.30 am. The Chalet Cafe, Henfield Road, Cowfold, West Sussex. RH13 8DU (approximately half mile south of Cowfold on A281)

Hampshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire & Yorkshire Smart Meets Groups and meetings in these areas. We’ll publicise the dates and location on our Facebook page.

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.co.uk 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 ‘Events Diary’ link under ‘News & Events’or check our Online Forum (www.thesmartclub.co.uk)

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.co.uk 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.co.uk

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 2016 and global Daimler media © 2016 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 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

From the autumn, smart car drivers can test a new logistics service smart car boot = parcel drop-off point Stuttgart smart recently established the smart lab as the brand’s think tank to accelerate the development and implementation of creative urban mobility projects. ‘smart ready to drop’ is the first innovation to emerge from the lab. It is an innovative service that makes online shopping even easier. In cooperation with DHL Paket, smart will enable parcels to be delivered to the boot of your car. The beta test will start in the autumn in Stuttgart, followed by Cologne, Bonn and Berlin a few months later. The service will eventually be offered in seven German cities. The smart cars taking part in the beta test will be retrofitted with the required Connectivity Box at the dealership. From the autumn, the exclusive smart fortwo ready to edition will come equipped with the Connectivity Box. “After successfully completing the in-car delivery pilot project last year in Germany, we are now using the know-how we gained with smart to develop yet another attractive service for a young, internet-minded target group” says Jürgen Gerdes, CEO Post - eCommerce - Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL Group. ‘smart ready to drop’ will be beta tested in the autumn in Stuttgart, followed by Cologne, Bonn and Berlin a few months later. Other cities will follow. With several hundred participants per city, smart’s goal is to gather experience in realistic conditions. A first field test, with some 30 smart drivers, that lasted several months was successfully completed back in 2015. It’s so easy to shop online: A click of the mouse and your order is placed, but delivery can be tricky if you’re not at home. ‘smart ready to drop’ makes order delivery that much easier. All the smart driver has to do is specify their car as the delivery address. The delivery driver will also pick up return parcels.

smart drivers interested in taking part and who live in one of the mentioned cities can obtain more information from www.smart.com/drop and apply from September. Pilot testers will be rewarded with a free retrofit for their car, which will become a ‘connected car’ and be ready to use other innovative services.

‘smart ready to drop’ further maximises the car’s use especially in the city and offers a mobility concept that goes beyond driving. The beta test is the biggest in-car delivery test ever performed in Germany. “ ‘smart ready to drop’ is the beginning of our next drive to further enhance the quality of urban life”, says smart boss Dr Annette Winkler. “This is our way of staying true to our pioneering role in urban mobility. A lot of other services that make city life easier are also in the works, for example, private car sharing.” smart established the smart lab to accelerate the development and implementation of such creative urban mobility projects. The smart lab is the brand’s think tank. The easy-going and unconventional start-up mentality of the lab’s creative employees is what enables this innovative platform to drive new mobility ideas. Free retrofitting for beta testers ‘smart ready to drop’ has just made online shopping a whole lot easier. The parcels are delivered by DHL Paket. The delivery driver is given one-time keyless access to the boot of the drop-off car through a special app. The app was developed by smart. Annette Winkler says: “Our successful car2go car-sharing offer with over 1.9 million customers worldwide has enabled us to gain more experience with digital access systems than any other manufacturer. Security is, of course, our highest priority.” 20

The future procedure for direct delivery of your parcels ‘smart ready to drop’ is smartphone based: both the smart car driver and the delivery driver use the special apps. After placing the order, the smart customer generates a transaction number (TAN) in the app and enters it in the ‘c/o’ field of the delivery address. The app reminds the customer to park their car near their home address for delivery. The app notifies the DHL driver of the desired delivery address. The driver uses the TAN to open the car within a specific time window. Similar to the car2go system, a Connectivity Box is installed inside the car at the bottom of the windscreen.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

New car buyers can order their smart car from September with a pre-installed Connectivity Box (see below for details). The box can also be retrofitted at the dealership. The DHL driver deposits the parcel in the boot and locks the car digitally; their access authorisation expires immediately. The app automatically notifies the smart car driver of the successful delivery. Exclusive edition available from September From September 2016 the smart fortwo ready to edition will be available from €15,930 (recommended retail price for Germany including 19% VAT). twinamic 6-speed dual clutch transmission, sat nav and live traffic are available as standard in this edition. The customer can select the paint finish and the wheels and configure their own personal smart fortwo ready to edition by adding select optional extras. The Connectivity Box can be retrofitted in the last generation of smart fortwo models with combustion engines (C 451), the current smart fortwo coupé and the smart forfour.

There’s a new in town! The SMART way to protect your bumpers... The bob (which stands for Bounce off Bumper) Protector is a unique new product designed specifically for Smart ForTwo Cars. This innovative product twists into the chassis of the vehicle using screw mounts that currently exist in the ForTwo model. The bob Protector then acts as a buffer between the rear of the car and obstructions, helping to prevent scratching and denting to the bodywork.

Business owner Rob Leake, developed the concept of the bob Protector back in 2012 after experiencing issues with his own Smart ForTwo being used as a bumper car outside his home. The product has however come along way since its initial conception and is now available to purchase online at www.bobprotector.com The bob Protector is one of the only product on the market offering this level of effective protection at an affordable price to Smart car owners. Designed to fit securely into the existing holes on the Smart car the bob Protector can be attached to the vehicle, one to the front and two to the rear, in two easy steps by removing the bumper caps and simply screwing it into place. Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

As well as all these functional benefits the bob Protector reigns supreme on the image front as its ergonomic design, colour variations and material options compliment and enhance the colour of the Smart car to create a stylish finish. The variety of colours provides Smart car drivers a vast selection of choice for their vehicle however there is now the option to customise your bob Protector. Select the colour you desire and the creators will do their best to match it. For more information about the patent protected ‘bob Protector’, visit www.bobprotector.com 21

Patent Pending No 1514897.6

News from smart

smart UK announces pricing for new BRABUS range

• Prices start from £16,320 on-the-road for the smart BRABUS fortwo • Range features 898 cc turbo engine with increased power of 109 hp • Choice between BRABUS or BRABUS Xclusive – smart BRABUS Xclusive available from £19,490 Prices for the new smart BRABUS range start at £16,320 for the smart BRABUS fortwo. The smart BRABUS forfour costs £16,815, while the smart BRABUS cabrio is available from £18,460. The BRABUS range uses the existing turbo-charged 898 cc engine, with an increased power output of 109 hp (up from 90 hp). In keeping with its sportier engine and exterior, it also comes with BRABUS Performance sports suspension with specially adapted ESP, sports power steering, and a twinamic dual-clutch transmission with race start function. Based on the existing passion model, the BRABUS models add significant styling updates including BRABUS badging; BRABUS sports steering wheel; BRABUS seats with dinamica inserts; handbrake and gear shift with BRABUS logo; BRABUS sports pedals; 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels (front – 16; rear – 17). Passion models come generously equipped as standard, including the smart audio system; automatic climate control; and cruise control. For £845 BRABUS customers can add the Premium package which includes height adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel; heated and electrically operated door mirrors; rear parking sensors; and smart media system. The night sky option also adds a fabric folding sunroof for an additional £625 on smart forfour models only. For an additional £3,170 customers can opt for the BRABUS Xclusive model, which adds BRABUS leather sports seats; a bifabric dashboard (leather and mesh); BRABUS floor mats; and Xclusive badging. BRABUS Xclusive models come standard with the Premium Plus package (£1,345 on BRABUS models) which includes ambient lighting; rear view camera; automatic window wipers and lights; fog lamps with cornering function; and a centre armrest. Prices for all smart models: Model line

g/km - CO2

% - BIK tax rate

£ - P11D value

£ - Price OTR

BRABUS fortwo

102

16,265

16,320

BRABUS Xclusive fortwo

102

19,435

19,490

BRABUS fortwo cabrio

104

18,405

18,460

BRABUS Xclusive fortwo cabrio

104

21,575

21,630

BRABUS forfour

104

16,760

16,815

BRABUS Xclusive forfour

104

19,930

19,985

night sky BRABUS forfour

104

17,385

17,440

Night sky BRABUS Xclusive forfour

104

20,555

20,610

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

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.

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

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.

Event Review

smart times 2016 - Hamburg

Following a superb (and very hot) smart times in Budapest in 2015, smart enthusiasts, from around the world, travelled to Hamburg (Germany) for smart times 2016 over the weekend of 26th and 27th August. It proved to be a record breaking attendance with 3,167 participants from around the world attending (an increase of more than 650 people compared with Budapest last year). The launch of smart times was preceded by some wonderful ‘pre event tours’ to a range of local attractions and facilities, all leading up to the official ‘opening’ of smart times on the Friday evening by Dr Annette Winkler (the CEO and director of Smart). The venue selected for this year’s mass gathering was the Grosmarkt area of Hamburg, a huge ‘live’ market trading area for flowers, fruit and vegetables which operates every day of the week. The centre area had been closed off for everyone with a large stage on one side of the venue. This was surrounded by a number of food and drink stalls and, of course, the enormous smart Information and Registration marquee opposite the stage. From the edges of the main area a stretch of road contained the BRABUS marquee, smart service truck and a number of smart specialist third party companies.

The superb logistics ensured that the 1,635 smart cars participating in the parade successfully left the venue, with minimal delays, and toured the route. The route included the now famous and traditional hairpin segment ensuring that participants folded back and passed oncoming smarts in the parade. An innovative touch this year was the use of smart colleagues with large signs en route pointing to local attractions! The Saturday night saw the announcement of smart times 2017 taking place in Salou, Spain. We’ll have a full review of smart times 2016 in the next issue of 4site smart magazine. Our thanks go to Dr Annette Winkler, Andrea Petto, the team at smart plus all the team at Lautstark.

Behind the smart Registration marquee was the main Club area. This year, rather than have representation solely branded as thesmartclub, we focussed on a UK presence complimented with specially produced UK white polo shirts bearing the logos of many of the attending UK smart clubs. Our UK area was made all the more special by the smarts4you Racing Truck with awning, tables, chairs and more. This provided welcome shade from the sun and also provided a refreshing ‘stopping’ point for those smart fans as they toured the smart times venue. The Friday night party led into Saturday’s traditional line up for the corso parade.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Patent Patent Pending Pending No No1514897.6 1514897.6 1514897.6 Patent Pending No

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Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Event Review

Gaydon smart cars 23rd July 2016 By Helen Mackenzie-Burrows

This year was the third annual meet at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire. We were very pleased to be welcomed back to their refurbished museum, and newly-built Collections Centre, showcasing the largest collection of historic British cars in the world.

We were hoping for a good turn out and the weather certainly obliged. On the morning there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the warm, sunny day helped to persuade the owners and passengers in 56 cars to make the journey to Central England from all over the UK. Smarties came from as far away as Bristol, the Welsh Valleys, Norfolk, Sussex, Hampshire and Kent as well as from Lancashire and Yorkshire. After some initial hiccups with the parking arrangements, we eventually all got parked up outside the front of the museum building to give a really impressive collection of smarties – possibly one of the biggest this year, even if we did have a VW “smarocco” sent as a stand-in for a Roadster (with a very temporarily incapacitated exhaust) trying very hard to fit in. A picture of the Roadster in question was in the windscreen along with the certificate that the Sussex smarts won the previous weekend, at the “Minis on the Rec” event in Shoreham, for Best Club Stand!

The British Motor Museum has opened a new building this year, showcasing many of the classic British cars that the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust has built up over the years. They have a very close relationship with Jaguar Land Rover who have their production plant next door, and the Jaguar Heritage Trust has placed many of their vehicles in this building for all to view. The main building still has a lot of the vehicles that were previously there; however it’s clear that they are working hard to keep the experience fresh for those who have been before.

There was a real mix of cars at this event; everything from an original early mark 450, through Crossblades, 454 forfours and Roadsters, of course, all the way through to the newest 453 fortwos and forfours. It’s very interesting to see all of the fortwos together to see how much they’ve developed and changed over the years! We also had a demonstration of the new fortwo’s turning circle courtesy of Barrie Cox’s 453 Prime.

We’ve also seen a lot of new faces at this meet, a welcome development that shows that there are plenty of people new to smart – and even some returning to smart ownership! who are joining in with the community events. We’ve had a really warm welcome again from the British Motor Museum in Gaydon and hopefully we’ll be back again for the fourth annual get together in 2017. Hope to see you there!

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Background photo by Ian Wilde-Dolphin

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Crossblade Days’ 2016

A selection of photographs from Crossblade Days’ 2016 pictures courtesy of Colin Hyams

This year’s Crossblade Days’ event saw 45 Crossblades attending from France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the UK. They travelled through Switzerland visiting some of the most beautiful and picturesque locations. This was an amazing opportunity to enjoy the cars with such wonderful weather and good company. Thanks to all those who attended and who made this event truly special.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Dealership News

New-look revealed by smart at Mercedes-Benz of Teesside

smart at Mercedes-Benz of Teesside has celebrated its 25th anniversary in style by unveiling a stunning new look. The Retailer’s premises in Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, has been transformed by an extensive £1-million-plus redevelopment which has included significant improvements to the smart operation to adopt the manufacturer’s latest brand identity and provide customers with some of the finest facilities in automotive retailing. The completion of the six-month project was marked with the unveiling of a plaque by David George, Sales Director, Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars UK. Central to the project is a completely restyled and enlarged showroom which, thanks to its open plan design, now displays up to 35 vehicles. It features a smart urban lane showcasing three vehicles from the iconic city car range. Other new developments include an expanded display of Approved Used Mercedes-Benz and smart that features just over 100 cars and is arranged by model. An on-site, convenient smart repair centre has also been opened to rectify minor bodywork damage including scratches, bumper scuffs and alloy wheel refurbishment. Since Mercedes-Benz of Teesside opened in 1991, more than 30,000 new and Approved Used Mercedes-Benz and 2,000 smart cars have been purchased from the site. Jeremy Simpson, the Retailer’s Head of Business and Market Area Sales Director, was confident that the enhanced facilities would attract more potential customers to both the Mercedes-Benz and smart brands. “We’ve created an outstanding, modern retail environment and the reaction from customers has been tremendous with many commenting on how classy the place looks but also how welcoming it feels,” said Jeremy Simpson. Visitors to smart at Mercedes-Benz of Teesside can now relax in a dedicated and more comfortable lounge area. Within it areas are provided for those customers wanting to watch TV, while they are waiting, enjoy some quiet time with a newspaper or continue with their work in a business zone with complimentary Wi-Fi and USB charging points.

“We set out to strike a balance between a state-of-the-art motor retailing facility that looks sharp and a warm, friendly showroom environment that our customers can feel comfortable in,” he added. “With two dedicated smart Sales Executives, Sam de Milo and Michael Bleasby. We also have a team in place that is committed to providing our smart customers, old and new, with a retail experience to match our magnificent new-look surroundings.”

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

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 Genuine Parts and repairs carried out by a smart Approved Repair Centre • Uninsured Driver Promise - Your "No claims Bonus" is unaffected if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver which is not your fault • 24/7 UK accident recovery to a Mercedes-Benz Approved Repairer • UK based call centres

Join in. Call now for a quote on 0345 600 3429 Or visit us at uk.smart.com/insurance Motor Insurance by smart is arranged by Daimler Insurance Services UK Limited. Registered Office: Tongwell, Milton Keynes, MK15 8BA. Registered in England No. 3510012. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority "http://www.fca.org.uk/". We are an independent intermediary dealing with selected insurers in respect of annual insurance. Mercedes-Benz First Cover (7 day complimentary insurance) is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. For mutual security calls are recorded and monitored for training purposes.

Issue 33 - 2016 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

smart – A Daimler Brand.

Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker ÂŠ 2016 32

4site - the columns that support thesmartclubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website