4site Issue 36 - 2017 by thesmartclub

ISSUE 36 - 2017

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

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.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Welcome I hope you have all had a wonderful smart filled summer and may I start by apologising for the slight delay in the production of this issue of ‘4site’ smart magazine. That said, I am confident you will find the following pages well worth the wait!

In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: Inside smart

News from smart Autonomous concept car smart vision EQ fortwo: Welcome to the future of car sharing

New smart electric drive set to spark interest as UK pricing is revealed

smart launches new special edition BRABUS fortwo coupé and forfour models in collaboration with Disturbing London

15 years of smart BRABUS Added dynamism for the city

The “15th anniversary edition” An exclusive gem

Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd

A highlight of the last few months was the smart times event located on the super sunny beach in the beautiful town of Salou, Spain. The weather was stunning, the organisation was again superb and the stage setup on the beach was a display of technical ‘son et lumiere’ that was wonderful to experience. You can read a full review later in this issue.

thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK

In addition to the regular news from smart and some of the UK Retailers, I am also delighted to bring you an insight into the world of smart in Böblingen, Germany with some of the key personnel describing their role within this administrative hub that sits behind the brand.

smart introduces new entry-level pure model

smart times 2017 in Salou: 2869 smart fans celebrated on the Costa Dorada

help my smart

There has been a lot of publicity recently around the fast-paced development and future move to electric vehicles and again, you will find further details within this issue. To supplement this, I was also fortunate enough to test the very latest smart ed during my time at Böblingen and there will be a feature on that model in later issues. Following a similar series of tests with the first and second-generation smarts, the plan is to feature not only the technical aspects but focus on “what it is like to live with the new smart ed”.

Regular Local Meetings

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smart UK Retailer Initiative

4two Cup - Thruxton

Event Review smart time 2017

Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332

Elsewhere, the smart 4twocup series of races continues and, at the time of writing, Rounds 9 and 10 have just completed at Thruxton following earlier rounds at Brands Hatch (July) and Silverstone (June). Details of Rounds 9 and 10 are also included in this issue of 4site. And remember, you can find results of all the 4twocup races (going back to April 2015) via The smart Racing Club web site (www. thesmartracingcluub.com)

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

25/27 2 31 16/17

Our Retailer initiative at smart of Sheffield and smart of York continues to prove successful as they join the continually expanding number of Retailers offering Customers one-year free Membership of thesmartclub. Finally, ‘4site’ smart magazine is all about your car and you – if you would like us to feature any specific topic (or even your own car) just get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Best wishes Al Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Inside smart

Many of our readers will be familiar with thesmartclub’s annual visits to Hambach in France, birthplace of the smart fortwo. thesmartclub has been running annual visits to the production facilities (located in the Moselle department in North East France) since 2001 and they continue to be as popular now as they were when we organised our first international smartville adventure. It is worth mentioning at this stage that, during smart times 2017 in Salou earlier this year, it was announced that the 2018 smart times event would take place at smartville, Hambach to mark the 20th Anniversary of smart and you can be sure we’ll have a number of features prior to, during and following that momentous moment in the history of smart. Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview a number of key individuals ‘behind the scenes’ and ask them about what makes them ‘buzz, what they do within their current role and how they see the future of smart. I was also fortunate enough to have a test of the very latest smart ed, a full review of which will be contained in a later issue of ‘4site’ smart magazine. And so, just before we reach the interviews themselves, I would like to thank the participants in the interviews and I also thank the smart Communications team (Sonja Graessle, Regina Kurbos and Theresa Henn, all pictured below) for all for all their help and cooperation prior to, during and after my visit.

However, whilst smartville represents the production aspects of the fortwo (and previously, of course, the smart Roadster), many people may have heard mention of the smart administrative offices at smart Areal (Böblingen, Germany). Equally it is perhaps less well known what happens within this ‘smart’ operational hub and I realised that as there was perhaps an opportunity to learn more about some of the activities undertaken at smart in Böblingen. The facilities, located between Sindelfingen and Böblingen, contain a number of buildings dedicated to key functions. This includes Product Management, Marketing, Development, Communications, Finance, Business Development and more. In addition to the dedicated functional buildings, there is a large staff car park at one end of the facility and a superb new restaurant facility (just nearing completion) in the centre.

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Jakob Luickhardt

Jakob is in charge of the service portfolio of the smart lab and reports into head of smart Strategy. Jakob explains that as part of Daimler family, the smart family is located in Böblingen and is the ‘heart and brain’ of smart. Although we do not know when, we know it will happen and we are preparing for the future now. This is really the beginning of the transformation.

Jakob joined smart around 5 years ago. He was originally in charge of the 451 model product management and, together with the team, developed a number of special editions including the ‘for Jeremy’. Jakob then moved from product management to strategy hardware and service strategy for smart and the smart lab is a spin off from that. Jakob is now deeply involved in the software aspects of this role for previous 2 years. Jakob explained: “We get a lot of support from Daimler through market and future research across the multiple Daimler brands and the sharing of information across the brands. We exchange information with our colleagues and align with the wider strategic focus, refined annually. Two years ago we looked at 2025 strategy and how should the ultimate urban car look at this time. Key is that we have already reached high levels of comfort, turning circle and the electric drive. So the hardware has reached a high standard already to fulfil the needs of the urban car, both for the two and the four seater. Now what is needed is to bring into the next level and we see huge potential in the software side, namely the ‘connected car’. This will give us new possibilities in order to make the lives of driverless owners or users of these cars easier in the city.

This team in the smart lab is a cross functional agile group. Each service has a product owner and we work with a range of startups and development companies to prototype quickly. The lab has a number of assets – our approach sees end to end verification of ideas, not just idea creation but we take the good ideas through the whole journey. We double check the idea and if there is potential and we see customer benefit, we incubate, prototype and if the idea is still looking good with customers then we decide to bring the initiative to beta launch status. There is a small community of (currently) approximately 800 connected cars in Germany and the owners have the App. These customers are genuine smart owners, not necessarily employees of Daimler. Even 451 drivers can apply to participate and, following a check of eligibility such as postal code for the beta test, if all is OK they will become part of lab family and provide feedback during the use of the functionality. All connectivity is retrofitted to their car. The team is establishing an agile series of processes to develop ideas as quickly as possible and we are engaged with a number of external partners with the ‘Ready to Drop’ initiative. Another example is our ‘Ready to Share’ initiative providing community car sharing opportunities. 95% of the time your car is standing around parked in a space and not being used. So why not have your car used within that time. Of course, there are a lot of logistics to resolve simply handing over your car keys and there insurance considerations etc. With ‘Ready to Share’ we are just taking the first steps where a smart owner can invite friends, family, people you know to share your car. The catalyst is the smart owner within a closed community. And so right now, this is shared with people the owners know (later maybe with a wider line of people such as that used in AirBnB).

There are already a couple of examples of our work in this area, the first of which is the ‘Ready to Drop’ initiative. A lot of urban people have problems receiving parcels during the week. They are not at home and missing the delivery postman or the parcel is left with the neighbours, the post office or whatever. This is an inconvenience. The connected car could be the solution. The car can be located every time and can be opened by a dedicated remote control and as such, the car can become your private postal box and this is the idea behind ‘Ready to Drop’. There is an App which is providing our customers (who are part of the pilot group) with the opportunity to order goods online and have them delivered directly to their car. The delivery service provider is able to locate the car, open the car via remote control and, because the customer is not required to execute the delivery, this can happen during the night when roads are quiet and help solve the ‘last mile’ delivery issue normally associated with such customer delivery requirements. Autonomous drive will have significant impact on the automotive industry in city centres.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

So the owner can set up an availability calendar. During the week the car may be standing around and while the weekend may be blocked, there are times during the week when the car is available. The owner can invite his or her friends and make them aware of that availability. An App can be used to book the smart on a similar basis as Car2go so there is no need for keys. A special insurance is included in the process. Eventually, the plan could be to potentially charge one or more users of the car a fee for the use of the car. It’s all on a digital platform and there’s potentially therefore the opportunity to raise use of the car and it may be possible therefore to recover some of the owner’s car costs by the ‘Ready to Share’ initiative. Always the big idea is to make city life easier and change the idea of the car as a tool to get from A to B and have it more as a utility hub. This will enable smart urban community to move to the next level”

Inside smart

Serhan Koc

Serhan is the assistant to the chief engineer and here, Serhan looks at the overall function of his role in that team. When you sit in the car you feel something that you cannot describe in the first second but the new smart has an interior feel that did not exist in earlier smarts. Then there is the technical aspects such as the double clutch gearbox. That is a huge challenge to put something as expensive and as ‘state of the art’ in such a unique car. Customer feedback is key. It’s key to listen to the feedback and act upon that feedback. With our engagement with the customer field, during development, we can spot trends and look to make some of these improvements and enhancements, some of them small but so important. “I joined in 2016 and I am working for R&D at smart. Prior to that, I worked for the truck business in Daimler for drivetrain control in trucks and now moved from large trucks to smarts. It was a spontaneous decision really and after some years I wanted to see something else. The truck business is somewhat unique and unusual from passenger car development but I also wanted to be involved in the wider car development area. It’s a competitive segment and it was for that reason, when I saw the opportunity, it was great to do the move. I was inspired by Dr Winkler’s approach to the brand and I also saw smart and that is one of the key reasons I decided to join the team.

The car is a product but that is only part of what the smart philosophy stands for and with the ongoing work within our lab, we look at the connected car and what smart ownership is all about. Meanwhile, the car stands for more than just being a car. It is a part of the whole ecosystem around our daily lives and you will agree: that more than simply owning or driving a car. It’s a big development challenge and we have many ideas. Furthermore, based on the small customer base we have when compared with other Daimler brands, we really are a development and research platform for other Daimler brands and it acts as both a big responsibility but something with big motivation. And this makes it one of the biggest pleasures to work here.

So from big trucks to small cars, the working area and team spirit is maintained – it’s a smaller team in smart but team spirit is the same. The work that is done at smart is realised in close cooperation with Renault-Nissan and this means high elements of cooperation but still making sure that we have a car that bears our DNA. In other words: we have to ensure that you will find a clear reason to own a smart. As a team, we gather the requirements from our Customers as to what they want from a smart car – price is not always the driving force. It is more about the coolness, the brand and the fact we offer features that are not common within the automotive world for example, small size, smallest turning circle, high seating position. We actually have a ‘body mass index’ as a parameter which gives a feeling for how big the car is compared with the internal size of the car. For example, we can have a big truck but small area for the driver and passenger. But when it comes to a smart, we have a small exterior but the feeling in the interior is big. This is difficult to describe in words – you have to experience it.

You will see such things developing within Mercedes Benz and we have close cooperation with that brand but we have a very agile, small, fast paced spontaneous team here. Many ideas are prototyped with opportunity to develop with a larger group of people as ideas are further researched. In our R&D team there are around 100 engineers just on smart and, of course, there are larger groups in our cooperation partners. We also have close cooperation with Mercedes-Benz partners and the many disciplines across these developments. We have many balls in the air at one time. Everything we do, and have done in the past, is with close cooperation with Renault. There are my counterparts in Renault, say, the lifecycle projects and we engage 24x7 with all these teams. We need face to face meetings and this really helps the cross cultural successes and these relationships really work on a personal and business level. I think the future of the car is really to have small cars and also not focussing on the car but more having the car as part of your daily life and building a system around that car. And when it comes to that, smart is the perfect part of that puzzle and that is my biggest motivation to push our car in that area.”

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

Rouven Remp & Slavko Bevanda

Working in the Product management area of smart, Slavko focusses on the combustion engine products whilst Rouven is focussed on the electric drive (ed) models. They explain smart customers drive on average 35km per day. And as batteries become cheaper, we believe our tipping point will be ahead of other manufacturers.” I then asked Slavko from a combustion perspective, what are the challenges you see now compared with, say, two years ago and where do you see that going?

“We are always looking at all cars on the market for what is happening now and what is happening in the future

“The challenges are that CO2 emissions trend will have to constantly improve. I expect some fast movement within many countries including China but we see good potential, especially on BRABUS and orders have doubled for BRABUS even on our best years. With BRABUS we made really a huge improvement in interior quality – it’s not all about external looks and the interior of the BRABUS has its own quality style and also you can have tailor made in addition. There are also always customers who what to have custom additions in terms of style.

Our role is that we are the representatives of the customer within the company. We define what we believe will be a suitable product for the various different markets and that leads to the delivery of a successful product It’s a mix of strategy and customer feedback. Of course, it’s not solely done on the 3rd floor in Böblingen simply based on our opinion. All the markets are very different involving USA, China and Europe and within each market there are further variations, for example variations within Europe. Within the main regions there are differences in product design and volumes and different ed subsidies. We also recognise that, for example, the Chinese market has different tastes to the German market when it comes to colours of cars.

And so, in the beginning we give some direction and indication of design, innovation and product variations. It may be that this accounts for 120% of what may be possible and, following conversations with our colleagues in production, control, quality and cost, we may end up with perhaps 90% of our ideas being considered for inclusion.” Regular readers of ‘4site’ smart magazine will recall our 1st and 2nd generation tests on the smart ed but I was keen to understand the latest views on where Rouven saw such ed future direction now. It is not Rouven’s first venture into the ed world as he was working in China on a joint venture product previously and he has been involved with smart ed for 3 years. He explained “What we see is that this is a dynamic topic. The ed will be the future but the question is when and when is that tipping point reached? As product manager for ed, the world is a little conservative at present but we’ll see what reality tells. What we like about the smart strategy is that with the flexible production capabilities at Hambach, we have a virtual ‘lever’ where we can swing towards ed as demand suits.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Moving forward, we’ll have facelift improvements and additional design changes and telematics platform. We expect movement towards ed for sure and the market will take care of that topic. If smart ed sales develop really well, the market share figure may be 10% but we have to be realistic and not assume it’s 100% ed of course. We are also in a price sensitive segment and across the automotive world, the price differential and country differentials will always play a significant part in that customer choice and as such, the volume of cars sales. As mentioned previously, take up of ed cars can be influenced by many factors such as government subsidies, regulatory limits on combustion engine cars, potential to have more taxes on combustion engine cars, opportunities for benefits such as for free parking and free bus lanes for ed cars. For example, in China, combustion cars are restricted to driving on specific days of the week while ed cars have no such restriction. Car sharing is next big step – car2go is very successful in many big cities although this may not always work in all cities (e.g. small cities). Of course, with ‘Ready to share’, everybody can have the opportunity to share cars with neighbours and friends.”

News from smart

Autonomous concept car smart vision EQ fortwo Welcome to the future of car sharing

Stuttgart. The smart vision EQ fortwo provides a new vision of urban mobility and individualised, highly flexible, totally efficient local public transport: the autonomous concept vehicle picks up its passengers directly from their chosen location. New individualisation options help users to recognise that it is “their” vehicle: by means of the Black Panel Grille at the front as well as large projection surfaces at the sides, the smart vision EQ fortwo allows unprecedented individualisation of the vehicle, ideal for car sharing. Freed from the task of driving, the passengers are able to relax in the large interior. The show car is the first vehicle from the Daimler Group to take the logical step of dispensing with a steering wheel and pedals. The smart vision EQ fortwo is also a car in which all of the individual fields of expertise that make up the CASE corporate strategy are combined, allowing users in the city intuitive access to individual mobility. CASE stands for the strategic pillars of connectivity (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric). With the electrically powered smart vision EQ fortwo, smart is presenting a concept vehicle from the relatively recent product and technology brand EQ at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show. More than ten new electric cars are set to go into series production at Mercedes-Benz Cars by 2022, from the smart to the large SUV. smart took the first step back in 2007 with the smart electric drive and today optionally offers all its models with an electric powertrain. “The smart vision EQ fortwo is our vision of future urban mobility; it is the most radical car sharing concept car of all: fully autonomous, with maximum communication capabilities, friendly, comprehensively personalisable and, of course, electric,” says smart CEO Annette Winkler. “With the smart vision EQ fortwo, we are giving a face to the themes with which Mercedes-Benz Cars describes the vision of future mobility within the CASE strategy.” Shared: The smart vision EQ fortwo is a new vision of car sharing. Because transforming “urban traffic” into “city flow” in future will not only benefit the users but the public at large too, cities and municipal authorities are also a target group for future car sharing concepts from smart. Currently, a car2go vehicle is hired somewhere in the world every 1.4 seconds. At present car2go has over 2.6 million customers worldwide – and the number is growing all the time.

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The latest studies predict that the number of users of car sharing schemes worldwide will have quintupled by 2025 to 36.7 million. One of the factors that make car2go so popular is that free-floating car sharing is spontaneous and flexible. The car does not have to be picked up from or taken back to a specific location. It can be hired and left anywhere in the designated “home” area. Autonomous: The smart vision EQ fortwo concept vehicle demonstrates how autonomous driving could make future car sharing even more convenient, simple and economically efficient. Thanks to swarm intelligence and autonomous driving, the smart vision EQ fortwo heralds a new era in car sharing: users do not have to look for the next available car – it will find them and collect the passengers directly from their chosen location. And thanks to swarm intelligence and the resulting predictability of demand, it will probably already be nearby, making the journey to pick up a “hire car” a thing of the past. The interconnected vehicles are always on the road. Utilisation increases and at the same time the amount of traffic and the number of parking spaces required in urban areas are reduced.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Connected: The smart vision EQ fortwo is summoned using a mobile device. New individualisation options help users to recognise that it is “their” vehicle: the Black Panel at the front (size: 44 inches/105 x 40 cm) as well as large projection surfaces at the sides allow the smart vision EQ fortwo to be personalised. LED displays in place of the headlamps can echo a classic look (from sporty to neutral) or take on an eye-like shape, which allows the vehicle to communicate on a more human level. The rear lamps can also have a conventional look or provide detailed information - for example warnings or traffic information. The front radiator grille serves on the one hand to add a personal touch and on the other to communicate with other road users (e.g. information for pedestrians crossing the road). The doors of the show car are coated with a film that can be activated as required. If the car is unoccupied, information about local events, the weather, news or the time can be displayed. The smart’s Black Panel Grille indicates whether the car is occupied by one or by two passengers.

News from smart

Autonomous concept car smart vision EQ fortwo Welcome to the future of car sharing continued...

Those who want can use the 1+1 sharing function to make contact with other interesting users. Possible passengers are suggested on the basis of their saved profiles and current travel plans, and can be accepted or rejected. When two passengers are on board, the large display in the interior shows shared interests such as concerts they have recently attended or sports that they play. The extra time gained as a result of travelling in an autonomous vehicle can be used to chat and interact. Electric: The smart vision EQ fortwo features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 30 kWh. When not in use, it makes its way independently to a charging station to load up with new energy. Alternatively, the cars can dock with the power grid inductively, feed in electricity and act as a “swarm battery”, taking pressure off the grid. smart is playing a key role here in shaping the energy revolution. Design: urban lifestyle of the future The smart vision EQ fortwo (length/width/height: 2699/1720/1535 mm) is a cool two-seater and, like all smart models, scores with a maximum of room in a minimum of space. The vehicle communicates by means of a Black Panel Grille and LED displays, which replace headlamps and tail lamps. The side windows are covered with a special film onto which information can be projected from inside. The front area of the interior features a Black Panel Display for user interface activities.

“The smart vision EQ fortwo embodies the urban luxury of the future. It is a radical approach with a cool and minimalist design. The show car has the hallmark smart proportions, with accentuated, pronounced wheel arches at the four corners and with no overhang,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG. “A multiplicity of digital surfaces inside and outside allows the next level of communication between human and automobile. The customer is able to personalise the vehicle according to their individual needs.”

Exterior: hallmark smart proportions, new door concept The exterior is like a piece of jewellery with a receptacle symbolically encircling a precious pearl. With the “one-and-ahalf box” design, the pronounced, powerful wheel arches and the short overhangs at the front and rear, the proportions are typically smart.

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The new door concept is a distinctive feature. To save space, the two doors pivot wing-like over the rear axle, making access easier and creating a fascinating architecture. The door concept also reduces the danger of collision with cyclists and pedestrians. Rose gold-coloured, three-dimensional elements in the wheels and in the diffuser allude to the electric drive system and create a bridge to the hallmark EQ design. The side windows have a tapering hexagonal look. The clear, future-oriented exterior design is reinforced by white metallic surfaces and dark-tinted glass surfaces. In a contemporary and technological manner, the smart plays with colour on the exterior by means of a large number of display graphics. Interior: generous space, intelligent stowage The colour scheme of the smart vision EQ fortwo features a cool and futuristic look which is combined with warm touches of rose gold. The show car is the first of the Daimler Group’s vehicles to take the logical step of dispensing with the steering wheel and pedals. The vehicle functions are controlled via personal mobile device or voice input, an arrangement that is intuitive, convenient and

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

hygienic. Dispensing with conventional control elements makes the white interior appear even more spacious. The dashboard is replaced by a 24 inch (58.5 x 15.6 cm) screen which is surrounded by a rose gold-coloured frame. The outer edges feature two smaller displays (four-inch), which can be used by the smart vision EQ fortwo for example to say “Welcome”. Covered with a new, innovative and high-quality man-made leather, the white seats are easy to clean and therefore compatible with the idea of sharing. The lounge-like bench seat offers room for up to two passengers. If required, a retractable centre armrest creates a separation between the occupants or serves as a stowage facility. The white interior creates a generous impression of space. Further, intelligent stowage options are available on the floor and under the bench seat. Luggage and personal accessories can be secured under blue rubber tightening straps. A large number of digital surfaces both inside and outside allow a new level of communication between human and automobile with regard to all aspects of autonomous driving and car sharing. The vehicle’s colours and screens adapt to its customers, offering a private sanctuary in the bustling city. The user is thus also given the possibility to personalise the vehicle and adapt it to their needs.

News from smart

Autonomous concept car smart vision EQ fortwo Welcome to the future of car sharing continued...

About CASE CASE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these letters are shaping the future of mobility. They stand for the fields of networking (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric). The four CASE fields are an integral part of the corporate strategy of Daimler AG. The aim is to shape intuitive mobility for our customers through intelligent dovetailing of the CASE topics. Mercedes-Benz Cars already plays a leading role in all four areas today. For example, all activities in the area of connectivity are focused on the digital brand Mercedes me, which gives customers access to an extensive and personalised range of services by app, website or straight from their car. On the way to autonomous driving, Mercedes-Benz has for years been a key driver of development and has repeatedly set the benchmark. To this end, the Mercedes engineers use what is known as sensor fusion. The data from different sensors, such as cameras, ultrasound and radar, are intelligently combined and analysed. With smart vision EQ fortwo, the smart brand is also demonstrating what driving without a steering wheel could look like in the future of carsharing. The inventor of the car is already playing a leading role in the field of Sharing & Services. The mobility services used by over 14.5 million people range from freefloating carsharing (car2go) and private peer-to-peer carsharing (Croove), through ride-hailing (mytaxi) to the mobility platform (moovel). Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a holistic approach to powertrain electrification. Apart from the EQ brand with a family of vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is also developing a holistic ecosystem, which, alongside the vehicle itself, also comprises a comprehensive electric mobility offering. This extends from intelligent services and energy storage units for private and commercial customers to charging technologies and sustainable recycling. On the road to emission-free driving Daimler is systematically pursuing a three-lane drive system strategy in order to implement maximum environmental compatibility across all vehicle classes (incl. commercial vehicles, vans) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with an intelligent mix of the latest combustion engines and partial electrification through 48-volt technology, tailor-made EQ Power plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles with battery or fuel cell drive systems. By focussing on CASE Daimler is preparing for the mobility of the future. More at: http://www.daimler.com/CASE

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News from smart

New smart electric drive set to spark interest as UK pricing is revealed

• fortwo electric drive priced from £16,420 (including OLEV grant) • Available in three body styles with up to 100-mile range • On sale now with first customer deliveries due from July The smart electric drive range is now on sale, with prices starting from £16,420 for the smart fortwo electric drive (including OLEV grant of £4,500; total price £20,920 excluding grant). The forfour electric drive is just £16,915 (£21,415 excluding grant), and the unique fortwo cabriolet electric drive starts at £18,650 (£23,060 excluding grant). This makes smart the only brand that offers all its models with either combustion engines or fully electric drivetrains. The smart electric drive features an 81 hp electric motor powering the rear wheels via a single-speed gearbox. The electric drive has a range of up to 100 miles, while its maximum speed is electronically limited to 80 mph to maximise the range. The standard 7 kW on-board charger means the smart electric drive can be charged in 2.5 hours using a 16 A charger or just six hours via a standard three-pin household socket (20 per cent to 100 per cent). All models have a top speed of 81 mph and can travel from 0 to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds. Specification is based on the well-equipped prime model, which includes heated front seats, cruise control, leather upholstery and 15-inch alloy wheels. Every electric drive model also comes with charging cables for both domestic sockets and public charging stations; rear parking sensors; smart media system with satellite navigation; and an acoustic ambient sound generator. The sound generator creates an artificial engine sound when the vehicle is moving at low speeds to make its presence known to pedestrians and other road users. For just £595 customers can add the premium plus equipment line, which includes ambient lighting; centre armrest; LED headlights and tail lights; front fog lamps; automatic lights and wipers; and rear view camera. The electric drive design package is available from £595 and adds a tridion cell and mirror caps in electric green; body panels in either black or white with matching grille; 16-inch alloys; and ‘ED’ decals in grey. A heated steering wheel, heated rear seats (forfour only) and additional door and cockpit insulation are part of the winter package, which costs £295 on fortwo models and £495 on the forfour. Customers can also access the smart control app, which allows the user to view the vehicle’s charging status, and pre-set the climate control via a smartphone. For more information on the smart range, or to find a local retailer, please visit: uk.smart.com. Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

smart launches new special edition BRABUS fortwo coupé and forfour models in collaboration with Disturbing London

• Prices for the fortwo coupé start at £15,895 • Available to buy from www.smartcarsonline.co.uk, smart retailers or Pop-Up shops • On sale now with first cars arriving from July smart has launched the new BRABUS sport fortwo coupé and forfour Disturbing London editions. Prices will start from £15,895 for the fortwo coupé and £16,390 for the forfour. Production is limited, but customers can now place their orders via www.smartcarsonline.co.uk, or any smart retailer or Pop-Up shop. Based on the BRABUS sport model line, the special editions feature black paint with rose gold exterior and interior detailing. Both models come with a 90 hp turbocharged petrol engine and six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. BRABUS detailing, rear parking sensors and the Premium equipment line are all standard. The Premium equipment line includes smart media package; height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat; and electrically-adjustable exterior mirrors.

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The special editions are inspired by smart’s collaboration with Disturbing London, the 360 entertainment company founded by Dumi Oburota and Tinie Tempah. The company designed its own unique BRABUS fortwo coupé and fortwo cabriolet which will be unveiled at an exclusive event on 12 July. The smart and Disturbing London collaboration was launched in 2015 with a series of short online documentaries. This latest collaboration brings the Disturbing London brand and its spirit of independent, disruptive entrepreneurialism to smart’s environmentally aware, metropolitan audience. Krishan Bodhani, Head of smart UK, said: “The two cars that are the culmination of our collaboration with Disturbing London look incredible. I am delighted we have been able to build on this already successful partnership: it’s a testament to the authenticity and credibility of our relationship that we are able to offer a limited production run of smart Disturbing London special edition models that we know will appeal to our smart audience.”

Issue 36 - 2017 - 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 36credit - 2017 - 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 11th November 2017 from 11:00 AM. Ace Cafe London, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London. NW10 7UD

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

East Kent Smarties Meet 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm. The King & Queen, 1 New Road, East Malling, Kent, ME19 6DD Hampshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire & Yorkshire Smart Meets Groups and meetings in these areas. We’ll publicise the dates and location on our Facebook page. Invicta Smart Club For more details visit Invicta Smart Club on: Facebook, Instagram or at www.invictasmartclub.com or email team@invictasmartclub.com

2 1 5

Please note that as many of the above meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.

Simply Smart Annual meet at Beaulieu. Sunday 12th November 2017 from 10.00am. Beaulieu National Motor Museum, New Forest, Hampshire, SO42 7ZN Smart Car Southwest Regular monthly meets. Check facebook for more information. https://www.facebook.com/groups/smartcarsouthwest/

Sussex Smarts Sunday Breakfast 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) Wessex Smarts Regular monthly meets. Check facebook for more information. https://www.facebook.com/Wessex-Smarts-695819550518554/

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 2017 and global Daimler media © 2017 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 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

15 years of smart BRABUS Added dynamism for the city smart-BRABUS GmbH is a joint venture between smart and BRABUS and stands for premium automotive refinement. To mark this anniversary, smart is releasing an exclusive “15th anniversary edition” special model (fuel consumption, combined: 4.6-4.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 104-96 g/km; alternatively electrical consumption, combined: 12.9 kW/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 0 g/km) in a limited edition of 150 vehicles. A special feature is the individual paint finish in anniversary silver.

The 50:50 joint venture between smart and BRABUS was established in March 2002. The CEO of smart-BRABUS GmbH is BRABUS founder Bodo Buschmann. The smart BRABUS 1st Edition is presented at the Geneva Motor Show - initially as a design study. By June 2002 things had moved on: the 1st Edition became available in both coupé and cabrio form. Its distinguishing characteristics include an engine that has been uprated to 52 kW (70 hp), a sporty body kit and exclusive interior appointments featuring leather and carbon fibre. It is produced in a limited edition of 500 vehicles. This recipe for success has been systematically followed and developed over the ensuing 15 years: smart BRABUS is synonymous with sports cars for the city. With added output, sporty suspension components and an exclusive look, both inside and out. Since March 2012, the more unusual customer requests have been met on an even more individual basis by smart BRABUS tailor made. smart boss Annette Winkler says: “ 15 years of smart BRABUS – a truly successful example of how major industry and smaller companies can work together in a way that allows each of them to display their individual strengths. The result is a company that is passionate about cars and about smart; highly competent, creative and really fast at turning ideas round. This anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate countlessly many one-off smarts, a vast amount of fun at the wheel, our enthusiastic customers and commercial success.” BRABUS CEO Bodo Buschmann: “15 years of cooperation with smart have meant, for us, 15 years of creativity, joy and success. The idea of the exclusive small car has prevailed.”

Anniversary marked by an exclusive gem: the “15th anniversary edition” The defining characteristics of smart BRABUS are evident in the exclusive edition model released by smart BRABUS to celebrate 15 years of collaboration. The smart BRABUS “15th anniversary edition” looks stunning. The hallmarks of the edition model are its comprehensive package of appointments as well as its individual paint finish in anniversary silver and its tailor made leather package for the interior in espresso brown. The elegant, sporty and, of course, especially exclusive edition model is available as a fortwo coupé or cabrio and with a choice of two turbocharged engines (66 kW and 80 kW; fuel consumption, combined: 4.6 4.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 104-96 g/km) as well as in an electric drive variant (60 kW, coupé only; electrical consumption, combined: 12.9 kW/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 0 g/km). The special model will be produced in a limited edition of 150 units. It is available to order with immediate effect, with the first vehicles due to arrive with dealers towards the end of the year.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

About BRABUS BRABUS celebrates its 40th anniversary this year: the company was formed on 4 November 1977 by Bodo Buschmann. What started 40 years ago as an exclusive little tuning business in Bottrop is now the largest and most well-known customiser of Mercedes-Benz cars anywhere in the world. The company now employs more than 450 people in Germany, and a further 2500 around the world. “The fact that we have this year for the eleventh time won the BEST BRAND Award, as voted by readers of the specialist magazine “auto motor und sport”, is further evidence that we here at BRABUS are continuing to develop outstanding supercars and products and to sell them extremely successfully all over the world,” says CEO and honorary professor Bodo Buschmann delightedly. “Being voted the most popular tuning brand once again also makes my team and me even more determined to continue working as hard as ever to meet the high expectations that the customers and friends of our company have of us, in every single respect.”

From the first of its kind to one of a kind:

Individualisation is one of smart’s great strengths smart BRABUS tailor made is correspondingly successful: launched seven years ago, the individualisation programme has now become established throughout Europe as well as in the USA and China. “Anything is possible” is the motto of the smart BRABUS tailor made individualisation programme. With paint finishes in a vast array of different colours, as well as leather and Dinamica in a total of more than 30 basic colours, creative customers are able to configure a smart that fully reflects their own ideas. A number of attractive tailor made packages facilitate the search for that special style. The hand-finished leather appointments in the tailor made leather package are unique in the small car segment and comprise customised leather on the seats, dashboard and door centre panels with an individually chosen seam line. With the interior colour package (€699), on the other hand, the trims around the instrument cluster, dashboard instrument and the rings of the air vents and accent trim parts on the dashboard are painted in a colour of the customer’s choice. The interior style package rounds off the exclusive design of the interior with a BRABUS shift lever knob and a BRABUS hand brake lever, along with BRABUS door sills and BRABUS sports pedals.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

The tailor made exterior style package gives the exterior of the smart fortwo a sporty, individual look. Among other features it includes a BRABUS front spoiler, side skirts, a roof spoiler and a BRABUS rear diffuser, as an option in conjunction with a BRABUS sports exhaust system. The exclusive BRABUS Monoblock VIII 16-inch/16-inch alloy wheels round off the sporty exterior of the vehicles. The smart BRABUS tailor-made models are made-to-measure in the truest sense of the word. This means that they are individually customised with masterly craftsmanship using top quality materials tested by the manufacturer – with a full manufacturer’s guarantee.

News from smart

The “15th anniversary edition” An exclusive gem Elegant, sporty and, of course, especially exclusive, appropriately describe the edition model created by smart BRABUS in celebration of 15 years of collaboration. The smart BRABUS “15th anniversary edition” is available as a fortwo coupé and cabrio and with a choice of two turbocharged engines (66 kW and 80 kW; fuel consumption, combined: 4.6-4.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 104-96 g/km) as well as in an electric drive variant (60 kW, coupé only; electrical consumption, combined: 12.9 kW/100 km; CO2 emissions, combined: 0 g/km). The hallmarks of the edition model are its comprehensive package of appointments as well as its individual paint finish in anniversary silver and its tailor made leather package for the interior in espresso brown. The special model will be produced in a limited edition of 150 units. It is available to order with immediate effect, with the first vehicles due to arrive with dealers towards the end of the year.

The smart BRABUS “15th anniversary edition” looks stunning: the bodypanels as well as the tridion safety cell are painted in a very special shade of silver, appropriately enough called “anniversary silver (shiny)”. It also features the tailor made exterior style package, comprising: • front spoiler painted in “anniversary silver”, with contrasting element painted in “high-gloss deep black”

• side skirts painted in “anniversary silver”, with contrasting element painted in “high-gloss deep black”

Exquisite interior in “espresso” leather The edition models are based on the equipment line passion (electric drive and 66 kW version) or BRABUS (80 kW). On top of this they feature the tailor made leather package in “espresso” (to match the soft top of the cabrio) with • BRABUS Xclusive sports seats in brown leather with a silver seam to complement the exterior paintwork and special “anniversary

diamond” quilting; “15th anniversary” is embroidered into the head restraints

• BRABUS rear diffuser painted in “high-gloss deep black”

• door centre panels and dashboard in brown leather with silver

• tailor made rear diffuser painted in “high-gloss deep black”

• steering wheel in brown leather (partially perforated) with silver

made sports exhaust system with central tailpipe finishers

• tailor made velour floor mats with “15th anniversary” embroidery

(for models with 80 kW) or

(for 66 kW & electric drive); the 66 kW version also features a tailor • roof edge spoiler painted in “high-gloss deep black” (for coupé) • third brake light with smoked glass effect • mirror covers in carbon fibre look

• mirror triangle logo: “15th anniversary” in silver/black.

• alloy wheels painted high-gloss deep black (80 kW version:

Monoblock IX 16-inch/17-inch front/rear wheels; 66 kW version and electric drive: Monoblock VIII 16-inch/16-inch front/rear wheels)

• tailor made soft top in brown (cabrio).

seam

seam and central boss

and brown leather edging

The anniversary models also feature the tailor made interior style package and the tailor made interior colour package with • aluminium DCT shift lever knob in “espresso” leather including

the engraved words “15 years of experience 2002 - 2017” and the number of the specific model (e.g. 001/150) in the knob cap,

• hand brake lever in “espresso” leather and with aluminium trim,

• BRABUS stainless steel door sills with carbon-fibre-look edging • DCT shift paddles in matt silver/chrome (80 kW & 66 kW only) • Dashboard instrument, speedometer ring, air vent surrounds

and steering wheel bezel painted in “anniversary shiny silver”;

dashboard tray in carbon fibre look (to match outside mirrors and door sills).

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

In additional, all models feature the Stowage Space package, centre armrest, heated seats and dashboard instrument as standard. fortwo coupé 66 kW

fortwo cabrio 66 kW

fortwo coupé 80 kW

fortwo cabrio 80 kW

fortwo coupé electric drive

Number of cylinders/arrangement

3/in-line

Displacement (cc)

898

Rated output (kW/hp)

898

66/90

80/109

at rpm

5500

5750

Rated torque (Nm)

135

170

160

at rpm

2500

2000

urban

5.0

4.9

5.2

extra-urban

3.6

4.1

4.3

combined

4.1

4.5

4.6

12,91

Combined CO2 emissions (g/km)

102

104

Efficiency class

A+

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)

11.3

9.5

11.5

Maximum speed (km/h)

155

165

130

NEDC fuel consumption (l/100 km)

66/90 5500 135

3.8 4.2 97 B

11.7 155

Figures for vehicles with twinamic. 1 Electrical consumption, combined, in kW/100 km

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

News from smart

smart introduces new entry-level pure model

• New smart pure priced from £9,995 for fortwo coupé • Prices for the forfour start at £10,490 • On sale now with first deliveries due from July The new smart pure, available in both fortwo coupé and forfour body styles, is now on sale with prices starting from £9,995. The pure model line comes with a 1.0-litre petrol engine with an output of 71 hp, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 94 mph, and emits just 97 g/km of CO2 while achieving a combined fuel economy of 67.3 mpg combined. Standard equipment includes 15-inch wheels; electric windows; remote locking; smart audio system; electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors; height-adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat; black tridion cell and grille; black fabric upholstery; and halogen headlamps with LED daytime running lamps. Automatic climate control is optionally available for £575. Both fortwo and forfour models are also available in a choice of nine body colours. For more information on the smart range, or to find a local retailer, please visit: uk.smart.com.

smart UK Retailer Initiative We’re delighted to announce that smart of Sheffield, smart of York, 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.

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

4two Cup

At the time of writing, Rounds 9 and 10 of the 4two cup at Thruxton have just completed with a couple of thrilling races over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd September. Full results are shown below and we move towards Rounds 11 and 12 due to take place at Silverstone on 7th and 8th October. As always, you can follow the events via The smart Racing Club web site where results from qualifying and all races are published within minutes of completion. Race 1 Results - Saturday 2nd September

Qualifying Results - Saturday 2nd September

Position (4twocup)

Num

Driver

Best

Time

Laps

Turner, D

1:42.218

15:42.892

Horrobin, S

1:41.575

15:43.218

Palmer, A

1:42.147

15:43.455

Nash, D

1:42.844

15:46.311

Palmer, J

1:48.181

16:45.041

Needham, S

1:54.834

15:57.364

Weir, I

1:57.151

16:05.034

Coverdale, S

1:46.852

16:55.678

Woodhead, A 2:06.023

15:20.187

Race 2 Results - Sunday 3rd September

Grid (4twocup)

Num

Driver

Best

Laps

Position (4twocup)

Num

Driver

Best

Time

Laps

Palmer, A

1:43.186

Horrobin, S

1:43.563

15:14.393

Turner, D

1:43.190

Turner, D

1:44.006

15:24.365

Nash, D

1:43.875

Nash, D

1:47.908

15:30.146

Horrobin, S

1:46.314

Palmer, A

1:43.312

15:30.256

Coverdale, S

1:46.711

Coverdale, S

1:42.036

16:20.991

Palmer, J

1:50.295

Palmer, J

1:43.147

16:49.755

Needham, S

1:56.198

Woodhead, A 1:48.124

16:53.219

Weir, I

1:59.467

Weir, I

2:02.435

15:10.828

Woodhead, A 2:01.563

Needham, S

2:05.713

16:26.210

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 36 - 2017 - 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 25

Patent Pending No 1514897.6

News from smart

smart times 2017 in Salou: 2869 smart fans celebrated on the Costa Dorada

Salou | Stuttgart. Under the banner “Electrify Your Life” on 16 and 17 June 2017 2869 smart fans from 32 countries came together for this year’s smart times in the Spanish coastal town of Salou. The worldwide smart fan community celebrated their cult brand and its diversity with music, a smart flea market, a special driving circuit, outings together and test drives of the new smart electric drive models. The highlight was the traditional closing parade. 532 smart vehicles drove in a convoy through the coastal town of Salou and along the Costa Dorada through tourist hotspots and picturesque fishing villages. For the 17th time smart invited smart fans to the largest international gathering of the smart community. For a whole weekend the smart fans celebrated their passion for the perfect city car and the spirit of the urban trend brand. They compared notes with designers, tuners and experts, got to know smart clubs from around the world and discovered the region of Catalonia and the city of Barcelona on excursions. Highlights of this year’s programme included a live performance by the Australian electronic music duo Nervo and test drives of the electric smart models . The smart fans were thrilled by 100 percent driving fun coupled with zero local emissions. smart is the only car manufacturer to offer its entire model range with both conventional and batteryelectric drive. Next year the international smart community is invited to celebrate the 20th birthday of the cult brand at an anniversary event at smart’s production facility in Hambach, France. Facts & figures – smart times 2017 16 and 17 June 2017 in Salou, Spain 2869 participants from around the world 532 smart vehicles in the parade 26

4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website

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

66969.99.9.5955 £££ r r i i a a p p aaa pair

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using usingcode code‘BUY10’ ‘BUY10’ Visit Visitthe thewebsite websitetotoredeem. redeem.

ToTofind findout outmore moreplease pleasevisit visitthe thewebsite websiteor orcontact contactRob RobLeake Leake please visit the website or contact Rob Leake 07964 07964684264 684264 |||info@bobprotector.com info@bobprotector.com 684264 info@bobprotector.com

www.bobprotector.com www.bobprotector.com

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Event Review

smart time 2017

smart times 2017 delivered…sun, sea, sand, Celsius, spectacle, success and, of course, smarts ….everywhere!

Having travelled over 2000km since leaving home, over 40 UK smart owners and enthusiasts joined more than 2800 people from 32 countries across the smart community at the beautiful beach location of Salou, Spain.

The event had promised a lot and anticipation was super high. The previous beach related smart times event was in 2014 in Cascais, Portugal and that had been hugely successful. However, Salou did not disappoint. The main Salou beach promenade, lying between the sea and the ‘Passeig de Jaume 1’, was already lined with smarts more than 48 hours before the official opening on Friday 16th June. It was a spectacular welcoming scene with the cars (fortwo, crossblade, Roadster and forfour) lined beneath the palm trees that were doing their best to cast a little shade from the blazing sun. Most of us used the ‘Monument a Jaume 1’ (a huge monolithic structure) as a rendezvous point in the middle of the promenade. This monument also acted as the dividing point between the parked cars and the official marquees for BRABUS, the electric drive cars ready for test, third party retailers and the very popular smart Service truck.

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Of course, smart times Is not only about excursions. There were around 30 electric drive smarts to test, a range of other 453s and BRABUS models on show in addition to a test track where one could really experience the handling and turning circle of the new 453s.

For those of us arriving earlier in the week, a range of genuinely wonderful excursions had been organised and were proving super popular. The first of these, on Wednesday, was a drive from Salou up to the ancient town of Reus for some great photo opportunities and then back down to the beautiful coastal fishing village of Cambrils before returning to Salou. Thursday saw two further excursions, again, well organised. The morning took us to the stunning city of Barcelona, about one hour north of Salou. Late afternoon brought an excursion to PortAventura situated just above Salou – famous for its theme park including a blast on the amazing rollercoaster! Then into Friday and, with temperatures still in the mid 30s, many of us took the opportunity to challenge themselves on the pedalos in the sea or relax on the beach. The fourth excursion to Tarragona, a short drive up the coast from Salou was a superb excursion providing an opportunity to take in the ancient ruins of the Roman empire and the impressive amphitheatre overlooking the sea. Returning to Salou later that day, the famous smart times competitions took place and we were delighted to see the UK win first place in the ‘craziest smart’ content with Sue Toogood’s fortwo.

The beach venue had a wide range of bars and restaurants along the main street, a bar and bistro on the beach, a huge range of sun beds (both in and out the sun) and one of the most technologically impressive event stages I have seen in a long, long time (evidenced by the huge number of generators subtly tucked away from sight).

And so, it came to Friday evening. Dr Annette Winkler launched with a number of smart clubs on stage including the UK. I had spent two months compiling a three minute video involving over 10 clubs and groups within the UK involving and more than 30 people all lip-syncing to a traditional Beatles song. It looked fantastic on the huge LED wall and helped start what was a successful smart times weekend. Later that evening Dr Winkler welcomed the Nations from around the world on stage to formally open smart times 2017. Naomi Campbell was our flag carrier representing the UK in her own Roadster accompanied by Sobbin Han from South Korea. There is no doubt that when all Nations had arrived on stage, the spectacle of the people, lights and flags really did demonstrate a united, global community. The music on stage concluded the Friday night with participants returning to bars and hotels prior to a full day’s activities planned for the next day.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

Event Review

smart time 2017 continued...

The Saturday evening concluded with gathering the smart times organisational teams and personnel on stage for a formal thank you – the planning, challenges and ultimate success of smart times is always underestimated and it’s a testament to their success there were so many smiling faces throughout smart times 2017. Prior to handing over to the feature act DJ Nervo, Dr Winkler announced that the 20th anniversary event for smart times 2018 would take place in Hambach, France, the birthplace of smart manufacturing and, of course, thesmartclub will be there.

Saturday saw cars lining up for the famous corso parade – many cars had been parked there for more than one day to grab a space near the front! On stage, a number of break-dance performances followed by an impressive audio competition by JBL kept the party atmosphere running before the start of the corso parade in the afternoon. As you will have read from my previous smart times blogs, one of the most popular aspects of these parade drives is the point at which the cars loop back to pass each-other on the way back to the finish venue. Salou was exceptional with more than 500 cars taking part in what was the longest distance of simultaneously opposing smart traffic for any previous smart times event. It was genuinely magical and, with very few parts of the road with any central island area, cars could pass each-other with ‘high fives’ en route. International smart community driving at its best.

smart times is, and has always been, about the smart community coming together – perhaps the only such chance for smart owners and enthusiasts to celebrate the brand, ownership and the common link that brings us together from across the world once per annum. Salou was wonderful and I’d personally like to thank everyone involved in making the 2017 event so successful. Photos by Al Young, Naomi Cole, Ione Saunders and Mark Bloomfield.

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Join in. Call now for a quote on 0345 603 3330 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. For mutual security calls are recorded and monitored for training purposes.

Issue 36 - 2017 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk

smart – A Daimler Brand.

Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker ÂŠ 2017 32

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