ISSUE 37 - 2018
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
1
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.
2
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 Welcome to the latest issue of ‘4site’, our smart magazine dedicated to smart car owners and enthusiasts.
In this quarter’s issue of ‘4site: News from smart World premiere at the IAA 2017 BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept
Al Young Editor, Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd thesmartclub ltd. 1 Corbiehill Park Edinburgh EH4 5EQ UK Tel: +44 (0) 8452 990332
2018 sees us swing into the 20th Anniversary year of smart and you can read the provisional details of what we have planned regarding Hambach, France to celebrate this anniversary later in this magazine – indeed, we are also delighted to announce we’ll be building in a visit to the BRABUS smart facilities in Bottrop, Germany in the days leading up to the smart 20th Anniversary on Saturday 30th June. The new year also brings us a new season of races within the 4twocup, provisional dates and venues for which are also shown in this issue. We also must apologise for an error contained in the final paragraph of Page 29 of Issue 36 of ‘4site’ and, as you will have gathered, our flag carrier in Salou representing the UK was Naomi Cole! Behind the scenes, we’ve been working hard to review the information we provide to you, our Members and readers of ‘4site’. When thesmartclub launched back in June 2000 we had just over 40 Members and a simple MessageBoard for sharing information. Facebook and twitter did not exist and with over 33,000 people now using our online services the demand for sharing news and views has grown. Indeed, five years ago, 79% of our Membership had access to, and used, our online services. This has now grown to over 99% as more and more people move to the digital and mobile world. To this end, I am delighted to say that, at long last, we’ll be launching an online platform for all our back issues of ‘4site’ smart magazine and it’s highly likely that future issues of ‘4site’ will also move onto this online platform providing you with access to content (current and past) wherever you are, whenever you require that information. We will still maintain our quarterly main frequency of publication but the new platform will also allow Retailers and other areas of the smart community to bring you updates, news and offers throughout the year. We’ll have more news about this during March and April this year.
4
BRABUS ULTIMATE 125: The ultimate city sports car
8
BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN”
12
smart at the International Motor Show 2017 Experience the future for yourself
14
Mercedes-Benz Cars at the Tokyo 20 Motor Show - An array of Asia premieres from autonomous city car to Formula One technology Johannes Vetter is the best sportsperson 21 2017 and receives a smart electric drive smart ready to drop+: Pilot test in Hamburg Now postboxes are becoming fully mobile
22
help my smart
2
Regular Local Meetings
18
thesmartclub Shop
18
smart UK Retailer Initiative
23
smart times 2018 24 thesmartclub and 20th Anniversary of smart Dealership News Moving on up
26
Regional Club News
27
4two Cup 28 Product Review smart 453 aftermarket armrest Event Review Simply Smart 2017 Advertisers JCMotorhomes smart of Edinburgh smart of Wolverhamption
29
30 2 31 16/17
Of course, 4site is always about you and your smart. We know there is always great interest from our readers about articles contributed by you, a smart owner and you can contact myself or any member of the team at any time if you have a story about you and your smart you would like to share. Best wishes Al Al Young Chairman & Managing Director thesmartclub ltd
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
3
News from smart
World premiere at the IAA 2017 BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept BRABUS shows the concept of an exclusive electric city sports car with 150 kW / 204 HP, 350 Nm of torque, 0 – 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h in cooperation with Kreisel Electric “Electric city sports cars must primarily be fun. This includes breathtaking and virtually silent acceleration paired with a sufficient range,” says BRABUS CEO Prof. h.c. Bodo Buschmann. 150 kW / 204 HP (201 bhp), 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque, 0 – 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). A strikingly styled bright yellow body running on 18inch forged wheels, and a luxurious interior crafted from the finest blue leather: On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com), the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept celebrates its world premiere at the IAA 2017 in Frankfurt am Main. The concept vehicle of an exclusive city sports car with electric powertrain was built based on the current smart fortwo coupe. The transverse electric motor behind the rear axle gets its power supply from a lithium-ion battery pack installed in the vehicle floor. It has a capacity of 22 kWh and delivers a maximum range of 160 kilometers (100 miles) in the NEDC standard cycle. The BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept was developed and built by BRABUS ZERO EMISSION. Since 2008, this business division of BRABUS Group has been working on alternative powertrains. As a competent development partner for this project, BRABUS ZERO EMISSION was able to enlist Kreisel Electric from Austria. The BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept is currently in the roadtesting phase. If there is sufficient customer interest, the equally innovative and attractive electric city sports car could be built in small-series production in the near future. For four decades, BRABUS has been considered one of the top addresses worldwide for exclusive high-performance vehicles. The BRABUS ZERO EMISSION business division of the company holding the status of automobile manufacturer with the German Federal Department of Motor Vehicles deals with the development of vehicle concepts for cars with alternative powertrains. The Bottrop-based company continues its long-standing tradition of developing and producing exclusive city sports cars based on the smart fortwo with the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept and an alternative powertrain concept.
4
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The platform for the innovative concept car is the smart fortwo coupe of the current generation. As in all smart vehicles, the BRABUS ZERO EMISSION high-performance electric motor is installed behind the rear axle in a transverse layout. The power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. The electric motor of the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept produces 150 kW / 204 HP (201 bhp) and propels the two-seater from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds. The vehicle has a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). Despite the performance potential, which for a microcar is enormous, the electric powertrain is particularly eco-friendly because it is carbon-neutral. As per NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), the consumption is just 13.9 kWh per 100 km (62 miles). The range is more than adequate for the predominant area of use of the concept car, the urban environment.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
5
News from smart
World premiere at the IAA 2017 BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept continued...
Depending on the driving style, the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept has a range of 190 kilometers (118 miles) or 158 kilometers (98 miles) in the NEDC standard cycle on a single battery charge. This comes courtesy of the ‘High-Efficiency Battery Power’ technology from Kreisel Austria. The compact 22-kWh lithium-ion pack of the Austrian specialists was tailored to fit the compact body of the smart fortwo perfectly. At the same time, the energy storage unit is nonetheless particularly light. As a result, the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept has a curb weight of just 1,085 kilograms (2,392 lbs.). Another advantage of this state-of-theart battery technology is the short charging time. On a wall box charger in the garage at home, an 80 percent charge takes just 30 minutes.
However, the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept impresses not only with its eco-friendly high-performance powertrain. The design of the city sports car stands out from the crowd as well! The concept car is striking with its bright yellow special paint finish and its thrilling BRABUS WIDESTAR bodywork, which is exclusively reserved for the BRABUS ULTIMATE special models. The widebody version has a sporty and dynamic design with fender flares at the front and rear axle. They create space for the 18-inch wide-base tires, extremely unusual for an electric car of this size. Using hi-tech forging technology, tailor-made and especially lightweight BRABUS Monoblock Y wheels are produced for the current ULTIMATE supercars based on the latest smart generation. With the front wheel weighing just 6.7 kilograms (14.7 lbs.) and the rear wheel just 7.1 kilograms (15.6 lbs.), the BRABUS Monoblock Y wheels for the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept are among the lightest 18-inch wheels on the market. A crucial part in this is played by the filigree design with nine spokes tapering off towards the outer rim flange in the shape of a “Y.” Thanks to the widebody version, the vehicle can be equipped at the front with 7Jx18 wheels shod with 205/35 R 18 highperformance tires. On the rear axle, size 235/30 R 18 tires on eight-inch-wide wheels provide optimal traction and agile handling.
6
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
For the concept car on display in Frankfurt, these hi-tech wheels were painted high-gloss black with yellow highlights matching the body. The BRABUS suspension was tailored specifically to the vehicle weight of the electric car, the ultra-low-profile tires, and the wider track. It combines sporty and safe handling with the desired ride quality. Of course, there is more to the widebody version than just wider fenders. It also includes aerodynamic-enhancement components developed in the wind tunnel, such as a front spoiler, rocker panels, and rear diffuser. This component was fabricated for the electric car in a special version that features a centered light that shows when the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept is in energy recovery mode. As a contrast to the bright yellow outer skin, the BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept was fitted in the company upholstery shop with a BRABUS fine leather interior in blue BRABUS Mastik leather, which is especially soft and breathable. It includes not only the seats and the inner sections of the two door panels as well as the A- and C-pillars, but also the dashboard. The elaborate details of this exclusive all-leather interior include decorative stitching and honeycomb quilting with pinpoint accuracy. Details such as the gauge for displaying the state of charge sitting on top of the dashboard, the clock, and the air vent surrounds were painted to match the vehicle color. The surround of the instrument cluster, the turn signal and wiper stalks as well as the door handle recesses were also painted an eye-popping yellow.
The BRABUS stainless pedals and the aluminum shift knob and emergency brake lever add a touch of racing flair to the cockpit. In addition, this concept car is fitted with tailor-made scuff plates with BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept logo, which like the stainless footrest in the driver footwell are backlit alternatingly in white or red. Stylish velour floor mats with BRABUS logo complete the classy ambience. Of course, the concept car is equipped with modern comfort features such as climate control, sound system and navigation system. The BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept is on exhibit at the IAA 2017 in Frankfurt am Main to demonstrate the competence of BRABUS ZERO EMISSION in the development of vehicles with alternative powertrains. Another aspect of the presentation is market research. The aim is to determine in direct contact with the public whether the demand is strong enough to build this exclusive electric city sports car in small-series production.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
About Kreisel Electric: Driven by the vision to integrate the electric powertrain into all areas of mobility, Kreisel Electric develops the lightest and most efficient high-performance batteries in the world. The range of projects spans from electric karts and passenger vehicles to buses, trucks, boats and airplanes, as well as to stationary energy storage solutions.
The crucial aspects of the performance of the Kreisel battery technology are the special assembly and the innovative thermal management. In 2016, the company presented its stationary energy storage unit, followed by an innovative quick-charging station in 2017. To meet the global demand for battery packs, Kreisel Electric inaugurated a new company headquarters complete with a production line in Rainbach in Upper Austria in 2017. Electricity consumption and efficiency class: BRABUS ULTIMATE E Concept based on the smart fortwo coupe: electric energy consumption NEDC with wall box charger: 13.9 kWh / 100 km, electric energy consumption NEDC (Hybrid/ BEV) as per ECE-R101: 14 kWh / 100 km, efficiency class A+.
7
News from smart
BRABUS ULTIMATE 125: The ultimate city sports car Limited-edition city sports cars that are as exclusive as they are dynamic have a successful history at BRABUS. For this reason, BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) offers a power two-seater for the city: The BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 is built based on the smart fortwo or the smart fortwo cabrio. As the name indicates, this two-seater is a supercar with an output of 92 kW / 125 HP (123 bhp) and a top speed of 175 km/h (109 mph), built in a limited production run of just 125 consecutively numbered vehicles. The BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 continues an equally long and successful tradition. It began in 2004 with the ULTIMATE 101, the first limited edition of the special models from BRABUS, which all sold out completely. The success story continued with the equally popular editions of the ULTIMATE 112, ULTIMATE R, ULTIMATE style and ULTIMATE 120. The new BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 city sports car is the first vehicle in this line to be based on the new smart fortwo generation. The exclusive equipment ranges from the special paint finish tailored to customer preferences and the WIDESTAR widebody version with forged BRABUS Monoblock Y 18-inch wheels to the exclusive all-leather interior in any imaginable color. Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for a BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 start at 54,900 euros. At the IAA 2017 in Frankfurt am Main, BRABUS presents an entire fleet of ULTIMATE 125 city sports cars with different special paint finishes and equally colorful interiors. All vehicles of the small-series production run, with or without soft top, have one thing in common: the thrilling BRABUS WIDESTAR widebody! As the name indicates, it is a widebody version with flared fenders at the front and rear axle, which create space for 18-inch wheels at all four corners. The largest consequently possible tire/wheel combination is beyond unusual for a car of this category. The BRABUS Monoblock Y forged wheels with nine spokes tapering off towards the outer rim flange in the shape of a “Y” are fitted on the front axle in size 7Jx18 and shod with size 205/35 R 18 high-performance tires. Size 8Jx18 wheels with 235/30 R 18 tires at the rear put down the power of the engine on the asphalt with optimal efficiency. Weighing just 6.7 and 7.1 kilograms (14.7 and 15.6 lbs.) respectively, the BRABUS Monoblock Y wheels for the ULTIMATE 125 are some of the lightest 18-inch wheels on the market worldwide. The show cars in Frankfurt display these exclusive wheels in a wide variety of special color schemes.
8
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The lowered BRABUS sport suspension is specifically tuned to the ultra-low-profile tires and the wider track. It combines direct and equally safe and agile handling with the desired ride quality. The BRABUS designers round off the sporty appearance of the widebody version with a front spoiler, rocker panels, and rear diffuser, all manufactured from PUR in OEM quality.
Issue 37 - 2017 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
9
News from smart
BRABUS ULTIMATE 125: The ultimate city sports car continued... The dynamic driving experience is accompanied acoustically by the BRABUS stainless sport exhaust system, which was designed specifically for the new special model. The BRABUS ULTIMATE diffuser provides the perfect backdrop for the three center-exiting chromed tailpipes. Every ULTIMATE 125 also features exquisite highlights in the cockpit. Large parts of the interior of the city supercar are upholstered with especially soft and breathable BRABUS Mastik leather or Alcantara. These high-end materials can be precisely color-coordinated with the vehicle color or finished in contrasting shades.
This prepares the ULTIMATE 125 perfectly for the powerful BRABUS three-cylinder turbo engine. The power unit with a displacement of 898 cc (54.8 cu in) is fitted in the BRABUS engine shop with a modified intake system, an even more efficient intercooler and a recalibrated engine control unit. In keeping with its name, the ultimate city sports car puts a peak output of 92 kW / 125 HP (123 bhp) at 5,550 rpm at the disposal of its driver. However, even more important for daily driving is the peak torque of 200 Nm (148 lb-ft), outstanding for a car of this category and on tap at a low 2,000 rpm. The gears of the BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 are shifted automatically or manually like in Formula 1 racing with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Reprogrammed transmission electronics shorten the shift times. With a sprint time from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) of just 9.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 175 km/h (109 mph), the exclusive city sports car also sets benchmarks in its category in this discipline.
10
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The new design applications include the seats, the center sections of the door panels, and the dashboard. Customers have virtually endless choices with regard to the appointment colors, which can be complemented with colored decorative stitching in any desired color. The variety of precision quilting patterns for the leather is huge as well. Details such as the gauge for the rev counter and clock as well as the air vent surrounds, the instrument cluster bezel, the turn signal and wiper stalks as well as the door handle recesses are finished in vehicle color or any desired contrasting color. This is by no means the end of the variety: The soft top of the cabrio variant of the BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 can also be manufactured in many different colors. The BRABUS stainless pedals plus the aluminum shift knob and emergency brake lever add a touch of racing looks to the cockpit. Other exclusive features of this special model are the tailor-made scuff plates with BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 logo, illuminated in red or white like the stainless footrest in the driver footwell. Classy velour floor mats with BRABUS logo round off the exquisite ambience. Climate control system, radio and navigation system are of course also part of the standard equipment of the exclusive two-door car from Bottrop. The choice of colors for the bodywork to suit the vehicle owner’s preferences is just as endless at BRABUS as the choice of interior design and the color of the soft top. Fuel economy, CO2 emissions and efficiency class BRABUS ULTIMATE 125 based on the smart fortwo: city 5.2 l/100 km, highway 4.1 l/100 km, combined: 4.5 l/100 km. Combined CO2 emissions: 102 g/km, efficiency class B.
Issue 37 - 2017 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
11
News from smart
BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” BRABUS and Sunseeker Germany present a strictly limited city sports car with a maritime flair at the opening of the joint “KÖ90” flagship store on Düsseldorf’s Königsallee On December 15, 2017, BRABUS, manufacturer of and refinement specialist for exclusive high-performance automobiles, and Sunseeker London Group, exclusive agent of the globally renowned yacht builder from Great Britain, celebrated the grand opening of their joint “KÖ90” flagship store in Königsallee 90 in Düsseldorf, Germany. What was more: They also unveiled the first joint luxury car of the two global brands at this event. The exclusive BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” city sports car is built in a strictly limited edition of just ten cars based on the current smart fortwo cabrio. The ideal tender to go with a beautiful Sunseeker luxury yacht.
The exclusive two-seater captivates visually with its elegant metallic blue “Midnight Sapphire” special paintwork with subtle silver Sunseeker labels. In addition, the vehicle is fitted with the BRABUS WIDESTAR widebody featuring forged 18-inch BRABUS Monoblock Y wheels and added sporty emphasis provided by naked-carbon components. The exclusive BRABUS fine leather interior impresses not only with the masterful craftsmanship used to finish the ivory-colored leather: The maritime flair of the new special model is underscored with the precise yachting-design quilting of the seat upholstery, the nautical compass embroidered on the center armrest, and the teakwood flooring for the two footwells and the trunk. As on the bodywork, naked-carbon elements add sporty highlights in the interior as well. The new BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” starts at 59,900 euros MSRP and is sold in the new joint “KÖ90” flagship store of BRABUS and Sunseeker Germany in Düsseldorf. In addition, the special model will be offered at the upcoming “boot 2018” trade fair in Düsseldorf and in all 46 branches of Sunseeker London Group. When two luxury brands such as BRABUS and Sunseeker Germany decide to build an exclusive vehicle, it must of course perfectly combine the sporty genes of a BRABUS supercar with the luxurious ambience of a Sunseeker luxury yacht.
Size 8Jx18 wheels with 235/30 R 18 tires at the rear put down the power of the engine on the asphalt with optimal efficiency. With a weight of just 6.7 for a front rim and 7.1 kilograms for a rear rim (14.7 and 15.6 lbs.), the BRABUS Monoblock Y wheels for this model are some of the lightest 18-inch wheels on the market worldwide. For the BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” special model these wheels were painted black and the surfaces were polished. The lowered BRABUS sport suspension is specifically tuned to the ultra-low-profile tires and the widened track. It combines direct and equally safe and agile handling with the desired ride quality.
Accordingly, the BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” sports a masterful metallic blue “Midnight Sapphire” special paint finish, contrasted at the rear and sides with subtle “Silver Lake Metallic” highlights. While the Sunseeker logo was placed on the rear and the two mirror triangles, a nautical compass on each side of the tridion cell underscores the maritime flair of this exclusive special model. In addition, the vehicle is fitted with the thrilling BRABUS WIDESTAR widebody, which features front and rear fender flares to create space for 18-inch king-sized wheels all around. The BRABUS Monoblock Y forged wheels with nine spokes tapering off towards the outer rim flange in the shape of a “Y” are fitted on the front axle in size 7Jx18 and shod with size 205/35 R 18 high-performance tires.
12
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
The thrilling WIDESTAR widebody of course also includes tailor-made BRABUS aerodynamic-enhancement components such as front spoiler, rocker panels and rear diffuser, all manufactured from PUR in OEM quality. The rear spoiler and the door mirror covers were made from naked carbon explicitly for this special model. The sporty appearance naturally also calls for an agile engine and consequently the BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” is equipped with the most powerful BRABUS variant of the 898cc three-cylinder turbo engine. To realize a peak output of 92 kW / 125 HP (123 bhp) at 5,550 rpm and a peak torque of 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) at a low 2,000 rpm, the BRABUS power unit engineers developed a modified intake system, an even more efficient intercooler, and a recalibrated engine control unit. The BRABUS stainless high-performance exhaust system optimizes the power delivery. What is more: It also produces a sporty exhaust note with its three center-exiting chromed tailpipes. This makes the special model an extremely agile city sports car that accelerates to 50 km/h (31 mph) in just 2.9 seconds. The top speed is limited electronically to 175 km/h (109 mph). The cockpit of the BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” exudes a maritime ambience in a class of its own. In addition to the interior largely upholstered with the finest ivory-colored leather, the two teakwood floor coverings immediately catch the eye. BRABUS of course also offers high-quality velour floor mats to keep them looking like new. The trunk of the two-seater was lined with the same noble wood. The color of the fabric soft top of the open-top city sports car was coordinated precisely with the color of the leather. The seat surfaces and the backs of the two seats feature longitudinal yachting-design quilting applied with pinpoint precision. Other elaborately finished details in the interior also attest to the classy origin of this special model. They include the blue Sunseeker logos matching the exterior color incorporated into the two head restraints and a nautical compass embroidered on the center armrest. In addition, like the bodywork the interior features sporty highlights provided by naked-carbon elements for speedometer, auxiliary gauges, and air vents. Optionally these features can also be ordered with the same “Midnight Sapphire” paint finish as the bodywork, the center section of the steering wheel, and the instrument panel. The BRABUS stainless pedals plus the aluminum shift knob and emergency brake lever add a touch of racing looks to the cockpit. Other exclusive features of this special model are the tailor-made scuff plates with BRABUS logo, alternatingly illuminated in red or white like the stainless footrest in the driver footwell. The Sunseeker logo on the shift knob and the surround of the navigation system in concert with the ‘Limited Edition’ badge add the finishing touches. The first vehicle of the BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” was presented on December 15, 2017 at the grand opening of the new joint “KÖ90” flagship store of BRABUS and Sunseeker Germany. The other nine vehicles of the limited special edition will also be sold in the new branch on Düsseldorf’s Königsallee starting at 59,900 euros. In addition, the new city sports car will be offered at the upcoming “boot 2018” trade fair in Düsseldorf and in all 46 branches of Sunseeker London Group. Fuel economy, CO2 emissions and efficiency class: BRABUS ULTIMATE Sunseeker Limited Edition “ONE OF TEN” based on the smart fortwo cabrio: city 5.2 l/100 km, highway 4.1 l/100 km, combined: 4.5 l/100 km. Combined CO2 emissions: 102 g/ km, efficiency class B.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
13
News from smart
smart at the International Motor Show 2017 Experience the future for yourself
Frankfurt. Interaction with customers is a central focus of smart’s stand in hall 2.0 at the International Motor Show Frankfurt. This includes test drives, the daily Future Talk, the possibility for visitors to create an individual trim part for the smart with an innovative printing process, and the new smart experience e app. In addition, visitors to the stand can experience the future of the automobile for themselves: with the smart vision EQ fortwo, smart is presenting a vision for urban mobility and individualised, highly flexible and efficient public car sharing. Further highlights include vehicles featuring the latest model year modifications and the smart BRABUS “15th anniversary edition”: this special model brings even more dynamism to towns and cities. smart experienc-e app: experience electric mobility interactively. Following the smart fortwo coupé and smart forfour (combined power consumption: 12.9/13.1 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) the smart fortwo cabrio with battery-electric drive (combined power consumption: 13.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) has now been launched. The range of smart electric drive models can be experienced interactively and playfully with the new smart experience e app. 3D model, component scanner and range simulator are the three main functions of the free app for iOS and Android: • 3D model: three-dimensional views of the smart electric drive have touchpoints. If one of these points is selected on a smartphone or tablet PC, films, animations or explanations of the vehicle component or display in question open up. • Component scanner: with the camera of a smartphone components and displays can be scanned directly in the smart electric drive, for example at a motor show or at a dealership. Once the objects have been visually scanned an explanation of the corresponding function follows. • Range simulator: the individual range of the smart electric drive can be calculated here. The simulation considers whether the car is travelling at a low speed through the city or on country roads with a higher average speed. Further parameters such as tyre size, exterior temperature and activation/ deactivation of air conditioning and pre-entry climate control are also included. unleash the colour: individual trim parts thanks to an innovative printing procedure smart fans are creative and love variety. Even now there are barely two smarts that look exactly alike. With unleash the colour smart offers a look at further ways of individualising a smart. For example, at the International Motor Show Frankfurt smart demonstrates how digitalisation and new printing technologies enable individual small series or individual parts to be quickly and easily realised for the interior.
14
The entire process is digitalised – from the first design draft to the finished individual trim part. To start with a configurator app is used to design selected interior trim parts (air vents, instrument cover and multimedia interface panel) with a motif of the customer’s choice. The entire design can be viewed immediately on a tablet and as virtual reality (VR). The design is then optimised for printing and printed in colour and with tactile effects on the surfaces of the real parts. Visitors to the smart stand can choose between two levels of individualisation: • choose provides ideas for quick individualisation with various design suggestions which can be viewed realistically on a tablet and with VR glasses in the virtual vehicle. • create takes personalisation a step further: visitors can photograph a motif of their choice with the camera of the tablet. The configurator transfers the motif virtually to the trim parts and visualises it in real time as virtual reality. This enables the visitor to experience the trim parts personalised with their motif in the car with the help of a tablet and VR glasses.
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Introduced with the smart electric drive, Active Brake Assist will be available as an option in numerous countries from model year 2017, also in conjunction with 52 and 66 kW combustion engines. Active Brake Assist works with radar and from a speed of 30 km/h it emits a warning sound to alert the driver’s attention to the risk of a collision detected with a vehicle driving ahead. Should the driver neither brake nor take evasive action despite the warning signal, the car autonomously initiates slight braking. If the driver reacts by braking, additional braking assistance is provided in this dangerous situation. Active Brake Assist can therefore help to prevent accidents with vehicles ahead or to reduce the severity of any accident.
The digital printer is in the direct vicinity of the smart stand in the Mercedes FabLab (level 1). Here visitors can see how the trim parts are printed and find out about the innovative printing process and the technology. smart at the me Convention A further distinctive feature of the presentation in Frankfurt is the me Convention, a new joint event format by Mercedes-Benz and South by Southwest® (SXSW®). It will take place from 15 – 17 September with the hashtag #createthenew. In the context of this, smart is once again organising the “urban pioneers idea contest”. During the me Convention twelve national and international start-ups will compete against one another with their innovative products in the field of “New Urbanism” and will vie for prize money and the “smart urban pioneers support program”. Young companies can take part which have developed business ideas with very good market potential and a business purpose relating to Urban Living Solutions, Urban Electrical Solutions and Urban Environmental Solutions. The start-ups apply to the jury with a video and present their project during a three minute drive in a smart electric drive on a test track. The jury consists of experts from Daimler and opinion leaders from the start-up scene. The audience can vote for or against the idea in real time, and this is also incorporated in the evaluation. The best rated concepts reach the final round which will take place on the last day of the me Convention. Prizes will be awarded at the me Convention Urban Stage. As well as prize money of €20,000, the winner can look forward to the “smart urban pioneers support program” which accompanies the startup over a period of twelve months with various modules. The second and third winners each receive €10,000 and €5,000. New in the model year: the perfect equipment line and voice-operated control with Siri and Google Now The smart fortwo, smart fortwo cabrio and smart forfour will start the new model year this autumn with numerous upgrades. The cars on display at the International Motor Show feature this extensive update. The perfect equipment line is a new line with a sporty and elegant look in the colours black and brown. Highlights include seats in leather look and fabric in black/brown with brown topstitching and air vents in grey. The new 15 inch alloy wheels painted in black and with a high-sheen finish make a dynamic statement. The perfect equipment line replaces the proxy equipment line.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
The smart Audio-System (in combination with the lines) and the smart Media-System now includes voice-operated smartphone control with Siri (operating system iOS 6 and higher and Google Now (operating system Android 4.1 and higher). The new voiceoperated smartphone control can be activated by pressing and holding the push-to-talk button on the multifunction steering wheel. A further new feature is the improved USB charging socket for the smart Media-System in the centre console. This enables a smartphone to be charged even more quickly. In addition, the Android Auto App can be used with compatible smartphones with a USB connection. Android Auto enables smartphone content to be mirrored on the screen and operated via the touchscreen. The display elements of the navigation function have been modified. In conjunction with the Cool & media package the smart electric drive models additionally get the Charge Spot Finder. This new function enables electricity charging stations nearby or in a certain city to be found with the navigation system.
Exterior paintwork is now available in the new colour “autumn brown”. Furthermore, an automatically dipping rear mirror is available as a new optional extra. An exclusive gem: smart BRABUS “15th anniversary edition” The edition model created by smart BRABUS to celebrate 15 years of collaboration is elegant, sporty and exclusive. 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 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 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.
15
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)
16
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 37credit - 2018 - 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 2 3
Ace Cafe London meet Twice-annual meet at Ace Cafe. Saturday 14th April 2018 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 Gaydon Heritage Motor Museum smarts day out Annual meet at The British Motor Museum. Saturday 14th July 2018 from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. British Motor Museum, Banbury Road, CV35 0BJ Gaydon, Warwickshire 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 4
3
Please note that as many of the above meetings are outside of the direct control of thesmartclub, details and dates may change.
4
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. 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 2018 and global Daimler media © 2018 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 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
19
News from smart
Mercedes-Benz Cars at the Tokyo Motor Show An array of Asia premieres – from autonomous city car to Formula One technology
At the Tokyo International Motor Show from 28 October until 5 November, Mercedes-Benz is providing a glimpse into future mobility with a wide array of Asia premieres. With its Formula One hybrid technology, the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE show car stands for the “Future of Driving Performance”. The smart vision EQ fortwo presents an electric and autonomous solution for highly efficient and flexible local transportation, while the Concept EQA is the first all-electric EQ concept vehicle in the compact segment by Mercedes-Benz. And with pre-production models of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL, the brand with the three-pointed star is showcasing the world’s first electric vehicle with fuel-cell and battery-electric drive. “Japan is extremely important to us. Since 2013, we achieved four record years in a row in this market. Between January and September, we sold more than 50,000 cars here – more than ever before in the first nine months of the year. No wonder Mercedes-Benz remains the most successful premium brand in Japan,” says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “Today’s line-up shows: We have every intention of making the podium in many other important disciplines of the future as well: from an ultra-compact city car to the most powerful engine we’ve ever built; from battery-electric to fuel cell to plug-in hybrid to purebred race technology.” smart vision EQ fortwo – urban mobility at the very highest level Individuality, maximum flexibility and efficiency for local public transport – that’s what the smart vision EQ fortwo stands for, thanks to its swarm intelligence and demand prediction. The self-driving concept vehicle picks up its passengers from their preferred location and is operated entirely by smartphone. 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. It is the first passenger vehicle presented by the Daimler Group to dispense entirely with a steering wheel and pedals. The smart vision EQ fortwo is the also first vehicle to fully represent the individual competences of the CASE strategy – Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Services and Electric.
20
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
News from smart
Johannes Vetter is the best sportsperson 2017 and receives a smart electric drive
Stuttgart. Germany’s most successful top sportspeople have decided: from among their ranks they have voted javelin throw world champion Johannes Vetter “Champion of the Year 2017”. In addition to the coveted award, the winner traditionally receives a smart of his choice. For the 18th time, the urban mobility brand was a premium partner of the event, at which the most successful summer and winter sportspeople of the past year elect their champion. The event was held at the invitation of the German Sports Help Foundation from 23 to 30 September 2017 at the ROBINSON Club Apulia on the south coast of Italy. “smart and top-class sport – the two have been inseparable for years. As an urban lifestyle brand, we have close links with sport. We are delighted once again this year to be a premium partner at the meeting of Germany’s top sportspeople. Joie de vivre and electrifying enthusiasm for exceptional achievements, that is what unites smart and the sport champions”, says Carolin Güthenke, Senior Manager Marketing Communications smart. The participants at this unique event for sportspeople enthusiastically seized the opportunity to thoroughly try out the coupé and cabrio versions of the smart electric drive as well as the four-seater (combined power consumption: 12.9-13.1 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km). smart is the only automotive brand to offer its entire model range with the option of a battery-electric powertrain. The Champion of the Year, Johannes Vetter receives a smart electric drive. In 2017, the 24-year-old professional soldier from Dresden/Germany reached a highlight in his career by winning the javelin throw world championships in London. The reigning world champion is also the German champion and convinced by a successful year. smart – long-standing involvement in top-class sport As part of the company’s sport sponsorship activities, smart supports beach volleyball. The mobility brand has been actively involved in beach volleyball as an event partner for 13 years and supports three top teams from Germany, Austria and Italy.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
Among them are the current Rio de Janeiro Olympic champions Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst. London 2012 Olympic champions Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann also act as brand ambassadors for smart. Since 2000, smart has been a premium partner of the annual “Champion of the Year” event. Since 2015, the brand has also been a partner of the German Sports Help Foundation and supports sportspeople, especially up-and-coming young sportspeople, with special offers to keep them mobile. The sponsorship offers top sportspeople excellent opportunities to succeed in modern competitive sports. About smart The smart brand plans to transform its product portfolio in Europe and North America completely into electric powertrains by 2020. The other markets will follow as soon as possible. smart will thus become the world’s first automotive brand to switch over completely from combustion engines to electric powertrains. The brand will gradually reduce its offer of combustion engines and switch over completely to a locally emission-free, battery-electric powertrain for the smart fortwo, fortwo cabrio and forfour models.
21
News from smart
smart ready to drop+: Pilot test in Hamburg Now postboxes are becoming fully mobile
Stuttgart/Hamburg. smart is further expanding its innovative logistics service: in future “smart ready to drop+” will enable parcels to be delivered to the boot of a smart wherever the vehicle is located. Further advantages: almost all products from any shop can be ordered. Up until shortly before delivery customers can decide when and where the parcel should be delivered. To this end a new pilot test is taking place together with the cooperation partner Liefery in Hamburg. Last autumn the “smart ready to drop” test run started in Stuttgart as the biggest in-car delivery test ever performed in Germany. Parcels can now also be delivered to the boots of smarts in Cologne, Bonn and Berlin. The smart cooperation partner DHL has already delivered a four-figure number of packages to these cities. Now smart is going a further step in a pilot project in Hamburg by enabling the smart to be used as a fully mobile postbox. For the delivery process the vehicle no longer needs to be parked near the home address; parcels can be delivered by Liefery to wherever the vehicle is located in Hamburg. Furthermore, customers are no longer tied to certain online shops and they can order products and have them delivered to their vehicle by Liefery. Private individuals can also send parcels to a vehicle. During the pilot test over several months the service “smart ready to drop+” is free of charge for customers. Convenient and reliable ordering and delivery process “smart ready to drop+” is smartphone-based and works with the help of an app developed by smart lab, the brand’s think tank. The process in detail: • When placing an online order the customer gives the delivery address as the “smart HUB address”. This consists of two parts: the address of the Liefery hub in Hamburg, which acts as an interim storage facility, and the customer’s own personal car boot ID.
• The app notifies the courier service of the desired delivery address and delivery time and the courier can open the car with the TAN once only within a specific time window. To this end a Connectivity Box is installed inside the car at the bottom of the windscreen.
• The customer is informed when the parcels physically arrive at the Liefery hub.
• When the Liefery courier has deposited the parcel in the boot the car is locked again digitally and their access authorisation expires immediately. The app automatically notifies the smart car driver of the successful delivery.
• The customer must then choose a date and one of three time slots allotted over the day for the delivery. • In addition, the vehicle location must be specified – for example, the preconfigured addresses “Home” or “Work”, but also any other address such as the car park of a gym. The setting “Dropzone” enables the radius of the smart around this location at the selected time to be defined. • In the next step the user generates a TAN to give the Liefery delivery service keyless access to the boot of the parked smart.
22
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
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.
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
23
smart times 2018
thesmartclub and 20th Anniversary of smart Way back in 2001, thesmartclub ran its very first visit to smartville, the birthplace of (at that time) the smart city coupe. It was a popular event, over subscribed but great fun. We perhaps thought at the time that, as it was a long journey for our group of smart car enthusiasts to make from all across the UK to Hambach in France, it may be something of a ‘one off’ visit.
At that time, when thesmartclub services comprised a very basic online MessageBoard with around 45 users, we thought that doing something like that again would be somewhat unusual and for sure, people who had made the journey in 2001 were highly unlikely to make that long journey again. How very wrong we were! We repeated the visit in 2002 and the volume of applications received was double that received in 2001. What was amazing was that over half the people who had made the journey in 2001, reapplied to go again in 2002. There was obviously something very special about this location, visit and community atmosphere. Over the years, we continued to run an annual ‘pilgrimage’ to Hambach – the MessageBoard moved to an online Forum and our dedicate website with full Memberships and the number of people using these services rapidly increased from 45 to over 33,000 people seeking information, news, views and event details. In addition, we were delighted to engage with BRABUS in Bottrop – in the early days, we were privileged to enjoy a tour around the BRABUS engineering complex before heading south to Hambach – and then in future years, the dedicated BRABUS smart facilities were created and these were a key attraction allowing us in the following years to provide both BRABUS and smart related European visits.
24
Of course, there is no doubt amongst virtually everyone reading these pages that, over the years, the original early smart ‘city coupe’ has changed considerably through a range of small and large design modifications and developments. The current smart 453 models are a quantum leap in design and technology when comparted with the early 450 models. We know however there is still a wonderful passion (if you pardon the pun) around the ‘true’ early 450s followed by the 451 fortwo and the current 453 models. And let’s not forget the smart Roadster (452) models that were also ‘born’ within the facilities in Hambach. Equally we are not ignoring the 454 models although there is little Hambach link with these cars.
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
As our annual Hambach visits continued, we were surprised, and honoured, to see that many people were not only repeat applicants, but were very, very regular repeat applicants. It said a lot about the format of the annual Hambach event – it was about the car, the brand, the journey and, equally importantly, the smart community coming together for a truly social event. Indeed, many of the attendees may only have met up face to face annually at the Hambach and BRABUS visits. We always looked for additional interest factors to add additional ‘sparkle’ and after many discussions and some superb cooperation with the teams in the smart production complex, we were able to include on our tour Agenda, a visit around the impressive Magna Chassis partner complex. As covered in earlier copies of ‘4site’ smart magazine, this is where the tridion shells of the cars are assembled in a fury of super productive robots, welding tridion sections together in a shower of sparks as they dance to an inaudible concert of virtual music. It’s a marvel to see and we are eternally grateful to the teams in Hambach for facilitating these earlier visits.
And so, what does 2018 and the 20th Anniversary of smart bring to us? For those present at smart times 2017 in Salou, Spain, you will recall that Dr Annette Winkler announced that the 20th Anniversary would be held in Hambach, France at the smart production facilities. At that time, dates and logistics were not known although it was subsequently announced that the event would take place on the afternoon of Saturday 30th June 2018. smart have recently announced that you can Register for this 20th Anniversary event to be held on the Saturday afternoon at http://www.facebook.com/smartLovers/ where you can also find some additional information about the day itself.
At the time of compiling this article (end January 2018) we are awaiting confirmation from a number of stakeholders regarding smart factory availability in the days preceding the 20th Anniversary but at this stage we are planning the following event – note that this is provisional at present and full details, once confirmed, will be publicised via thesmartclub web site and its associated social media channels: • We would leave the UK on Sunday 24th June and travel via P&O Ferries from Dover to Calais. For those requiring it, accommodation would be provided on the night of Saturday 23rd June in Dover to enable an early morning (7am or 8am) crossing to Calais • We would travel directly to Bottrop, Germany and tour the smart BRABUS facilities on Tuesday 26th June • Accommodation will be provided in Bottrop, Germany on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights • From Bottrop, we then travel south to Saarbrucken, Germany arriving Wednesday 27th June.
• We are working with smart (at the time of writing) to secure a Hambach factory visit that same week • Friday 29th June will be a free day prior to attending the smart 20th Anniversary Event on Saturday 30th June • Accommodation will be provided in Saarbrucken for the nights 27th to 30th June inclusive • thesmartclub event would finish on Sunday 1st July with return ferry crossing being provided from Calais to Dover • Full details of this event, confirmation of logistics and online application forms along with details of the Package are likely to be published March 2018
It’s important to note that at this stage, this is still very much a provisional event timetable and dates, timings and logistics may change between the time of writing this article and full details being confirmed. At all times, the latest status will be available from thesmartclub web site at www.thesmartclub.co.uk
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
25
Dealership News
Moving on up
A fleet of new smart cars is helping to drive forward a well-known Hertfordshire business as it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary with further expansion. Leading estate and lettings agent, Anthony Davies, opened a new office in Railway Street, Hertford, in September and marked the occasion by acquiring a trio of new fortwos from smart of Hertford. The new cars in resplendent black and green livery replaced the previous all-smart fleet that the company ran for four years and are used by staff at the new office and its sister location in Hoddesdon to visit properties and attend viewings. Owner/Director Richard Davies, who founded Anthony Davies in January 1998, has found the smart cars and his local smart retailer to be very accommodating to the needs of his business. “The smarts are perfect for our sales and lettings operation as they are so easy to drive and can squeeze into the tightest of parking spaces,” he said. “What’s more, they present a very professional image of the company when they’re out and about and nipping from A to B. Not only are we contacted by people who say they have just seen one of our cars but clients can find us when we’re meeting them for a viewing.” Richard and his colleagues have been impressed by the performance of the new cars and, with plans to open additional offices, the Anthony Davies name could soon be seen on more smart cars and an even wider area of Hertfordshire. “The previous smarts were great to drive but the latest models are just brilliant – the drive is much improved and we have had them specced with sat-nav which is ideal for our line of work,” added Richard. “Should we decide to add more cars to our fleet in the future, there is simply no need for us to move from smart of Hertford as Ian Markovitch and his team look after us so well and handle everything smoothly from start-to-finish.”
26
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Regional Club News
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
27
4two Cup
The ‘4two Cup’ continues its successful series of smart racing with the opening round of the 2018 season taking place at Silverstone on Sunday 6th May. Launched back in 2011, the 4two Cup continues to represent not only truly cost effective, fun, smart related motorsport, it also provides a wonderful chance to enter competitive racing whilst equally providing a spectacle from a spectator perspective. The smart Racing Club will again be following each and every race throughout the year and providing you with qualifying and race results for every car entered. In addition, you can view archived results from every qualifying and race in 2015, 2016 and 2017 via the smart Racing Club web site at www.thesmartracingclub.com
The 2018 provision calendar is as follows: Sun 6th May Thu 21st - Sun 24th June Sat 14th July Sat 18th August Sun 16th September Sat 6th October
Silverstone Int. Spa Francorchamps Brands Hatch Indy Thruxton Donington Park GP Mallory Park
You can also gain further information about the race series, the cars and requirements directly from the team at smarts4you Racing Ltd, 150-152 Hermon Hill, South Woodford, London E18 1QH, UK. Email sales@smarts4youracing.com or call them on +44(0)-208-989-4449
28
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Product Review
smart 453 aftermarket armrest We were delighted to engage with Tim Borrill, Sales & Marketing Manager at Advanced In-Car Technologies to review the beautiful stitched leather, central armrest for the 453 models.
There are a number of after market centre arm rests on the market for these models but this little Italian number had been receiving some excellent reviews and we were keen to review having fitted one to our 2017 BRABUS fortwo. Delivery was super fast and the product well packaged upon arrival. Having seen some competitor products, it was clear that this unit was well manufactured and considerable thought had gone into not only the design, but also the fixing mechanisms. This unit is fitted to the central console running behind the handbrake and as such, is independent of the height of the seat. The padded rest itself slides backwards and forwards for comfort. Fixing is robust and very, very simple. The unit push fits into the rear of the centre console having removed the console’s rear fixing screw. A replacement longer screw is supplied that pulls the armrest snugly into position. For those of you with USB port and SD Card reader, the optional cut-outs are already in place if requested when ordering. A small piece of lining material is also supplied that can be stuck to the internal stowage area of the armrest itself – the cutting of the holes in this mat can be tricky but patience is a virtue. To be honest, we have not stuck the mat in place such that we can remove at a later stage if required – the functionality is not affected and our recommendation is to simply place in place. We’ve had this arm rest installed for 6 months now and there’s no doubt it’s a well-made piece of kit. In terms of positives: it’s well priced, beautifully made, the stitching and leather match the BRABUS seats beautifully, the stowage area is good and the sliding padded armrest is very comfortable. In terms of negatives, the height remains constant irrespective of seat height, we popped a small protective cover over the SD card slot as we found dropping something like a wallet, keys or glasses etc into the stowage area could push the top of the SD card that in turn, disengaged from the unit. We also found that the rear of the hinges (see diagram) were extremely sharp and if one stretched around the rear of the unit to grab something from behind a seat, there was a risk of injury. Overall however, we strongly recommend this product, it’s a great bit of kit, well made and beautifully thought out and the pre and post support from Tim and the team at Advanced In-Car Technologies has been superb. For more information visit www.advanced-incar.co.uk
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
29
Event Review Simply Smart 2017
Beaulieu’s Simply Smart completes a record-breaking season A record turnout of as many as 166 colourful Smart cars made Beaulieu’s Simply Smart the biggest and best yet, rounding off a record-breaking 2017 Simply rally season. More than 300 rally participants included a group of keen enthusiasts who had travelled from as far as Belgium to take part. They were joined by scores of Beaulieu visitors for the celebration of fun, wacky city cars. The People’s Choice Award at this year’s Simply Smart gave visitors the chance to choose their favourite event car, with the greatest number of votes going to the eye-catching 2015 ForFour of Carron Dymond, from Worthing. Covered in a funky vinyl wrap in the style of Star Wars’ R2D2, the Force was certainly strong with this unique machine which is Carron’s fifth Smart. Carron was presented with a commemorative Beaulieu trophy and a special Autoglym prize by Visitor Services Manager Jon Tee, before leading a cavalcade of the highest scoring cars through the grounds.
Zany colour schemes and personalised bodywork provided a vibrant line-up of ForTwo, practical ForFour and sporty Roadster which filled the National Motor Museum’s Events Arena. With an even greater variety of Smart cars on show than ever before, this triumphant end to the Beaulieu events calendar saw old friends and new owners meet up to talk all-things Smart. Wrapping up the hugely successful 2017 season of Simply rallies at Beaulieu, Simply Smart’s bumper turnout follows in the footsteps of Simply Porsche, Simply Japanese and Simply Ford, which all achieved record numbers. Also scoring highly for the variety and volume of vehicles on display were this year’s Simply Aston Martin, Simply VW, Simply Jaguar and Simply Land Rover, which saw Beaulieu come alive with hundreds of awesome cars.
Paul Rixon, from Amesbury, took second place with his 2006 ForTwo convertible. Purchased to replace a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, this vinyl-wrapped soft-top provides plenty of wind-in-the-hair fun. Third place went to Robin Davis, who had driven from Essex in an impressive champagne-coloured 2001 Roadster. Both Paul and Robin received a special Autoglym prize and Beaulieu chocolate, before joining the cavalcade. Simply Smart traditionally takes place on Remembrance Sunday and a two-minute silence was observed at 11am at the event on November 12th. A reading was given by retired Royal Navy CPO and proud Smart owner Mr Tod Sloan, who also took part in the show’s cavalcade in his own Smart.
Building on that success, the recently released 2018 Beaulieu events calendar includes two new additions with a brand new Simply Audi on April 29th and new feature Simply Rummage at Simply Land Rover on June 24th. Simply Smart will return again on November 11 next year. For more calendar details see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events.
30
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website
Smart of Edinburgh’s best ever test drive selection! The current smart range is now more diverse than ever before, and the smart of Edinburgh Showroom at Newbridge are pleased to present a huge range of models to test drive. Included in our selection of demonstrator models are both the 71hp and 90hp turbo engines and the 5-speed manual and 6-speed DCT automatic gearbox variants, meaning you can try all of them to help make the right decision for your next smart. Now that the Electric Drive forfour and fortwo are readily available, we have also added them to our fleet to complete the selection. Better yet they both have the added upgrade of a Premium Plus Package which loads them with great additional specification and options. Our fortwo model even comes with the Electric Drive design package, adding a striking electric green tridion cell. Keen members of thesmartclub will have noticed that we’ve missed out a particular smart model. Well, it wouldn’t be a full selection without them and we are delighted to say we have both the fortwo and forfour BRABUS models available to test drive. Complete with automatic gearbox and the 109hp engine, plus loads of sporty BRABUS styling upgrades. All these models are available to test drive at any of our 3 sites across Edinburgh and The Borders – advance booking is recommended! If you’re looking to purchase a nearly new smart get in touch as many of these models will be available for sale soon with some excellent savings. As always we’ve also got an extensive range of other Approved Used smarts available from just £99 customer deposit and £99 per month on MBFS Agility PCP Finance*, with all the benefits of buying from an Approved Used retailer.
For full details please contact us on 0131 466 8000, visit smartedinburgh.co.uk or email info@smartedinburgh.co.uk – we look forward to welcoming you! * Based on 2016 smart forfour passion 71hp manual with 11,000 miles registered 02/17. 36 month Mercedes-Benz Agility finance contract, on-the-road price £6,730; optional purchase payment £3,630; balance financed £6,631; purchase activation fee £10, total amount payable £7,332.88; Representative APR 3.9%; 7,000 miles per annum. Orders/credit approvals and activations on approved used smart forfour passion models between 1st February and 31st March 2018. Guarantees may be required. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your Retailer for availability. Credit provided subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Finance, MK15 8BA. Prices correct at time of going to press February 2018
Issue 37 - 2018 - www.thesmartclub.co.uk
smart – A Daimler Brand.
31
Magazine design & production by Oliver Whittaker Š 2018 32
4site - the columns that support thesmartclub’s website