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- Smart Fortwo
Pros ? Low running costs. Surprising amount of space for small car. Innovative looks. Great for parking. Surprisingly fast. Good build quality.
Cons ? Looks not to everyone?s taste.
The classic Smart car - micro compact car - with its low fuel consumption is good for your bank balance as well as the environment. The Fortwo is the original Smart car, launched in 1998 as a City Coupe. The name Fortwo was introduced when smart began producing other models
The Smart was designed mainly for urban use in European cities and its USP was it was easy to park and offered good mpg. The look was also daring do it appealed to those who wanted to make a statement. This was a practical environmental car not a macho statement. The Smart Fortwo?s tiny length of only 8 ft allowed as many as three to be parked in the space normally taken by one standard car. It also built a reputation for safety, maximising the minimal crumple zone at the front the engine was at the back. The engine range was turbocharged three cylinders only. A base petrol engine had 599cc originally but this was increased to 698 and it was restyled and increased successively. A number of models have been made available including the highest performing high tuned Brabus top end model. Of the first 770,000 Fortwo models sold worldwide since its launch about 50,000 have been sold in Britain. After its launch in 1998 the Fortwo was joined by the Forfour hatchback and the Roadster sports Smart but these did not last long and as of 2007 the smart brand is focusing only on its new Fortwo range ? both coupe and cabrio models
The 2007 Smart Fortwo coup? features a large panoramic roof made of break resistant
polycarbonate. With 4 valves per cylinder (12-valve engine) and 2 hydraulically adjustable camshafts, the updated petrol engines generate plenty of torque even at low revs. The compact 3-cylinder in-line engines with a capacity of 999 cc come in two forms - a naturally aspirated engine rated at 61 or 71 bhp and a turbo engine rated, 84 bhp. In the Brabus versions, a more powerful turbo engine generates 98 bhp. Available in pure, pulse and passion and Brabus standard technical features include automatic hill start assist, comfort windscreen wipers with speed-sensitive interval wiping and electrical release of the tailgate at the push of a button and indicators with lane changer function.
Central locking with radio remote control and the automated manual 5-speed
transmission with kick down function are other features. Other practical aspects include the passenger seat backrest which can be folded right down for through-loading.
45 kW (61 bhp) petrol engine Coupe / 52 kW (71 bhp) petrol engine coup? & cabrio
Standard Safety Equipment
