Updated smart fortwo to make U.S. debut at New York Auto Show

(March 27, 2015) NEW YORK — The revolution enters the next round — Mercedes-Benz officials say the all-new smart fortwo has undergone improvements in virtually all areas and is markedly more comfortable. Drive power is supplied by a three-cylinder engine rated at 89 horsepower, mated to a five-speed manual transmission or the twinamic automatic dual clutch transmission.

A host of innovative details guarantee even more fun in the city. The new smart generation was launched in Europe in November and is making its U.S. debut at the 2015 New York International Auto Show before arriving in dealerships in September.

"As Europe's youngest car brand, smart enjoys global success today. No-one combines functionality and emotionality as well as we do, as the inventors of individual urban mobility. The new smart fortwo adopts the proven concept while offering more of just about everything – more space, more color, more equipment … and even more fun in the city! Only the vehicle length remains as unique as ever, at 8.8 feet," says smart boss Annette Winkler. "Our idea based on a total rethink of urban mobility has won through."



"In the planning phase we were clear that we wanted to retain the rear engine for the new smart, so as to continue to exploit the vehicles' strengths to the full in the city," explains Jörg Prigl, head of the product group Compact Cars at Mercedes-Benz. "On this basis, we then developed the new fortwo and forfour together with our partner, Renault."

"We are proud that we have been able to make the fortwo with the same length of 2.69 meters (8.8 feet) even safer and altogether more grown up," Markus Riedel, head of Development at smart, adds. "We even succeeded in reducing the turning circle to 6.95 meters (22.8 feet), setting a new best."

The brand appeals to the heart and mind in equal portion. An expressive design idiom and coloring embody pure joie de vivre. The compact proportions and clever details attest to unique functionality. The new smart fortwo is instantly recognizable as a member of the smart family with many distinctive design features including the trademark smart headlamps and front grille and the iconic tridion safety cell. In addition, its intelligent rear engine setup helps ensure the smart fortwo is particularly agile in urban traffic.

"Smart stands for FUN.ctional design, as the brand is defined by two poles – the heart and mind. The design idiom is clear and purist and therefore very progressive. The typical smart attributes are being carried into a new era: the typical silhouette with the ultra-short overhangs, the clear lines, forms and surfaces, the tridion cell and the updated, likable smart face," said Gorden Wagener, head of Design at Daimler AG. "It is never easy to design the successor to a design icon – but it is all the more exciting."

A turbocharged three-cylinder engine will be standard on the new smart fortwo at the market launch:  The turbo engine is rated at 89 horsepower making a maximum torque of 100 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The totally new turbocharger features an electronically controlled wastegate which enables increased engine dynamics in conjunction with a sustainable reduction in fuel consumption.

Apart from the turbocharger, a whole range of other technical measures also contributes to the engine's excellent fuel efficiency and performance. These include variable swirl control and variable adjustment of the inlet valves. Another defining trait of the all-aluminum three-cylinder engine is the square bore/stroke ratio.

Both transmission variants are also new for smart: customers can choose between a five-speed manual transmission and the twinamic six-speed dual clutch transmission.