Smart Autonomous Car Concept To Debut In Frankfurt

Daimler revealed a new electric concept car this past week by introducing the Smart vision EQ fortwo, a car that combines familiar Smart design elements with some forward-thinking technology. Unsurprisingly, self-driving is front and centre of this concept, demonstrating Daimler’s commitment to its own car2go service, and asserting its intention to be a key player in the future of urban mobility.

Indeed, car2go was specifically called out in the announcement of this concept vehicle, which cited 2.6 million global users renting a car with the service every 1.4 seconds. What do car2go’s existing users have to do with a concept car? Even a passing look at the Smart vision EQ’s features shows how this could be a terrific step forward in the landscape of urban carsharing.

The concept is focused around a swarm intelligence software. This technology would base an algorithm on existing user data, allowing the car to make itself available in high-demand areas. Users would then book a vehicle that would come to them, rather than seek an available vehicle nearby in the app. Second, the onboard battery, just 30 kWh, is designed for automatic charging between trips at power stations and inductive charging docks.

The most striking design feature of the Smart vision EQ are the large glass doors, which not only offer an incredible view for passengers, but also become interior and exterior facing displays — perhaps to provide traffic and weather updates, or to act as digital advertising billboards. An additional two exterior LED displays positioned in the registration plate positions at the front and rear of the vehicle provide user information, including the availability of the vehicle in question, or the name of the user who booked it.

The Smart vision EQ fortwo is just a concept, but for those who can’t wait to ditch diesel, Daimler’s Smart fortwo electric is the cheapest electric car in the US. You can also see how it compares by reading our other electric car reviews.

Concept vehicles such as this raise some interesting questions. Will anyone living in a city actually own their own car in the near future? Or will we all be driving the sharing economy, ordering a car that will arrive at our location, on demand? With the Smart vision EQ fortwo, it certainly seems that Daimler has a commitment to smoothing out some of the technological bumps in the road for shared, self-driving electric vehicles. It’s not unreasonable to say that this future will soon become reality in cities around the world.

Most Improved New Car: 2016 Smart Fortwo

If there was an award for the car that was “most improved” by a fresh redesign, there is no question who would be winning it this year: the award for most improved new car would go to the all-new, all-different, 2016 Smart Fortwo.

2017 Smart ForTwo

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That most improved award would come, in part, because the old Fortwo was an objectively terrible little shitbox of a thing. I spent a few thousand miles driving both the coupe and cabrio versions back in 2008-2010, myself, and can personally attest to its horrible-ness … but that was part of the appeal of the last Fortwo.

Sure, it was awful, the way it lurched viciously between 1st and 2nd gears. It was scary, the way it was blown around in its lane on the open highway. It was disappointing, the way it gave back kind of crappy fuel economy, considering everything you were giving up. It was annoying, the way its best trick- parking headlong into a parallel parking space so two Smarts could fit in 1 space- would net both you and your parking buddies expensive tickets. Yes, the “old” Smart Fortwo was a bit of a let-down.

It was, however, a letdown that didn’t take itself too seriously. The all-new Smart Fortwo, though? This is a car that is definitely not a letdown!

I’ll grant you that the low bar set by the car’s predecessor may have helped, but it’s not just that. The new Smart Fortwo is just a bit quicker and faster than you think it’s going to be, for example. It corners just a bit more sharply than you might expect, too, and- on the long, 7 hour, round-trip highway drive from Chicago and Springfield, IL, it was more comfortable and more stable than anything with such playful styling has any right to be.

Of course, as soon as we got it back to Speedriven I threw it on the lift to see what was going on underneath the little car’s bulbous flanks …

Under the New Smart Fortwo

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  Yes, Virginia, that is a turbocharger …

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From underneath, the moose-avoiding rear suspension looks much more sorted on this newest Fortwo- and the 89 HP turbocharged 3 cylinder seems, from the outside, to be capable of delivering a little bit more power, despite the tiny exhaust system. Maybe the Brabus version will push output close to the 100 HP mark?

Too soon to tell on that front, but I did see significantly better than the car’s claimed 39 MPG HWY fuel economy rating on my one long drive. Keeping the speedo at a steady 62 MPH cruise helped, no doubt, but I got a fairly consistent 42-ish MPGs out of the Smart (just over using the car’s onboard computer, and just under doing a quick calculation at the pump). Nothing spectacular, to be sure, but better is better, you know?

In any event, whether or not the Smart Fortwo makes dollars and sense (it doesn’t) isn’t the point. The car is a great toy, and if something like a McLaren P1 is a superbike on four wheels then try to think of the Smart as a Vespa on four wheels. If you look at it that way, its shortcomings become quirks, its oddness becomes appealing, and its relative uselessness can be seen in more of a “I got a puppy!” light. In other words: give it a try, you might like it!

Smart Fortwo first drive review

What is it?

There has never been much to fault about the concept behind the Smart Fortwo microcar, which offers urban mobility for two people in a usefully compact and very stylish package. Previously, though, the car’s execution has had its flaws.

While the third-generation Fortwo doesn’t deviate too dramatically from the Mk2 model in terms of mechanical set-up – it retains the rear-engined, rear-drive layout of its predecessor, as well as the two-door, two-seat layout – there’s been a major focus on correcting the old car’s wrongs, most notably an unsettled ride and clunky transmission.

The Fortwo comes to market in tandem with a reinvigorated four-door, four-seat Forfour and both share their underpinnings with the new Renault Twingo.

The two Smart models share a common 1660mm width and 1550mm height, but the Fortwo is shorter than its four-seat relation. Indeed, its 2695mm length is the same as the previous iteration, although the wheelbase has been pushed out by 8mm to 1873mm.

The Fortwo and Forfour also have a new family look, particularly in terms of the front-end styling and the exposed elements of the Tridion safety cell. 

Two powerplants are available at launch: a 999cc, three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 70bhp and 67lb ft and a more powerful turbocharged 898cc, three-cylinder unit with 89bhp and 100lb ft on tap.

The other big development for the Fortwo is that the unloved, sloth-like five-speed automated manual has been consigned to history, replaced by a choice of a regular five-speed manual or, later in 2015, a six-speed, twin-clutch automatic.

What is it like?

With its wider tracks, wheels pushed out to each corner and short overhangs, the new Smart Fortwo has a more purposeful appearance than the previous car.


This car is 11cm wider than its predecessor and it shows inside, where there’s sufficient width for two broad adults to sit comfortably without having to rub shoulders. Headroom is pretty decent too.

Just as the Mk2 version improved on the dynamic qualities of the original Smart, this new version makes further progress.

New suspension has succeeded in smoothing most of the jiggle and excessive harshness out of the Fortwo’s ride. Even on our test car’s optional sportier suspension set-up – which comprises 16in wheels and a 10mm ride height reduction and is available on the high-spec Proxy variant – the car feels composed, helped by pretty accurate electric power steering.

The turning circle is just 6.95m, eclipsing all other cars as well as ultra-manoeuvrable vehicles such as the London black cab. The front wheels can turn through a 45-degree angle, which helps to make tight cornering and parking a doddle. 

It can still be skittish over large bumps, humps and camber changes, but all told, there’s a better feel to the way the new Fortwo tackles traffic-clogged urban roads. It feels more grown-up to drive.

On our city-street test route, the 999cc naturally aspirated unit seemed to be better suited to the Fortwo than the more costly 898cc turbocharged variant.

It won’t win any races away from the traffic lights – the 0-62mph sprint takes a glacial 14.4sec – but the three-pot unit responds in a more progressive fashion than the boosted engine. The power of the latter tends to arrive all at once after an initial lull. Acceleration and deceleration of the naturally aspirated engine seems easier to moderate. 

It's no surprise that it runs out of puff quickly, but that’s of less importance in lower-speed city driving, and only becomes an issue when you take to A-roads and motorways, where the turbocharged engine feels slightly more capable. Ultimately, though, neither car is anything close to offering swift performance.

In addition to the five-speed manual, we also sampled a pre-production car fitted with the newly engineered automatic transmission. A £995 option that will be available from the spring of 2015, it is an improvement over the old automated manual when it comes to the speed of shifts.

However, the automatic transmission’s installation in our test car didn’t feel nearly as refined as the smooth manual, with some vibration noticeable and a gear-stick that required some effort to be pushed back to ‘Park’ mode.

Other testers in cars equipped with the automatic transmission didn’t report the same issues, and this might reflect the pre-production nature of our machine.

Although the combinations of bold interior colours and novel materials inside won’t be to everyone’s tastes, they set the Fortwo apart and enhance the premium feel that’s reflected in the car’s pricing.

The 260-litre boot – not huge, but on a par with what you'll find in some four-seat city cars – is accessed via a split hatch, with the top window folding upwards and the rear panel downwards, a clever set-up that makes access easier when you’ve slipped the Smart into the tightest of parking spaces.

Should I buy one?

The new Smart Fortwo retains the sparks of fresh design and clever packaging that made the quirky original version such a head-turning proposition, but combines them with a welcome improvement in refinement – and additional interior space for good measure.

Its petite stature and two-seat layout essentially leave it in a class of its own in terms of dimensions – with perhaps only the (theoretically four-seat) Toyota iQ coming close – but the Fortwo's £11k price tag puts it on a par with more practical city cars and superminis.

The challenge will be convincing savvy urbanites that the Smart Fortwo’s clever packaging and generous kit levels make it worthy of its price tag when you can acquire more commodious city cars with a wider range of dynamic ability for similar cash, or less.

However, if you know for certain that you’ll only ever transport yourself and one passenger, rarely venture past the city limits, and blanch at the prospect of, say, parallel parking even a Ford Fiesta in the tight confines of the city centre, the Smart Fortwo could be the answer.

Smart Fortwo

Price £11,125; 0-62mph 14.4sec; Top speed 94mph; Economy68.9mpg; CO2 emissions 93g/km; Kerb weight 880kg; Engine layout3cyls, 999cc, naturally aspirated; Installation rear, transverse, rear-wheel drive; Power 70bhp at 6000rpm; Torque 67lb ft at 2850rpm;Gearbox 5-spd manual 

Source: Autocar.uk

2016 Smart ForTwo and ForFour Teased - VIDEO

What is a Smart car, exactly? For the past several years, the brand has drifted from one concept to another with little success in the American marketplace. First the brand brought out the slinky and stylish Roadster, then experimented with a four-door sedan, before toying with the truly weird Crossblade.

The market in Europe for small, entry level cars is fiercely competitive. Buyers can choose between the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108 among others. To stay relevant in this important segment, Mercedes and Renault have developed a new chassis they will share.Renault uses this chassis for its new rear engine Twingo, which itself just broke cover. Meanwhile the 2016 Smart ForTwo and ForFour have remained under wraps, though this is the latest of many teasers dropped leading up to its debut.

The Smart brand has been weighed down by poor driving dynamics, an iffy shifter, and lack of room or brand image. Smart has had an especially difficult time in America,making little headway even as the small car market has grown considerably. This next model may very well be the last for the Smart brand if it can’t connect with customers. The 2016 Smart cars won’t be any bigger than the old generation, but with a renewed focus on the driving experience and quality materials, perhaps the brand can rebound.

With so many great options in the market right now , what else can Smart do to make it stand apart from the competition?

Source: Smart

Smart Fortwo exclusive development drive

The Mercedes-backed company is about to unveil an all-new version of its Smart Fortwo microcar that keeps its predecessor’s best-loved characteristics – including the all-important 2.69m overall length – but adds big-car features that even Smart lovers never thought they’d see.

It will be built, as usual, in the Hambach factory in western France. Under a new deal, the third-generation Smart range is being produced in cooperation with Renault, whose own-shape, five-door version – the new Twingo, revealed at Geneva last March – will be built on an all-new platform alongside the returning five-door Smart Forfour in Renault’s Slovenia factory, which produced previous Twingo models. As well as providing the factory, Renault contributes a trio of baby petrol engines to the new-generation Twingo-Smart project.

Both short and long Smart models are due to make their official appearance in mid-July, but Autocar has already had exclusive access to a pair of Fortwo prototypes at Smart’s HQ in Boblingen, near Stuttgart. We drove one version on an ultra-tight manoeuvring course inside the factory and were then driven in another on a wide selection of local roads to show off the car’s improved all-roads capability.

Perhaps the biggest news is the demise of Smart’s much-criticised automated manual gearbox, infamous for its slow, ‘nodding dog’ gearchanges. Future Renault and Smart buyers will be offered the choice of a conventional five-speed manual (yes, there’s room for a clutch pedal) or a new, compact Getrag six-speed twin-clutch gearbox. This move alone is especially likely to boost interest in the Fortwo, which has consistently lost ground to other city cars on account of its ‘funny’ gearchange.

Other highlights are a 10cm increase in the Fortwo’s body width, which brings many benefits. Where cabin space is concerned, the Smart two-seater now has far more hip and shoulder room so it no longer needs the staggered seats of past models (although it keeps their high hip-point and big doors for spectacularly easy access) and – although our disguised pictures won’t yet show it – its styling recalls the chic shape of the original car, which gave way to a ‘Tonka toy’ shape in the second version that was less well received.

ForTwos have always used a pressed steel Tridion chassis frame as their main structure, supporting impact-absorbing plastic outer panels, and that layout is used again. So is a rear-engined layout: an ultra-compact three-cylinder engine mounted under the boot floor, in unit with the gearbox and differential and driving the rear wheels.

The entry-level engine for UK buyers will be a brand-new 999cc Renault-made triple, designated SCe70. It is normally aspirated, is rated at 70bhp and develops its 67lb ft peak torque virtually from ground level, ideal for town motoring. It will come with stop-start as an option. The top spec offering is Renault’s zippy Energy TCe90 899cc turbo triple that punches out 89bhp and 100lb ft, has standard stop-start and Euro 6 clean air compliance. This engine has already been used in the Captur and Clio but the engine has been adapted specifically for Twingo-Smart to provide what Renault calls “refined performance”.

The related models keep their all-independent wishbone suspension, but the extra body width now allows longer suspension arms with wider-based mountings to be used, for better wheel control. There’s more suspension travel, too, which improves the ride considerably because less of the suspension stroke is affected by contact with the bump-stops…

Inside the Boblingen HQ, I first meet Frank Zimmerman, Smart’s head of product marketing, who shows me the two prototypes, summarises (without too much detail) the changes – and assures me that one key objective in the development of the Fortwo has been to maintain what he terms “the 269”, the car’s diminutive length of 2.69m.

“We did lots of research among existing owners,” says Zimmerman, “which showed their number one reason for buying was the car’s shortness. So we fought hard to maintain it. We’ve kept the height the same, too. Owners say the big doors and the high hip-point are also features they like.” However, you certainly can’t miss the extra body width, which makes Zimmerman (tall) and me (wide) perfectly comfortable sitting side by side in the cockpit. It also makes the car look much tougher and more grown-up on the road.

The patch of tarmac that they’ve allotted for my manoeuvring test seems slightly smaller than a postage stamp. It’s difficult to imagine that we’ll be able to do anything meaningful but Zimmerman insists that there will be plenty of space for a car that now has a turning circle between kerbs of just 6.9m, less than 23 feet. It can out-turn a Toyota iQ by a metre, and easily corner inside a London cab’s U-turn.

I try it, enjoying the accurate but easy-twirling electric power steering, and discover that it’s possible to throw complete circles in this tiny space without even using full lock. “Turn tighter,” the photographer keeps saying, although in space terms there’s no need. The car manoeuvres easily and shows no sign of tyre scrub, even on full lock. The point is made: adding a few inches to the width of a Smart is nothing compared with carving half a yard off its turning circle. There can’t now be a more agile car on the market.

The gearbox action (and the knob itself) has obvious Renault connections but is none the worse for that. The clutch is light and there’s plenty of left-foot space, at least in this left-handed version. The lever has a sweet, short throw. Suddenly, the Fortwo, even at 5-10mph in a cramped car park, takes a big step forward in sporty character.

Now it’s time to drive with Christophe Schulenberg, Smart’s head of testing and a Smart-Swatchmobile ‘lifer’ despite his youthful appearance. We set off with considerable verve on a 40-minute route that at first takes us zipping around a crowded multi-storey car park and then varied public roads.

We do tight turns and gutters, and then cobblestones and suburban ruts. Impressions come thick and fast: first is the ease and control of the new dual-clutch gearbox, which comes with a selectable Sport mode and manual control.

It’s clear very soon that this car is much more stable everywhere than its predecessor, especially when cornering, and the choppy ride is also much improved. The feeling of tautness and strength stays – that was always impressive – but the car is much, much quieter over bumps. (Schulenberg explains how much revisions to the suspension bushes have helped.)

Having been an early Smart owner, I wonder whether the Fortwo’s high-speed stability might still be problematic, especially in crosswinds, but Schulenberg reckons that the wider track, more positive steering and better suspension geometry mean that it’s “no longer an issue” and backs that by revealing that for this new model the governed speed limit that started out at 83mph in my day and progressed to 90ish, will be allowed to go higher again.

Bottom line? We arrive back at base and I realise that in the past 10 minutes of our 40 I haven’t thought much about the car’s dynamics. Our talk has turned to manufacturing details, because the car just feels so normal.

I’ve done lots of miles in Smarts, and never before have I lost the overriding perception of its shortness, signified by the perpetualpitching of a rather crashy suspension. For the first time, a two-seat Smart feels like a normal car. Amazingly compact it remains, but it seems to have caught up with the rest.

Source: Autocar

Secede: a Folding Electric Bike That Doesn’t Fold

Electric bikes are a growing trend in cities and suburbs these days, and even carmakers like Kia, Smart, and Ford (through their partnes at Pedego) are getting into the game with electric 2-wheelers of their own. Despite their commuter-friendly mission statements, however, these electric bikes can be tough to get on and off trains and busses – even harder, in some cases, than their lighter, non-electrified brethren. Now, if someone made a folding electric bike, that would solve the problem, but there are so many wires, batteries, and other techno-whizzy-things involved that it’s tough to make a clever product in that space. That is, unless you’re the guys behind the Secede, who came up with a clever folding electric bike that doesn’t fold at all.

Secede Folding Electric Bike Doesn’t Fold at All

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As you can see from the photos, above, the Secede doesn’t actually fold – it splits!

The two halves of the bike can be removed by undoing a quick-release latch in the Secede’s down tube. Once separated, the bike’s two halves can be stuffed into a set of custom-fitted bags (included) for storage in the cargo overhead compartment of an airplane, train, or a even a gym/office locker. All the electronic stuff is totally separated in its half, and starts working again instantly once you put it back together.

Unfortunately, all this cleverness doesn’t come cheap. The bike is expected to sell for nearly $7000 (yes, seven-thousand US American dollars) once it makes its way to American bike shops. For that, you get a carbon-framed bike powered by a 500-watt brushless electric motor, a 36-volt/9.5-amp-hour lithium-ion Panasonic (nee Tesla) battery that’s housed in the rear fender, a Rock Shox Recon RL Air suspension fork, an SRAM X9 drivetrain, and super-swanky Avid Elixir disc brakes.

It’s a neat trick, and there’s not another folding electric bike out there (that I know of) that can match the Secede’s specs … but is it worth the price of nearly 3 Smart bikes? Or a used Smart CAR? Let us know what you think in the comments, below. Enjoy!

Source | Images: Gizmag.

Limited edition Smart Fortwo Citybeam on sale this month, at dealers in April

It ain't exactly a Pontiac Trans Am and the Screaming Eagle, but Daimler is trying to get a little sportier with its Smart Fortwo vehicle line.

On January 15, Smart will start taking orders for the Citybeam limited edition Fortwo in Europe. The starting price is 14,490 euros (about $20,000) and the special version of the little-bitty two-seater will start deliveries to European dealers in April. No word on when or whether they'll grace our highways, but many limited editions like this one have been Euro-only in the past.

Exterior colors for the Citybeam include light blue, silver metallic and matt anthracite (that's black to you and me). The headlamps will be titanium-colored. Looking for three-double-spoke alloy wheels and extra wide rubber on the road? Check. There will also be upgraded seats and an improved instrument panel. Daimler, which also owns Mercedes-Benz, unveiled the Smart ForTwo Citybeam at the Brussels Motor Show on Friday.

The Citybeam will be available as both a coupe and convertible in both in both gas and electric versions. The gas version includes a regular 70-horsepower and a turbocharged 82-horsepower version, while the electric delivers 74 horsepower. Check out Smart's press release below.

Show full PR text

News Source: Daimler

Smart Fortwo spied with production-ready body

Fans of super-minis, take note - here's your first look at the all-new Smart Fortwo. The teensy, tiny city car skipped out in full camouflage, but lacking any shape-hiding body cladding. Immediately noticeable is just how tiny it is. It looks even smaller than the Smart Fortwo that's on the road now, but that's merely an optical illusion - it's not as long, but has a larger footprint overall.

The rear overhang is virtually non-existent, while the new Smart looks to be sporting a snub-nose look, with both designs going a long way towards highlighting the reduction in length. Riding on a miniaturized version of the architecture that will underpin the Smart Forfour and Renault Twingo, our spies are reporting that this car will have its engine mounted in the back and that it will drive the rear wheels.

Gas, diesel and a next-generation of the Fortwo ElectricDrive should all be expected when the third-gen Smart hits the Geneva Motor Show stage in March.

Image Credit: CarPix

2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio - Quick Test Ride

If you want an electric car, there are now 14 different models with plugs to choose from.

But if you want an electric convertible, there's just one: The 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio.

The little two-seat battery electric vehicle with the roll-back cloth roof is now on sale along with the fixed-roof Coupe model of the same car.

The pair is the latest expansion of the Smart ForTwo minicar range, and in many ways, the electric powertrain makes the Smart what it should have been all along--smooth, quiet, and pleasant to drive around town.

They're not long-distance cars--the EPA rates the range at 68miles--but they'reefficient, with an EPA rating of 107 MPGe combined. (The 'MPGe' metric is the distance the car can travel electrically on the same amount of stored energy as contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.)

In addition to being the lowest-priced electric car in the States, the reduced lease price of $139 a month for the Smart Electric Drive Coupe is lower than most likely any other car on the market.

Under the same scheme, however, the Convertible leases for $199 a month if you put down $1,999 and opt into the Battery Assurance Plus program under which you lease the battery separately.

2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Quick Drive, May 2013

40 miles left

Last week, we had a chance to test-drive an electric Smart convertible on a mixed route of about 25 miles outside the progressive enclave of Ann Arbor, Michigan, on a pleasantly sunny day.

We were in the second of two drive waves, so after covering the same route in the morning, we got our white Cabrio with red cloth roof with an indicated remaining range of 40 miles.

Along a route that blended city traffic, country roads, and suburban development--but no freeway mileage--we covered 25.4 miles over an hour or so and ended up with 19 miles remaining.

Either we have a lighter right foot than the morning's test driver, or the range calculations are designed to stay on the conservative side.

Either would be fine as far as we're concerned, though the car's Eco Score of 73 percent on delivery had risen to 90 percent by the time we returned the car.

Driving impressions

The Smart Electric Drive doesn't feel quite like any other electric car we've tested (which is to say, almost all of them).

It's heavy for such a small car, and the controls require a certain amount of muscle--including the steering, which isn't power assisted, and the accelerator, which needs a deliberate push to deliver power.

Acceleration is good from a stop, if you peg the needle on the power gauge, but the electric Smart is better from 0 to 30 mph than from 30 to 60 mph, when it begins to lag--though in fairness, that applies to the gasoline version as well.

2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Aug 2013

The electric Smart, thankfully, dispenses entirely with the dreadful automated manual gearbox fitted to the gasoline version, which slams in and out of gear and pitches the car back and forth on its short wheelbase. The electric drivetrain eliminates that problem altogethIf you want an electric car, there are now 14 different models with plugs to choose from.

But if you want an electric convertible, there's just one: The 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio.

The little two-seat battery electric vehicle with the roll-back cloth roof is now on sale along with the fixed-roof Coupe model of the same car.

The pair is the latest expansion of the Smart ForTwo minicar range, and in many ways, the electric powertrain makes the Smart what it should have been all along--smooth, quiet, and pleasant to drive around town.

They're not long-distance cars--the EPA rates the range at 68miles--but they're efficient, with an EPA rating of 107 MPGe combined. (The 'MPGe' metric is the distance the car can travel electrically on the same amount of stored energy as contained in 1 gallon of gasoline.)

In addition to being the lowest-priced electric car in the States, the reduced lease price of $139 a month for the Smart Electric Drive Coupe is lower than most likely any other car on the market.

Under the same scheme, however, the Convertible leases for $199 a month if you put down $1,999 and opt into the Battery Assurance Plus program under which you lease the battery separately.

2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Quick Drive, May 2013 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Quick Drive, May 2013

40 miles left

Last week, we had a chance to test-drive an electric Smart convertible on a mixed route of about 25 miles outside the progressive enclave of Ann Arbor, Michigan, on a pleasantly sunny day.

We were in the second of two drive waves, so after covering the same route in the morning, we got our white Cabrio with red cloth roof with an indicated remaining range of 40 miles.

Along a route that blended city traffic, country roads, and suburban development--but no freeway mileage--we covered 25.4 miles over an hour or so and ended up with 19 miles remaining.

Either we have a lighter right foot than the morning's test driver, or the range calculations are designed to stay on the conservative side.

Either would be fine as far as we're concerned, though the car's Eco Score of 73 percent on delivery had risen to 90 percent by the time we returned the car.

Driving impressions

The Smart Electric Drive doesn't feel quite like any other electric car we've tested (which is to say, almost all of them).

It's heavy for such a small car, and the controls require a certain amount of muscle--including the steering, which isn't power assisted, and the accelerator, which needs a deliberate push to deliver power.

Acceleration is good from a stop, if you peg the needle on the power gauge, but the electric Smart is better from 0 to 30 mph than from 30 to 60 mph, when it begins to lag--though in fairness, that applies to the gasoline version as well.

2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Aug 20132013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabrio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Aug 2013

The electric Smart, thankfully, dispenses entirely with the dreadful automated manual gearbox fitted to the gasoline version, which slams in and out of gear and pitches the car back and forth on its short wheelbase. The electric drivetrain eliminates that problem altogether.

The electric motor that powers the rear wheels, located under the load deck and behind the driver's backside, is rated at 35 kilowatts (47 horsepower) of continuous power, with a peak output of 55 kW (74 hp). Its maximum torque is an even 100 lb-ft.

'Kick-down' for boost

There's a "kick-down" function that gives a little extra boost of power for passing, but you won't get it by accident. It requires a deliberate push to floor the accelerator.

If you use the power, though, you'll find you can break loose the inside rear wheel accelerating out of a bumpy corner--which is fun.er.

The electric motor that powers the rear wheels, located under the load deck and behind the driver's backside, is rated at 35 kilowatts (47 horsepower) of continuous power, with a peak output of 55 kW (74 hp). Its maximum torque is an even 100 lb-ft.

'Kick-down' for boost

There's a "kick-down" function that gives a little extra boost of power for passing, but you won't get it by accident. It requires a deliberate push to floor the accelerator.

If you use the power, though, you'll find you can break loose the inside rear wheel accelerating out of a bumpy corner--which is fun.

The ride is firm, and less bouncy than the standard Smart ForTwo--surely due to the extra 300 pounds of weight, and the 17.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack's location low in the floorpan.

With the cloth roof rolled back and both windows down, the electric Smart Cabriowas a bit noisier than the Coupe would have been with its windows up--hardly surprising.

But we enjoyed the open air, and think that in temperate climates, Smart may find its sells a high proportion of Cabrios among its Electric Drive deliveries.

And we'd note that you get more of a wind-in-the-hair feel with the top and windows down in the Smart Cabrio than you do in the Fiat 500c Cabrio. That's a plus in our book.

Random notes

A few random impressions we jotted down during our short test drive:

• We noticed a handful of squeaks and rattles in our car, which had less than 600 miles on it
• The little navigation screen works well enough and is fairly intuitive, not always the case
• The windshield header is low enough--and the front of the car so short--that seeing stoplights overhead requires contortions if you're first at a light
• The front seat cushion isn't adjustable for angle, and felt slightly tipped forward
• Rear vision is minimal, with only a narrow slit between the rollbar and the stacked cloth top
• European control placement has to be learned: ignition key on the tunnel, locks in the dash

High end of the range

Befitting a very small car with a price tag of $25,000, the Smart Electric Drive is a fairly high-level version of the ForTwo range. The drop-top Cabrio starts at an even higher $28,750.

2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Quick Drive, May 2013

It comes standard with such niceties as a CD player and SD card drive, accessible by pushing a button to flip up the display screen for the navigation system.

The one feature we really missed, however, was cruise control--if our car had it, we never found it.

In the end, we found the Smart Electric Drive Cabrio a fun car that's likely to appeal to the values that Smart buyers treasure: individuality, minimalism, and of course the ability to park almost anywhere due to its 106-inch length..

Will Smart sell a lot of electric cars? We can't say, but given that it's a combination of three very small segments of the U.S. market--two-seat cars, electric cars, and convertibles--it's definitely a unique entry.

Even if you're statistically unlikely to see one near you any time soon.

Source: Green Car Reports