The all-new smart fortwo electric drive
The new generation smart fortwo electric drive is a natural next step for the trend-setting smart brand. In light of the brand’s environmental leadership, the zeroemission electric drive is an evolutionary extension of the fortwo, which has led the auto industry in urban mobility and energy conservation.
The smart fortwo electric drive is a zero-emission visual statement that further defines the spirit of smart. Based on the iconic smart fortwo, and available in coupe and cabriolet body styles, the new generation smart fortwo electric drive has the smallest footprint of any car on U.S. roads and represents a key step in sustainable transportation. It enters the U.S. market at an ideal time as the United States is setting policy goals for reducing CO2 and dependence on fossil fuels.
development of the smart fortwo electric drive
smart fortwo electric drive was part of the smart concept from the very start. When the smart design was first conceived more than 20 years ago, smart developers anticipated the need for alternative powertrains. As a result, designers didn’t have to make any compromises in the safety, agility, comfort and space of the smart fortwo electric drive.
The electric drive battery fits right where the fuel tank usually goes, in the underfloor area between the front and rear wheels, while the electric motor replaces the conventional engine between the rear wheels. As a result, the electric drive looks just like a normalfortwo. The electric drive has the same outside footprint, the same interior room, the same cargo space and the same high level of safety that have come to define the smart fortwo.
development milestones
Beginning in 2007, the first smart electric drive pilot project involved 100 cars that were tested in downtown London by companies and other fleet owners, a majority of whom had approached smart about participating in the test. London was an ideal test environment because of its high traffic congestion, parking shortages, noise and pollution. The test cars were equipped with high-temperature sodium-nickel-chloride batteries that work at about 600°F degrees, providing a range of about 60 miles. The batteries required pre-heating, and were housed in insulated cases similar to large double-wall thermos bottles.
The next generation began in 2009 and went broader with more than 2,000 cars in 18 markets around the world, including 250 electric drive vehicles for the United States (not including an additional 300 units in operation by sister company Car2Go). These cars used lithium-ion batteries, which were more efficient and operated at normal temperatures, with a range of about 63 miles on a full charge. Like the first-phase cars, the motors produced 20 kilowatts of continuous power, plus a peak power of 30 kilowatts for passing and accelerating.
Targeted to early adopters who helped to define new alternatives in transportation and were making a passionate statement about energy conservation and environmental awareness, the 250 electric drive cars in the United States were spread nationwide, with an emphasis on regions such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. where vehicle charging stations are more readily available.
Placements included companies, municipalities and individuals under a four-year, 40,000- mile lease agreement starting at $599 a month for an electric-drive coupe. A $7,500 federal subsidy for electric vehicles was factored into the lease price, but it didn’t include state and local subsidies that further reduced the price in some areas. Participants had direct access to the smart USA team, received special communications about the electric drive experience and were invited to forums and special events.
The new generation smart electric drive will retail at $25,000, making it the most affordable production electric vehicle in the U.S. A companion cabriolet model will retail at $28,000 when both models hit the U.S. market in the spring of 2013. Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (which run up to $7,500) or state/local tax credits, further reducing the cost.
electric drive technology
The smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a magneto-electric motor that’s installed between the rear wheels in place of the conventional engine. Because electric motors create instant high torque, the car uses a single gear instead of a multiple-gear transmission. As a result, there’s no need for shifting – a major advantage especially in dense city traffic. To back up, the electric motor is simply run in the opposite direction.
electric motor details
In the new generation of the smart fortwo electric drive, an EM-motive (joint venture between Bosch and Daimler) 55-kilowatt electric motor provides 35 kilowatts of continuous power that translates to 96 lb.-ft. of torque. In its kickdown mode, the motor can generate peak power of 55 kilowatts for about two minutes. This power provides acceleration from zero to 60 mph in less than 12 seconds, and a top speed of more than 78 mph.
lithium-ion battery
In general, lithium-ion batteries boast shorter charging time, better performance, longer life and higher reliability than other battery technologies. Neatly hidden under the floor, the lithium-ion battery from the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotive in the new generation of the smart fortwo electric drive provides 17.6 kilowatt-hours of electrical power, with an efficiency of 110 watt hours per kilogram.
The all-new smart electric drive achieves 122 city MPGe, or miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. This rating is the most accurate reflection of an electric vehicle’s true fuel efficiency, as expressed in miles per US gallon.
The EPA tested range for the electric drive is 76 miles in city driving. In real world driving however, the customer may achieve closer to 90 miles on a full charge, which is reflected in the European testing. (European models have been certified at 145 km on a full charge, which translates to roughly a 90-mile range.) However, much like conventional fuel economy, the range of any electric vehicle depends on driving habits and weather so consumers can expect the range between charges to vary.
regenerative braking
Unlike non-electric vehicles, the smart fortwo electric drive can recover much of the energy that’s usually lost during braking. During coasting and braking, the electric motor acts as a generator, helping to slow the car and pumping up to 30 kilowatts back into the battery. In other words, the momentum of the car is converted into extra electrical power during coasting and braking. Due in large part to regenerative braking, the smart fortwo electric drive is very efficient even in stop-and-go traffic.
intelligent charging
The smart fortwo electric drive features a sophisticated battery management system to make it convenient and maximize its efficiency. First, it can be charged from any normal household 110-volt wall socket with the provided standard cable or a 240-volt socket (like those used for electric clothes dryers and kitchen ranges) with a charging station.
Charging time depends on battery temperature and which outlet is used. From a 240-volt outlet, it only takes 3½ hours to charge the battery from 20 to 80 percent and about six hours to reach full charge from a depleted battery.
communication through the power lines
The smart fortwo electric drive can communicate with the smart vehicle homepage through the power lines whenever the car is being charged. This real-time data provides useful information to owners about usage patterns, power draw and vehicle performance. As
electrical vehicles increase in numbers, this information is critical to help users understand the impact of electric vehicles. The power line communication will also be able to handle automatic billing and provide real-time information about the state of charge, interior temperature and system pre-conditioning.
The goal for the future is to have the car and the utility be able to schedule off-peak charging. For example, if the vehicle needs four hours to recharge, but it’s programmed to allow a 12-hour charging window, the car will charge when the rate is cheapest and load on when the utility grid is lowest. smart phone app
The information is also available via a smart phone app, which will give the user charging information, charge time remaining and expected completion time. When driving, the app’s map feature will highlight nearby charging connections and set favorite charging locations as well as estimating driving distance and tracking available battery range.
special gauges
On the dash, a power meter gauge and state of charge gauge replace the optional tachometer and clock. Like a gas gauge, the charge gauge shows the percentage of battery power remaining, with a red line below 20 percent. Once the battery is at 20 percent, a warning message is activated. At 10 percent the driver is alerted again that the car is using the battery reserve and when the car reaches 5 percent, warning sounds and a dash indicator begins to flash.
The powermeter gauge shows power draw and regeneration in real time, not unlike a fuel economy gauge on some conventional cars. With zero at the top, the left side has a green line of increasing width showing the amount of power regeneration, and on the right, a yellow line of increasing width shows the extent of power draw. While driving, the gauge pointer moves from right to left as the vehicle draws and regenerates battery power. In addition to the usual warning lights, special lights indicate coolant temperature, high-voltage system failure, charging cord connected, regenerative braking inactive and drive system diagnosis. Every vehicle also comes equipped an eco-meter which shows how efficiently the car is being driven.
preconditioning
In an electric car, heat and AC draw power from the battery, which can reduce the range. To maximize the driving range on very cold or hot days, the smart fortwo electric drive will pre-condition the cabin while the car’s still plugged in, drawing energy from the power grid rather than the battery. When the driver begins charging the car, the next driving time can be set like an alarm, so the car’s interior temperature will be pre-conditioned and fully charged for the next trip.
the smallest footprint on the road
While the smart fortwo electric drive has the smallest footprint of any production car in the world, it also boasts surprising head and legroom. Looking over the expansive dash and windshield, the electric drive feels like a medium-sized sedan, but it’s only 8.8 feet long. At the same time, state-of-the-art engineering provides exceptional safety that complements its small-on-the-outside-big-on-the-inside practicality.
A stylish car that clearly stands out from the crowd, its small size makes for nimble movement and easy parking, especially for people who commute through or live in congested areas. The smart fortwo electric drive is big on comfort, safety, agility and ecology, expressing the forward-thinking, confidence and responsibility of its owner.
smart safety
Although many people wrongly perceive small cars as unsafe, Mercedes-Benz safety experts designed the smart fortwo to excel in collisions with larger vehicles. A trendsetter in terms of small-car safety technology, it has endured extensive crash testing and meets all U.S. motor vehicle safety standards.
tridion safety cell
The heart of the smart safety design is its tridion safety cell, which is like the roll-cage in a race car. Made largely of high-strength steel, the rigid tridion safety cell is designed to involve the crumple zone of the other vehicle and distribute impact energy over the entire width of the car body.
More high-strength steel reinforces the tridion safety cell at strategic points. The entire area between the wheel wells is reinforced for added protection in side impacts, and bulkheads bolted into the B-pillars serve the same purpose. Connecting plates on the cross members help transfer side-impact forces around the safety cell rather than through it. A double plate in the floor supports the pedals and protects the driver’s feet. To provide additional protection for the interior, the engine, High Voltage battery, and 12V battery are housed in impact-protected zones.
Wide steel bumpers connect to bolt-on crash boxes at the front and rear that can be inexpensively replaced after a minor collision. In a rear collision, the motor is designed to slide under the passenger cell rather than into it.
seat belts and air bags
The smart fortwo electric drive coupes have eight standard air bags – front, side, knee and window curtain – for the driver and passenger. Because of the cabriolet’s open-top design, head/thorax air bags are installed instead of the coupe’s side and window curtain air bags.
The front air bags are dual-stage, so that they inflate faster and more fully in severe frontal collisions. In moderate collisions, they inflate more slowly and not as completely. To predict collision severity earlier and more accurately, the smart fortwo electric drive is equipped
with two additional sensors in the nose of the car. And, to save repair costs, the 34-gallon passenger front air bag located at the top of the dash is only triggered when an adult is detected in the passenger seat.
Three-point seat belts are complemented by belt tensioners and belt-force limiters. The tensioners deploy early in the crash sequence, removing slack from the belts. As forces build on the chest a split-second later, the belt-force limiters then relax the belts slightly to minimize possible belt injuries.
side crashes
Sitting about eight inches above a comparable small car usually means better protection in a car-to-car impact. Thanks to the design of the tridion safety cell, passengers are often above the danger zone in side-impact collisions.
The wheels can also play a role in a side collision. Thanks to its relatively short wheelbase of 73.5 inches, the other car will typically hit an axle, which can absorb a lot of the impact energy.
When side satellite sensors detect a side crash, the window curtain or head/thorax air bags are triggered to protect the upper part of the body, the neck and the head.
standard ABS
While seat belts and airbags help to protect occupants when a crash is inevitable, the hightech safety of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and the electronic stability program (ESP®) can help avoid crashes. Standard equipment on the smart fortwo electric drive, ABS releases the brakes momentarily whenever wheel speed sensors indicate a locked wheel during braking (ABS doesn’t “pump” the brakes – it’s actually like pumping in reverse). The key purpose of ABS is to allow the driver to continue steering during emergency braking.
exceptional ESP
Also standard on the smart fortwo electric drive, ESP® has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal single-vehicle accidents by a whopping 50 percent. ESP® senses impending loss of control, and in a split second, brakes individual wheels, something that even the most skilled driver cannot do. ESP® can be compared to having four individual brake pedals, one for each wheel, with a powerful computer to determine which pedal should be applied when and for how long.
ESP® helps drivers maintain stability, especially on slippery roads, by helping to prevent oversteering (rear-end “fishtailing”) or understeering (front-end “plowing”).
Even the “ESP” abbreviation helps underscore the system’s benefits – it works invisible, seemingly intuitively, to help keep the car going where the driver points it, when conditions might otherwise lead to loss of control and a possible accident without the system.
Using electronic sensors (primarily for yaw and lateral acceleration) and lightning-fast computer logic, the system constantly monitors a vehicle’s actual path against its intended path.
If there’s any difference between what the driver is “asking” (primarily through the steering wheel) and what the vehicle is actually doing, the system works in a split-second by braking individual wheels and/or reducing excess engine power, even before the driver may sense any changes.
rain/light sensor
A rain/light sensor is standard on all electric drive models. The sensor detects daylight and will automatically turn on headlights at dusk, while the rain sensor will regulate the speed of the windshield wipers at the first sign of rain.
outside the smart fortwo electric drive
The smart fortwo electric drive is equipped with halogen projection headlights which have turn signals integrated into the headlights. The door handles blend into the car’s shoulder line, which starts at the headlights and runs along the front fenders.
The back of the car is dominated by a large rear window as well as its lights – a center brake light at the roofline; taillights, turn signals and brake lights at the corners; and back-up lights below.
virtually infinite color options
The smart fortwo electric drive’s unique design offers style and practicality with an emphasis on safety. With its modular body panels, wraps, interior tailoring and huge selection of paints, the fortwo offers an endless array of possibilities. Through the “smart Expressions” program, customers can create their own lifestyle (or fashion) accessory by selecting from a broad palette of pre-made full vehicle wraps, decals, tridion cell, and mirror wraps. Customers also have the ability to custom design their own wraps and decals
through the smart USA website. Additionally, customers can choose to individualize the interior and select from an even more expansive portfolio of exterior paint colors through the “smart BRABUS tailor made” program that launched in the fall of 2012.
roofs to suit any lifestyle
The roof of the smart fortwo electric drive is unique in its class. The coupe includes a panoramic see-through panel of high-strength polycarbonate.
The soft top on the cabriolet model is fully automatic and can be opened to any position, and at any speed. Unlike most convertibles, the smart cabriolet top can be opened or closed at the touch of a button while driving on the highway – a great example of the two-seater’s outstanding practicality. For a total top-down experience, the roof side bars can be removed and stowed in the trunk. And, the cabriolet even has a heated glass rear window.
inside the fortwo
The smart fortwo electric drive has a surprising feeling of interior spaciousness that’s comparable to a standard-size sedan. In particular, its long, steeply angled windshield and unique floating look of the dash convey a roomy feeling. Customers getting behind the wheel for the first time are pleasantly surprised at the spacious interior and how easy it is to get in and out of the car. Because of its impressive headroom, even people well over six feet tall don’t feel cramped.
staggered seating
To provide lots of shoulder room, the passenger seat is actually positioned about six inches behind the driver’s seat. Both seats and the head restraints are well contoured, offering comfortable lateral support, with adjustment levers under the seats and nine-inch tracks for fore-and-aft travel. The fortwo comes with a seat belt guide that swivels for greater comfort and simpler operation, and an optional folding driver’s armrest is also available.
eye-catching gauges
On the third-generation electric drive, a power meter gauge and state of charge gauge replace the optional tachometer and clock. Like a gas gauge, the charge gauge shows the percentage of battery power remaining, with a red line below 20 percent. Bracketed by two air vents, the temperature controls are mounted at the top of the center console where the driver and passenger can both reach them easily. Slide levers regulate temperature and fan speed. Buttons for central locking, optional fog lights and optional seat heating are located on the lower dash panel, and the ignition lock is located on the center console behind the shift lever, rather than the usual spot by the steering column.
Optional ambient lighting helps create a pleasant atmosphere during night driving. Complete with a dimmer, the ambient lighting uses LEDs in each door pocket and footwell as well as three in the dash and one in the headliner that washes the console in low light.
smart sounds
Cutting-edge audio systems make driving a smart fortwo electric drive even more fun. A smart entry-line RDS AM/FM radio with USB and AUX ports for an MP3 or CD player is standard on the electric drive. A large three-line display makes it easy to navigate through the menus and operate an iPod through the radio controls.
Two optional audio systems are also available – the smart highline and a surround-sound system. The highline is a high-quality multi-media system with a 6.5-inch touch-screen display, an integrated navigation system with perspective maps and hands-free Bluetooth. The versatile touch screen provides convenient operation of the radio, CD/DVD player and hands-free Bluetooth operation of a cell phone and GPS navigation. The highline system also includes an iPod/USB connection that enables users to play music from an iPod or data stick through the car’s audio system. Bluetooth audio streaming is also included in the package. Additionally, an SD card slot also allows videos and photographs to be displayed on the touch screen for the passenger to view.
The optional surround-sound system boasts incredible sound quality. A multi-channel digital amplifier powers matched tweeters in the outside mirror triangles, mid-range speakers in the doors, rear-fills in the B-pillars and a subwoofer under the driver’s seat. surprising storage space
Considering the car’s small size, it’s amazing how much fits into the trunk of the electric drive. With 7.8 cubic feet of storage space, there’s more than enough luggage room for weekend trips and most shopping, and owners who want to load their car to the ceiling have a full 12 cubic feet of space. What’s more, large objects such as bicycles, furniture or lumber can be transported in the smart fortwo electric drive by folding the passenger seat forward. The two-piece tailgate needs very little room to open, for example in tight parking spaces. The bottom half of the tailgate even has storage space inside; the cabriolet roof bars are designed to be stored in this special compartment. The tailgate opens automatically as soon as one of the two release levers is pulled.
Inside, both doors have expandable net pockets for extra storage space, and the fortwo has net pockets between the seats as well.
The smart fortwo electric drive coupe and cabriolet models equipped with the entryline radio come with a chrome-trimmed drawer below the radio that is handy for small items such as coins or pens.
redesigned smart and special editions
MONTVALE, NJ – A redesigned line of smart fortwo cars made its U.S. debut in May 2012. The new lineup features a larger front grille, bolder front apron, muscular side skirts and a modified rear apron. The smart logo is now front and center in the grille, while a new design for the optional LED daytime running lights bracket a bold, lower-bumper air inlet. Even sportier three-spoke alloy wheels are also optionally available.
While an exterior facelift is the focus of the new line, interior changes include new optional crystal grey leather package that features a leather/fabric combination for the seats and simulated leather on the dash, and door panels. Contrast stitching is included on the seats, dash and doors.
three distinct models
The smart fortwo lineup is comprised of three versions – the pure coupe, the passion coupe and the passion cabriolet. The pure model is the most affordable smart fortwo, the passion coupe offers more standard equipment, and the passion cabriolet adds the exhilaration of top-down, open-air driving.
a choice of gasoline or electric drive
The smart fortwo coupe or cabriolet can be ordered with either a three-cylinder, 70- horsepower gasoline engine or an advanced-technology electric drive system. Rated at 38 mpg in EPA highway tests, the conventionally powered smart fortwo is one of the most fuelefficient gasoline-powered non-hybrid vehicles in the U.S. To take up as little space as possible, the engine is mounted crosswise in the rear.
The all-new smart electric version will be launched in spring 2013 and looks just like a normal fortwo. The battery fits right where the fuel tank usually goes in the underfloor area between the front and rear wheels, and an electric motor replaces the conventional engine between the rear wheels.
“sharpred” special edition
The smart line for 2013 model year also includes an eye-catching sharpred special edition that launched in July 2012. With only 120 of the limited-production model earmarked for the U.S. market, the sharpred features a striking contrast of red and black – the tridion safety cell and mirror housings are red, while the rest of the car, including the alloy wheels, are finished in black. Available as a coupe or cabriolet, the sharpred package features an exclusive interior design with black leather and red contrast stitching, exclusive floor mats, black simulated leather covered dash and door panels with red contrast stitching.
new BRABUS sport package
Available in September 2012 for the gasoline-powered smart fortwo models, an optional BRABUS sport package includes even sportier front, side and rear aprons, six-twin-spoke alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system and sport suspension. Inside, the BRABUS sport package includes sport pedals, BRABUS floor mats and black leather seats.
“iceshine” special edition
300 all-white iceshine special edition vehicles rolled into stores October 2012. This stunning model will feature crystal white body panels, white tridion safety cell, and white wheels. The interior will boast black leather optic with white contrast cross-stitching, white trim parts and white fabric backrest. Cabriolet models will be fitted with a black soft top. All iceshine models will also include LED daytime running lamps, power steering, and heated seats.
“edition cityflame”
The smart fortwo special edition cityflame rolls into dealer showrooms this summer and is the latest in a long line of attractive special models from smart, proving yet again the high customizability of the iconic two-seater. Arresting yellow body panels stand out against a
black tridion safety cell and mirror caps. The interior features black leather optic and fabric seats with yellow stitching accents, and a 3-spoke leather sports steering wheel with shift paddles and yellow stitching. The cityflame also includes black BRABUS wheels and custom floor mats featuring the cityflame logo.
the ultimate city car
When smart first came to the U.S., its unusual shape turned heads. What seemed otherworldly to some has become a familiar sight for many. In only three years, more than 50,000 smart fortwo micro-cars have been sold here in the U.S. and more than 1.3 million worldwide. Conceived as the ultimate city car that’s also a blast to drive, the smart fortwo is a trendsetter that’s already become an automotive icon. There’s even a smart car on permanent display beside other design icons in New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.
the smallest footprint on the road
While the smart fortwo has the smallest footprint of any car in the world, it also boasts surprising head and legroom. Looking over the expansive dash and windshield, the fortwo feels like a medium-sized sedan, but it’s only 8.8 feet long. At the same time, state-of-theart engineering provides exceptional safety that complements its small-on-the-outsidebig- on-the-inside practicality.
A stylish car that clearly stands out from the crowd, its small size makes for nimble movement and easy parking, especially for people who commute through congested city traffic. The smart fortwo is big on comfort, safety, agility and ecology, expressing the forward-thinking, confidence and responsibility of its owner.
a stick transmission with a cool clutch
The gas-powered smart fortwo is equipped with a fun-to-drive automated manual transmission. To make it more convenient in city driving, the car features an electric clutch, which means, although it’s a manual, it has no clutch pedal. Instead of a conventional stick,
which involves coordination between the left and right feet, drivers can use the gear shift lever to shift the transmission manually with a simple touch of their hand. Passion models also offer racing-type shift paddles on the steering wheel so drivers can safely shift up or down gears without ever taking their hands off the wheel.
virtually infinite color options
The smart fortwo’s unique design offers style and practicality with an emphasis on safety. Customers can choose from seven exterior colors, including a new grey matte finish. The tridion safety cell is available in two colors – black comes on all pure models and silver is standard on passion models, with a matching radiator and outside mirror trim. A black tridion safety cell is available for the passion models as well.
With its modular body panels, wraps, interior tailoring and huge selection of paints, the fortwo offers an endless array of possibilities. Through the “smart Expressions” program, customers can create their own lifestyle (or fashion) accessory by selecting from a broad palette of pre-made full vehicle wraps, decals, tridion cell, and mirror wraps (customers also have the ability to custom design their own wraps and decals). Now, through the “smart BRABUS tailor made” program that just launched in September 2012, customers can individualize the interior and choose from an even more expansive portfolio of exterior paint colors.
three roofs to suit any lifestyle
The roof of the smart fortwo is unique in its class. The passion coupe offers the no-charge choice of a conventional solid roof or a panoramic see-through panel of high-strength polycarbonate.
The soft top on the cabriolet model is fully automatic and can be opened to any position, and at any speed. Unlike most convertibles, the smart cabriolet top can be opened or closed at the touch of a button while driving on the highway – a great example of the two-seater’s outstanding practicality. For a total top-down experience, the roof side bars can be removed and stowed in the trunk. And, the cabriolet even has a heated glass rear window.
surprising spaciousness
The fortwo has a surprising feeling of interior spaciousness that’s comparable to a standard-size sedan. In particular, its long, steeply angled windshield and unique floating look of the dash convey a roomy feeling. Because of its impressive headroom, even people well over six feet tall don’t feel cramped. To provide lots of shoulder room, the passenger seat is actually positioned about six inches behind the driver’s seat, with nine inches of fore-aft travel for both seats.
smart safety
Although many people wrongly perceive small cars as unsafe, Mercedes-Benz safety experts designed the smart fortwo to excel in collisions with larger vehicles. A trendsetter in terms of small-car safety technology, the fortwo has endured extensive crash testing and meets all U.S. motor vehicle safety standards.
The heart of the smart safety design is its tridion safety cell, which is like the roll-cage in a race car. Made largely of high-strength steel, the rigid tridion safety cell is designed to involve the crumple zone of the other vehicle and distribute impact energy over the entire width of the car body. Wide steel bumpers connect to bolt-on crash boxes at the front and rear that can be replaced inexpensively after a minor collision. In a rear collision, the engine is designed to slide under the passenger cell rather than into it.
seat belts and air bags
The 2013 smart fortwo coupes have eight standard air bags – front, side, knee and window curtain – for the driver and passenger. Because of the cabriolet’s open-top design, head/thorax bags are installed instead of side and window curtain air bags. Three-point seat belts are complemented by belt tensioners and belt-force limiters. The tensioners deploy early in the crash sequence, removing slack from the belts. As forces build on the chest a split-second later, the belt-force limiters then relax the belts slightly to minimize possible belt injuries.
side crashes
Sitting about eight inches above a comparable small car usually means better protection in a car-to-car impact. Thanks to the design of the smart fortwo tridion safety cell, passengers are often above the danger zone in side-impact collisions. The fortwo wheels can also play a role in a side collision. Thanks to its relatively short wheelbase, the other car will typically hit an axle, which can absorb a lot of the impact energy. When side satellite sensors detect a side crash, the window curtain or head/thorax air bags are triggered to protect the upper part of the body, the neck and the head.
standard ABS
While seat belts and airbags are great at protecting occupants when a crash is inevitable, the high-tech safety of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and the electronic stability program (ESP®) can help the driver avoid crashes in the first place. Standard equipment on the smart fortwo, ABS releases the brakes for a split second whenever wheel speed sensors indicate a locked wheel (ABS doesn’t “pump” the brakes – it’s actually like pumping in reverse). The key purpose of ABS is to allow the driver to continue steering during emergency braking. standard ESP®
Also standard on all smart vehicles, ESP® has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal singlevehicle accidents by a whopping 50 percent. ESP® senses impending loss of control, and in a split second, brakes individual wheels, something that even the most skilled driver cannot do. ESP® can be compared to having four individual brake pedals, one for each wheel, with a powerful computer to determine which pedal should be applied when and for how long.
ESP® helps drivers maintain stability, especially on slippery roads, by helping to prevent oversteering (rear-end “fishtailing”) or understeering (front-end “plowing”). Even the “ESP” abbreviation helps underscore the system’s benefits – it works invisibly, seemingly intuitively, to help keep the car going where the driver points it, when conditionsmight otherwise lead to loss of control and a possible accident without the system. Using electronic sensors (primarily for yaw and lateral acceleration) and lightning-fast\ computer logic, the system constantly monitors a vehicle’s actual path against its intended path.
If there’s any difference between what the driver is “asking” (primarily through the steering wheel) and what the vehicle is actually doing, the system works in a split-second by braking individual wheels and/or reducing excess engine power, even before the driver may sense any changes.
All 2013 smart models sold in the U.S. are covered by a four-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle
limited warranty.
smart safety fact sheet
tridion safety cell: works like the roll-cage in a race car. Made largely of high-strength steel, the rigid tridion safety cell is designed to distribute impact energy over the entire width of the car body. More high-strength steel reinforces the tridion safety cell at strategic points, including a double plate in the floor that supports the pedals and protects the driver’s feet.
intelligent protection: to provide extra protection for the interior, the engine, fuel tank and battery are housed in protected zones. Wide steel bumpers connect to bolt-on crash boxes at the front and rear that can be replaced inexpensively after a minor collision. In a rear collision, the engine is designed to slide under the passenger cell rather than into it.
ABS: can help avoid crashes. Standard equipment on the smart fortwo, ABS releases the brakes for a split second whenever wheel speed sensors indicate a locked wheel. ABS allows the driver to continue steering during emergency braking.
ESP®: Also standard on the smart fortwo, ESP® has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal single-vehicle accidents by a whopping 50 percent. ESP® senses impending loss of control, and in a split second, brakes individual wheels, something that even the most skilled driver cannot do. ESP® can be compared to having four individual brake pedals, one for each wheel, with a powerful computer to determine which pedal should be applied when and for how long. ESP® helps drivers maintain stability, especially on slippery roads, by helping to prevent oversteer (rear-end “fishtailing”) or understeer (front-end “plowing”). Using electronic sensors (primarily for yaw and lateral acceleration) and lightening-fast computer logic, the system constantly monitors a vehicle’s actual path against its intended path.
If there’s any difference between what the driver is “asking” (primarily through the steering wheel) and what the vehicle is actually doing, the ESP system works in a split-second by braking individual wheels and/or reducing excess engine power, even before the driver may sense any changes.
eight air bags: front, side, knee and window curtain – for the driver and passenger in a smart fortwo coupe. Because of the cabriolet’s open-top design, it has six air bags. Head/thorax air bags are installed instead of the coupe’s side and window curtain air bags.
two-stage front air bags: so they inflate faster and more fully in severe frontal collisions. In moderate collisions, they inflate more slowly and not as completely. And, to save repair costs, the passenger front air bag located at the top of the dash is only triggered when an adult is actually sitting in the passenger seat.
three-point seat belts: are complemented by belt tensioners and belt-force limiters. The tensioners deploy early in the crash sequence, removing slack from the belts. As forces build on the chest a split-second later, the belt-force limiters then relax the belts slightly to minimize possible belt injuries.
side crashes: The smart fortwo sits about eight inches above other small cars, which means passengers are often above the danger zone in side-impact collisions. When side satellite sensors detect a side crash, the window curtain or head/thorax air bags are triggered to
protect the upper part of the body, the neck and the head. And, thanks to its relatively short wheelbase of 73.5 inches, the other car will almost always hit one of the wheels, which can absorb a lot of the impact energy.
Rain/light sensor: A rain/light sensor is included in all passion models and all electric drive models. The sensor detects daylight and will automatically turn on headlights at dusk, while the rain sensor will regulate the speed of the windshield wipers at the first sign of rain.
