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Smart 42Story by Jeff Feldsher - November 15,2007 Ever stared at an impossibly small car puttering along and wondered “why on earth would anyone want to drive that?” Well it turns out more and more people are overcoming the stigma of driving something that looks like its right out of Mr. Bean’s 10 most wanted list. “We wanted to create a feeling that the car was larger on the inside than the outside, It's not just a car that wants to be cute; it wants to be taken seriously.” said designer Hartmut Sinkwitz. These mini-mobiles are rapidly gaining popularity, owners citing rising fuel prices and increased traffic congestion as major factors.
Now you can add the Mercedes made Smart 42 to the list. As the name implies it is indeed built “for two”, and designed for cost conscious, no-frills travelers. Only slightly longer than a full size SUV is wide, the Smart 42 has a pleasing thrifty character, and will be available in dealerships by January of next year. Response has been extremely positive with nearly 34,000 buyers forking over the $99 deposit fee to secure one.
While it may be an ideal solution for many grid-locked commuters stuck daily in big city congestion, at this price point there are trade-offs to be considered. The base model also referred to as pure trim, starts at a paltry $11,590; however traffic jam life-savers such as air conditioning, power steering, and incredibly even a radio are deleted. For an additional $2000, buyers can opt for passion trim, adding more standard equipment, and a spruced-up, livelier interior. Despite its puny look, crash test safety results are outstanding. “Which can support more weight, a short ladder or a long ladder?” asks Karl-Heinz Baumann, mechanical engineer for passive safety at Mercedes-Benz. “If you make it smaller, you make it stiffer. You cannot say larger is safer. It depends on the situation.”
Typically vehicles in this class are sold with manual transmissions. This saves weight, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows more power to get down to the road. But given the Smart 42’s intended purpose, this may not be appropriate. Over a two hour commute, constantly squeezing the clutch pedal while stuck in stop and go traffic is enough to leave anyone disgruntled. And in all likelihood hobbling around like a peg leg pirate overdue for shore leave. As such, Mercedes has come up with a very unique solution to enjoy the best of both worlds. All Smart 42’s are equipped with a conventional standard transmission, though shifts are done automatically with the use of an electronic clutch. For a little more control, drivers can also manually change gears via the central gear selector, or paddle shifters mounted on the steering column, however clutch operation is still handled automatically. Just as with any manual transmission, there is a noticeable pause while the electronic clutch engages the next gear.
Employing a 3 cylinder 70HP engine, the Smart 42 delivers adequate grunt for most situations, but don’t expect to win any drag races; 60mph arrives in a leisurely 12.8sec, with terminal velocity set at 90mph. EPA figures are surprisingly unimpressive for this type of vehicle; registering a mediocre 40mpg in city driving, and 45mpg highway. An alternative fuel powered Smart is currently under testing, and may ultimately be released, depending on the Smart 42’s long-term success.
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