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New Smart Hybrid
Smart has announced plans for three electric and hybrid versions of its Fortwo, one of which will make production and two of which are possibilities. While Smarts are efficient vehicles to begin with, the new Fortwo equipped with micro hybrid drive, a system that turns off the motor when the Smart is not moving, will go on sale at the end of this year. The other two systems are more aggressive and haven't officially been announced, but their introduction looks likely.
The micro hybrid drive equipped Fortwo 1 liter achieves about 54 miles per gallon in the European combined cycle. That's up from 48 without the engine stop-start function. A belt-driven starter generator provides electrical power for the Smart when the motor has stopped. Like other hybrids, the Smart is designed to power up with little hesitation.
The other two eco-friendly Smarts are more aggressive: a zero-emission electric Smart and a full hybrid diesel or gas Smart. The zero-emission model is all electric and is said to travel up to 115 km on a charge. Smart claims it will run to 60 km/h in 5.7 seconds.
The hybrid Fortwo has been developed in both gas and diesel models. No specifications for the gas model have been released, but the diesel averages about 81 miles per gallon and produces one of the lowest emissions of any vehicle on the planet.
No pricing has been introduced for the start-stop Smart and no production plans have been introduced for the electric or hybrid Smarts. The plan is for select Penske Auto Group dealers to begin selling the traditional gas Smarts in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2008. Smart hasn't announced whether the start-stop model will be available in the United States. Since the current diesel model won't pass U.S. or Canadian emissions standards, Smart is holding off until the introduction of the Bluetec diesel model expected in 2009.
The micro hybrid drive equipped Fortwo 1 liter achieves about 54 miles per gallon in the European combined cycle. That's up from 48 without the engine stop-start function. A belt-driven starter generator provides electrical power for the Smart when the motor has stopped. Like other hybrids, the Smart is designed to power up with little hesitation.
The other two eco-friendly Smarts are more aggressive: a zero-emission electric Smart and a full hybrid diesel or gas Smart. The zero-emission model is all electric and is said to travel up to 115 km on a charge. Smart claims it will run to 60 km/h in 5.7 seconds.
The hybrid Fortwo has been developed in both gas and diesel models. No specifications for the gas model have been released, but the diesel averages about 81 miles per gallon and produces one of the lowest emissions of any vehicle on the planet.
No pricing has been introduced for the start-stop Smart and no production plans have been introduced for the electric or hybrid Smarts. The plan is for select Penske Auto Group dealers to begin selling the traditional gas Smarts in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2008. Smart hasn't announced whether the start-stop model will be available in the United States. Since the current diesel model won't pass U.S. or Canadian emissions standards, Smart is holding off until the introduction of the Bluetec diesel model expected in 2009.
