Selecting super miser could be a Smart decision

THE Mercedes Car Group will decide soon whether to introduce what would become Australia’s most fuel-efficient car – a diesel-powered version of the Smart ForTwo micro car.

The company is finalising its plans for the second-generation ForTwo city car, which is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms next February.

It will definitely import a petrol version, but it is the diesel-engine Smart that parent Mercedes-Benz is considering that would set a new fuel-consumption standard.

It records an official fuel economy figure of just 3.4L/100km and CO2 emissions of just 90g/km. The company will also soon lock in which petrol engine it will choose for the new model.

Smart in Europe offers three different versions of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that produce 45kW, 52kW or 62kW. There is only one diesel, an 800cc unit which generates a modest 33kW.

Left: Current ForTwo on its way to a class-win at the World Solar Challenge last weekend and (below) new model undergoing Euro NCAP test.

Mercedes-Benz has decided it will definitely take both the coupe and the cabrio version of the ForTwo.

According to European NCAP crash-test results released last week, the ForTwo coupe recorded four stars out of five for the all-important adult occupant protection rating.

While still not a five-star car, the result is an improvement when compared to the original Smart car, which only scored three stars.

The ForTwo was not tested for child protection as it has no rear seats.

The current model sold in Australia also last weekend became the overall winner of the Greenfleet Technology Class’ segment for commercially available vehicles in this year’s World Solar Challenge.

The ForTwo coupe made the trip from Darwin to the South Australian capital last week, covering 3568km over seven days with a fuel consumption rate of only 4.61L/100km.

The car was driven by three non-professional drivers who used an “everyday” driving style. The journey was also made with the car’s tyres inflated at recommended pressures and with the air-conditioning running the entire time.