smart cdi coming to the UK in 2009
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In February, Daimler will start producing right-hand drive smart fortwo cdi vehicles for the UK market. Sales will start later in 2009. That's the same year that lithium-ion fortwo prototypes might begin testing (current battery-powered smarts that use sodium-nickel-chloride packs are already being tested in the UK). So, while they wait for the EV smarts, Britons will have to make due with a vehicle that has the lowest CO2 emission of any current production car in the world (88g/km) and that boasts 71mpg (U.S.) numbers using a three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz that puts out 45hp. And it's pretty safe, too. Prices will be announced later.
Press Release:
Greenest smart bound for Britain
The world's CO2 champion, the smart fortwo cdi, is coming to Britain.
Sales of the new smart diesel model, which boasts the lowest CO2 emissions of any current production car worldwide, just 88g/km, will start next year with manufacturing of right-hand drive models commencing in February.
As well as impressive green credentials buyers will appreciate the car's remarkable fuel economy. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 85.6mpg. It means the new smart can travel 670 miles between top-ups, equivalent to a journey from Dover to Prague.
Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: "The cdi gives customers the whole range of smart benefits when driving in and around the city, with the added bonus of low cost, long distance motoring. Our retailers are reporting heightened interest in the iconic two-seater; registrations are buoyant and we think the addition of the smart cdi to the range early next year will give added momentum."
The car's Mercedes-Benz-developed three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine develops a healthy 45hp, offering drivers useful performance as well as economy. The diesel model will be available in both coupé and cabrio versions.
The smart cdi benefits from all the enhancements currently available in the new smart fortwo petrol models, including improved ride and handling, class-leading safety, added protection from head and thorax airbags, a larger boot, more elbow and shoulder room, comfier seats, upgraded trim and a revised dashboard layout with a more efficient ventilation system. There is also a new five-speed semi-automatic transmission offering both fully automatic and manual modes.
Pricing and specification for the new diesel model will be announced nearer to launch.
Gallery: 2006 smart fortwo CDi
[Source: Daimler]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jeffzekas 1:33PM (6/20/2008)
How about a Smart Fortwo diesel for the US market?
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Randy 1:33PM (6/20/2008)
Will we ever get these kinda of vehicles here?
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:34PM (6/20/2008)
For anyone who wants to compare, this gets 33% better fuel economy than a VW TDI Golf BlueMotion. This is comparing UK mpg to UK mpg, combined to combined.
It's about 40% better the A VW TDI Golf Match (which is a more affordable car), again UK to UK, combined to combined.
The BlueMotion and Match make 100HP. The BlueMotion is 119g/km, the Match is 132g/km. If you get the DSG transmission on either, the figures get a lot worse.
You can make your own decisions as to whether it's worth giving up two seats and some other stuff for the fuel economy/CO2 improvement.
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Karkus 2:00PM (6/20/2008)
According to this
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/18/vw-polo-bluemotion-is-now-down-to-99g-km-co2/
and other sources, the TDI Bluemotion is down to 99g/km.
So the Smart only gets 11 % lower CO2 (but with 44% fewer HP and with half the number of seats).
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hodad66 2:23PM (6/20/2008)
that's what I'm waiting for & why I dropped my reservation for the current Smart. Diesel or electric would be great!!
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s13hybrid 2:57PM (6/20/2008)
So far I will be waiting on the Toyota IQ. But it would be a different story if Smart is for sure going to come out with a PHEV.
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Stan Peterson 6:17PM (6/20/2008)
This cdi diesel without full diesel cleanup, is designed for city use.
It is the polluting equivalent of around about 50 modern US gasoline autos. Every one added to the auto fleet, is like adding 50 gasoline cars to the local roads. Just what you want to do in a polluted city. Right!
Even as the PR release propaganda says it releases a little bit less of non-toxic CO2.
Call me back when it meets T2B5 genuine pollution limiting standards, and then it will only pollute like 2 or 3 modern US gasoline cars. That's bad enough; but a whole lot better than this "polluting pig".
Now I wonder how many ignorant environmentalists from the Sierra Club, would queue up to purchase such polluting pigs. All the while, thinking that they are "helping clean the environment" as they "sacrifice", in a cramped, marginally unsafer auto. Even as they would actually pollute even more?
Thankfully the T2B5 genuine cleaner diesel standard exists. A standard that real environmentalists, of both left and right promulgated, and we won't see this "polluting pig" until it does clean up and conforms.
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John 9:38AM (7/26/2008)
Years ago, Stan, I used to drive a huge 5 cutting cylinder ride on mower for the council. It had an open 'cab' & therefore no weather protection. On bitterly cold days, I would stand next to the side exit exhaust pipe, & take its 2.2 litre diesel to full revs to warm myself up. The exhaust was at crotch level (which was nice!) & the powerful exhaust jet would blast up my jacket, & exit around my ears & face. I would sometimes stand there for 10 minutes to get warm. This vehicle had no filters or emission control of any kind, & even though I was breathing in the fumes directly, all I ever experienced was the blissful feeling of being toasty warm.
If I had attempted to do that had the mower been fitted with a petrol engine, I would have been in a coma within 5 minutes, & dead within 10.
Incidently, studies conducted over a period of 50 years of workers in the diesel industry, who were exposed daily to huge volumes of diesel exhaust fumes, - showed no higher incidents of lung or other health issues compared to the general populace.
The day when a 100 mpg diesel out pollutes a 15 mpg Yank tank, is the day when diesel haters talking out of their arse will start to make sense. That day will never come.
Richard 6:08AM (6/27/2008)
I would seriously doubt that the Smart Cdi emits the pollution of 50 petrol cars. That's just ludicrous. There's no way that could be from such a small engine with only 33kw. You're talking out your ass Stan. If that's so, then a diesel Jetta must be like 500 petrol cars. Being from Mercedes it would have all the necessary filtration and diesel clean up before going out the tail pipe. Plus it's a very safe car, safer than quite a few modern sedans Stan.
You're an idiot, simple as that. Pretending to know what you're talking about is a really bad idea. Your apparent hatred of Smart cars only shows that you probably hate them because of what they embody and that it's not an F-250. You're probably just like all those ignorant fools, except that you want to sound moderately educated as opposed to just mouthing off.
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