SOCSF™

smart USA Launches Online Store: www.smartUSAgearstore.com
Owners and Enthusiasts Can Now Shop the Latest smart fortwo Clothing and Accessories Online

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI, (September 15, 2009) – smart USA Distributor LLC announced today that it has launched www.smartUSAgearstore.com , a new e-commerce store that features the official smart USA branded merchandise collection, which includes smart t-shirts, jackets, hats, key chains, model cars and other merchandise.

“The smart fortwo lends itself to customization and personalization,” said Dave Schembri, President, smart USA. “Now owners and enthusiasts can purchase smart branded merchandise online to express their passion for the smart brand that complements their driving experience.”

smart USA has partnered with Cintas Corporation as the exclusive distributor of the official smart USA branded merchandise collection.

In celebration of the smart USA gear store launch, shoppers will receive a ten percent discount on all men’s and women’s t-shirts ordered through September 30, 2009.

To shop the entire collection, visit www.smartUSAgearstore.com . The smart USA branded merchandise collection is also available at 78 smart centers across the country.

smart fortwo earns IIHS’ “strongest roof” rating among all cars in its class, also outranking other larger cars in same test

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The 2009 smart fortwo today was designated “strongest roof” among competing micro and mini cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), confirming once again that the smallest car on the road is safe. The IIHS tested roof strength, and the smart fortwo was the only vehicle to achieve the highest rating of “Good” in its class. The smart fortwo also tested higher than all but one of the 13 small SUVs previously tested by IIHS.

Roof strength is the most important vehicle attribute for protecting occupants in a rollover crash according to IIHS. “If you’re considering a small car, the smart fortwo is the answer when it comes to safety,” said Dave Schembri, President of smart USA. “As our society increasingly turns to small cars, smart proves that small can be safe.” He added, “This is the ninth standardized crash test performed by either the federal government or the IIHS that confirms the smart fortwo is safe.” According to the IIHS, the smart fortwo withstood a force of 5.4 times its weight during the tests, and far exceeded the minimum required force ratio of 4 times the vehicle’s weight to earn a “Good” rating. The IIHS reports that a vehicle in the “Good” category, like the smart fortwo, has 50 percent less risk of serious or fatal injury in a single-vehicle rollover crash.

As IIHS makes clear, when it comes to roof strength for rollover protection, lightweight vehicles can fare better because “their roofs don’t have to work as hard to keep the structure around the occupants intact…”

The government’s “Cash for Clunkers” incentive program and sustained high gas prices has led more and more consumers to smaller, more fuel efficient cars, but some continue to question the safety of small vehicles. The numerous smart fortwo safety tests have proven these concerns to be without merit. The smart fortwo has met or exceeded all standardized tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the IIHS, and achieved the highest rating among standard IIHS bumper tests of microcars. In addition, the smart fortwo already exceeds the new federal roof strength requirements that will not start phasing in until 2012, with all vehicles needing to comply by 2016. Engineers designed the smart to be a trendsetter in safety of small cars, with a high level of standard technologies that eclipse federal mandates.

The smart fortwo’s tridion safety cell, which surrounds and protects vehicle occupants, is a reinforced steel cage that acts like a race car roll cage, and is the primary reason the smart fortwo performed so well in the IIHS roof strength test. The 2009 smart fortwo also comes equipped with electronic stability program (esp®) as standard. According to the IIHS, vehicles with esp® are 20% less likely to be in a fatal accident with another vehicle and 51% less likely to be in a fatal single-vehicle accident. Visit www.safeandsmart.com to learn more about the smart fortwo’s safety features and real-life owner accident stories. The smart fortwo offers the right balance of power, outstanding fuel efficiency, innovative safety features, environmental friendliness and excellent value. Models start at $11,990* and the smart fortwo is rated as the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle by www.fueleconomy.gov, on sale in the United States. smart USA has available many attractive financing offers in conjunction with the “Cash for Clunkers” program and the smart fortwo qualifies for the maximum government credit of $4,500.

smart Canada today announced that for the first time ever, a smart fortwo will compete in Targa Newfoundland. The smart fortwo may be an unexpected choice for the Targa competition, but its class leading fuel economy, compact dimensions and intelligent design all combine to make the smart fortwo an excellent choice to tackle a course that covers over 2,220 kilometres on some of the most challenging and picturesque roads in North America.

Under the guidance of experienced navigator and co-driver Patrick Ah-Yu, the smart fortwo will be driven by three different journalists from prominent Canadian media outlets over the course of the week. Ah-Yu has a long history of competing in formula cars, and his position as an instructor with the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy gives him the advantage of practical experience to enhance the drivers’ confidence in handling advanced driving situations and to provide the necessary guidance to help the drivers negotiate the course safely.

The Grand Touring class in which the smart fortwo passion cabriolet is entered focuses on precision driving and the ability to reach race checkpoints at specific times. Despite its low fuel consumption and low emissions, the smart fortwo offers impressive technical data. With 4 valves per cylinder (12-valve engine) and 2 hydraulically adjustable camshafts, the new engine generates plenty of torque even at low revs. The naturally aspirated 3-cylinder in-line engine with a 999 cc capacity delivers 70 hp and a top speed of 145 km/h. The drivers will have more than enough power at their disposal to safely maneuver through the mapped-out road course.

The smart fortwo has been designed with the highest levels of safety and technology in mind. It exceeds all federal government crash test standards, including a 5-star side crash rating, and the highest scores for front and side crashes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition, the vehicle’s safety management system is equipped with advanced crash avoidance (active safety) and crash protection (passive safety) systems that come standard on all models. The tridion safety cell is constructed from high-strength steel and is designed to keep occupants protected. The active and passive safety features such as the electronic stability program (esp®) with hill start assist, anti-lock braking system (abs) with electronic brake force distribution, full-size 2 stage front airbags and head/thorax side airbags will keep the driver and navigator safely in control.

The smart fortwo’s compact size and nimble handling characteristics will serve the team well throughout the competition, and when combined with the driver and co-navigator’s skills, it should make for a thrilling event.

Those interested can follow the team’s progress on Twitter.com, and also look for updates and photos from the drivers and navigator as the smart fortwo traverses the beautiful province of Newfoundland. http://twitter.com/smartCanada

Stuttgart – smart is welcoming the autumn with a particularly stylish special model that is characterised by high quality equipment, fine materials and an unusual appearance. The new smart fortwo edition highstyle features exclusive paintwork in trendy chocolate brown metallic and elegant 12?spoke 15″ alloy wheels. The exclusive interior of the special model boasts a harmonious mix of fabric and leather. The smart fortwo edition highstyle is available with a 52 kW/71 hp or a 62 kW/84 hp petrol engine. The 52 kW variant is fitted with a comfortable automatic start/stop system as standard which shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stationary, noticeably reducing fuel consumption. Style, savoir vivre and zest for life go hand in hand with environmentally friendly technology.

The new smart fortwo edition highstyle continues the series of unusual and successful special models from the trendsetter for urban mobility. The unconventional car manufacturer questions the status quo and takes fresh and unusual approaches. The new special model from the environmentally friendly lifestyle brand combines cutting edge environmental technology and functionality with a discerning sense of style. In the smart fortwo edition highstyle joie de vivre and classy elegance are combined in perfect harmony.

Even at first glance the new special model demonstrates its high standards of style and elegance with its classy chocolate brown metallic finish. 15 inch alloy wheels in an elegant 12-spoke design and edition highstyle logos in aluminium look are further highlights that round off the exterior appearance to perfection.

The classy design of the interior also demonstrates a young spirit, an open, new way of thinking and a confident style. Exclusive, gleaming metallic leather on the seats and in the doors contrasts with the light and dark fabric ensemble reserved for this special edition. Decorative brown seams are a subtle reference to the exterior. The kneepad and instrument panel have a leather look. The 3-spoke sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift is covered with leather, as is the gear knob. Trim parts that shimmer in matt silver round off the high quality yet dynamic impression
of the interior.

The new smart fortwo edition highstyle is based on the coupé passion. Among other features this equipment line comes with softouch automatic gear programme, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and a panoramic roof with sunblind. The standard equipment of the “edition highstyle” also includes dashboard instruments and the radio 9. Electric power steering, heated seats, a lockable glove compartment and the smart sound system with a smart MP3 interface are optionally available.

The new special model also demonstrates the smart fortwo style when it comes to environmental friendliness. Not only does it fulfil the strict exhaust gas standard EU 5, the 52 kW variant is moreover fitted with micro hybrid drive (mhd) technology as standard.

This clever and comfortable automatic start/stop system shuts down the engine as soon as the driver brakes and the vehicle’s speed falls below 8 km/h – for example when approaching traffic lights. The engine starts again in the fraction of a second when the driver releases the brake pedal.

The system is fully automatic – the driver does not need to do anything. In urban traffic with frequent stop and go situations, fuel savings of almost 20 percent are possible with mhd.

The special smart fortwo model edition highstyle is available with a 52 kW/71 hp engine fitted with mhd or with a 62 kW/84 hp engine and costs €15,695 and €16,195 respectively (German list price including VAT).

(from Robert E. Schilling, President, San Francisco Bay Area Section, Mercedes-Benz Club of America)

What:
First Sunday Drive - Los Gatos to Menlo Park

When:
September 6, 2009

Who:
Mercedes-Benz Club of America
San Francisco Bay Area Section

(Open to all Benz brands and derivatives, including SMART CARS)

Where:
Meet in the parking lot of Starbucks at 422N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos. Drive departs at 10AM with a pre-drive meeting at ~9:50AM. Arrive early to socialize over coffee in the parking lot. Look for the blue and white balloons to find the sign-in sheet.

Info:

Hello Sunday Drivers! Sorry to be a little late with the details on the September drive but there were some last minute details that needed to be confirmed. Fortunately the wait paid off and we have a very special opportunity.

Our drive will start in Los Gatos and take us through the Santa Cruz Mountains (on some roads we’ve never driven) to Menlo Park where we will end the drive at the Tesla Motors facility. At Tesla we will have the opportunity to see the full sized design mock-up of the new Tesla S – an amazing four-door hybrid sedan. We will also be able to view the final assembly area for the Tesla roadster but as it will be on a Sunday there will be no assembly in progress.

After our visit to Tesla we will enjoy a no-host lunch at the famous Oasis restaurant in Menlo Park. The Oasis is the classic beer and burger joint and a favorite haunt for local Stanford students.

As always, we depart at 10:00AM from our start location and there will be opportunity to grab a coffee close by. Come early to socialize and be prepared for our drivers meeting at ~9:50AM. When you arrive look for the blue and white balloons to find the sign-in sheet.

Can’t end this message without thanks to Jack and Mauna for putting on a great drive to the summit of Mt. Diablo last month. Also, many many thanks to Alan Moffat and the Service Department of Mercedes-Benz of Walnut Creek – our extremely generous hosts for our morning start.

Looking forward to seeing you in September!

Drive safe!
Robert

smart to invite eight international artists to add colour to the city
Pop-up gallery focusing on themes of mobility, creativity and sustainability in urban environments

Stuttgart / São Paulo – Following the Brazilian launch of the two-seater car in April of this year, smart provides local artists with an unconventional platform: the smart Urban Stage will take place in São Paulo from 27 August to 10 September 2009. The pop-up platform combines a gallery, shopping, showroom and events relating to the themes of urban mobility, creativity and ecological sustainability – core aspects of the smart brand. The smart Urban Stage will be initiated by the project ROJO® Out by smart. Eight international streetart artists will be invited to give free rein to their creativity in public areas, giving lasting colour to a city that is dominated by outsize concrete buildings.

São Paulo is one of the largest conurbations on the planet and, as a magnet for people of all nationalities, is very multicultural by nature. For some time, the metropolis has also been home to a pulsating creative scene. One of the most vital scenes is streetart, an art form in which Brazilian artists are internationally acknowledged as driving forces.

Marc Langenbrinck, Director of Brand Management, Sales & Marketing at smart says “smart is an urban brand that questions the status quo in a confident and unconventional way. With the Urban Stage, we are establishing a creative platform which will be lent a unique atmosphere by the streetart artists of São Paulo. In this way, we are also raising awareness for questions relating to mobility and sustainable lifestyle in one of the largest cities in the world.”

To begin with, the gallery located at “Rua Oscar Freire 512” at the heart of the vibrant shopping and nightlife district, Jardim Paulista, is just a plain white room. In the course of two weeks Tony de Marco and Apo Fousek (Brazil), Eltono (France), MWM (USA) and Ovni and Nuria Mora (Holland/Spain), curated by the creative network ROJO®, will transform the smart Urban Stage into a collective work of art. This will also include a smart fortwo that will be turned into an artcar during the first days of the event as a joint work of art by Ovni and MWM.

The colette and smart collection is available in the shop: fashion and accessories created for smart by five international design labels. The products – all limited editions of 150 – are curated by Parisian concept store colette. The Livraria Pop art gallery in São Paulo sells streetart books and collector’s items. The smart Urban Stage will also attract visitors with its series of events consisting of exhibitions, presentations and workshops on mobility, creativity and sustainability.

Two weeks before the smart Urban Stage, the “ROJO® OUT by smart” project initiated together with ROJO® will be launched in cooperation with the São Paulo local authorities. The six smart Urban Stage artists plus Superblast from Germany and Tofer from the USA will live out their creativity in public areas. Over a period of around three weeks, they will cover eleven concrete buildings in prominent areas of the city with outsize murals – the highest one with 12 meters. A total area of 400 square metres will change from grey to brightly coloured. ROJO® OUT by smart zones in on a distinctive feature of São Paulo. Advertising in public spaces has been prohibited by law since 2007, meaning that the unused spaces leave plenty of room for creative and non-commercial projects – a form of interaction that benefits both the art scene and the city, as well as enhancing São Paulo’s reputation throughout the world.

About smart
smart is a success story. The smart fortwo has been on the market for eleven years now, and it has an impressive track record. The smart fortwo was launched in Brazil in April of this year. As of 2009, the intelligent two-seater will be represented in a total of 41 countries worldwide. The smart combines unique driving pleasure with comfort, agility, safety and ecology and, with a length of just 2.69 metres, it is the perfect city car. Eleven years ago, smart launched the smart fortwo, thereby establishing the microcar segment and creating a totally new class of vehicle – the “smart class”.