Small is beautiful
With a whole new paradigm and a unique, eco-friendly lifestyle vibe, it is time to get Smart. By Renaldi Hutasoit
Many car manufacturers adopt various ‘green’ technologies to make their product line appear more eco-friendly with less CO2 pollution. In doing so, there is a major hurdle to overcome: the weight of the vehicle.
Given the same engine, a heavier car will create more pollution than the lighter one. Most car manufacturers cannot—or will not—tackle this problem head on because they have to allow space for a ‘reasonable’ amount of luggage and passengers. This is also simply because spacious cars sell very well, always have. Unfortunately, more space means more weight.
The Smart car company makes small cars. The cars are as long as some cars are wide. The Smart car company seems set to commit to only one thing, to make city driving more comfortable, safe, convenient and eco-friendly as its revolutionary response to a large number of pressing mobility issues. It started with the Smart city coupe in 1998. After producing a lineup of different small cars, in 2007 Smart came back to its roots and focused solely on the archetype of the Smart with the Smart For Two. In 2010, the For Two has been improved with a fresh interior look, upgraded exterior and a cleaner, greener engine.
The Smart For Two is not for everybody. First of all, it seats only two people. So forget about picking up two of Jakarta’s ubiquitous 3-in-1 “jockeys” on your way to the office in the morning. Second, ermm … I would be really have to be a pedantic nitpicker to find anything else wrong, since, if you use the car as it is designed for, it is perfect.
Some people will be more concerned with the For Two’s small stature from a safety point of view. I was one of those people in the beginning. You see, in general the larger the car, the safer it is for the occupants. In this regard, let me put your mind at rest since the For Two does not disappoint. It achieved a four-star rating out of maximum possible five in the Euro NCAP crash test. This is better than most of the popular SUVs you find on Jakarta’s roads.
This high safety standard comes courtesy of the Tridion Safety Cell that cocoons the occupants and provides a ‘safety cage’ in case of an accident. Further, the Smart For Two is also equipped with many active and passive safety features. The active safety features available as standard in the Smart For Two are Electronic Stability Program (ESP), an Antilock Brake System (ABS), hydraulic brake assist and traction control. The ESP uses throttle control and selective braking on each individual wheel to prevent skids and slips. Yes, the car is so smart (you knew I was going to say this at least once) that it is able to apply the brake to each individual wheel. ABS will allow the driver to control the direction of the car during heavy braking because it prevents the wheels from being locked at maximum braking. Hydraulic brake assist initiates controlled emergency braking when the brake pedal is stepped on quickly, improving the ‘reaction time’ of the driver. Traction control uses the selective braking and throttle control to minimize wheel spin during acceleration.
In addition to the active safety features, there are also passive safety features that are activated in the event of an accident or impact. The Smart For Two is equipped with two front airbags as standard and optional side airbags that protect the head and chest of the occupant. There is also a collapsible steering column that will retract the column in the event of frontal impact. The seatbelts in the For Two is also highly intelligent, because it has the belt-force-limiter feature, which will release a controlled amount of belt slack before pressure to the chest becomes too great.
The Smart For Two will be marketed in Indonesia in three guises: the Pure; the Passion and the Passion Cabrio, priced from Rp 219 million to Rp 269 million (US$30,000), respectively, off the road. All are equipped with 999-cc, 3-cylinder inline engines, but while the Pure has only 61 horsepower the Passion versions get to play with 71 horsepower. Both engines transmit power via a 5-speed automatic transmission with soft tip (manual shifting) function. Seventy-one horsepower is enough to propel the 750-kg For Two from 0 to 100 kph in 13.3 seconds, quicker than most popular automatic MPVs. In addition to being light, the Smart engines also contribute to the eco-friendliness of the car.
Both engines are equipped with a start-stop feature that shuts down the engine when the brakes are pressed. Smart calls it a Micro-Hybrid Drive. The engines will turn on instantly when the brake pedal is released. You don’t have to worry about the system prematurely draining the battery life because when the brakes are applied it activates the regenerative function that charges the battery volts. The start-stop function allows 13 percent more efficient in-town fuel consumption and helps to achieve the combined fuel consumption of only 23.5 km per liter of 95 octane gasoline and less than 100g/km of CO2 emission—a new benchmark.
For all the talk of its diminutive stature, the Smart For Two is actually quite spacious inside—even for an acquaintance of mine who is 187-cm tall. Remember, Smart is not trying to please everybody. They focus on making a two-seat car that is extremely practical for getting around cities and towns efficiently, and they have achieved that. Not only is it surprisingly spacious for the occupants, it can hold about 220 liters of luggage with two adults inside. This is as large as many popular four-seat hatchbacks. The For Two can be equipped with convenience features such as the four-speaker MP3 sound system with subwoofer. It is also good to hear that the build quality and materials used in the Smart For Two’s interior are excellent and upscale.
Another unique aspect of the Smart For Two is that the body panels are actually made from scratch-resistant plastic, which is durable enough to withstand minor bumps unscathed. These panels are also very simple to change or mix and match. With seven colors available, including the trendy matte finish and available body-panel plus package (bodykit), the Smart For Two is quite clearly a lifestyle product that comfortably transports its occupants from point A to point B.
Indeed, one chooses to buy a Smart For Two because it fits their lifestyle. Let’s face it, in addition to an urban mobility vehicle, it is also a lifestyle statement. It is a cult object, an urban icon. I predict that the drivers of Smart For Two will be modern-thinking adult urbanites who are eco-conscious, successful and hip. For its size and practicality, the For Two is not cheap. This is not a ‘city car’ as many Indonesians know it (cheap and gas-thrifty). People who drive this car are not personally affected by the appreciating cost of gasoline, but they want to contribute to the ecology by using less of it and look unique doing it. And think about the traffic jams. If everyone who currently has a gigantic SUV or MPV were driving a Smart, there would be almost three times more space for the traffic to flow. Get Smart and save the planet, while reducing congestion on Jakarta’s roads! DA
Specs:
Engine: 999-cc, 3-cylinder inline
Power: 61 to 71 hp, depending on model
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with soft tip (manual shifting) function
Fuel efficiency: 23.5-km/liter 2 adults plus 200 liters of luggage
