About Smart
The idea of the smart car was first begun when makers of Swatch brand of watches SMH CEO Nicolas Hayek began developing an idea for a new car using the same type of manufacturing strategies and personalisation features used to popularize Swatch watches. He believed that the automotive industry had ignored a sector of potential customers who wanted a small and stylish city car which he was proposing to call the "Swatchmobile"While design of the car was proceeding Hayek was quite concerned that the existing motor manufacturers would feel threatened by the Swatchmobile. With this in mind he decided that rather than directly competing with them, he would look for a partner within the car industry. The obvious advantage in taking this line was of course, the cost saving factor and the problem involved in setting up a dealer distribution network. He approached several car manufacturers and on July 3, 1991 he reached an agreement with Volkswagen, but this fell through and subsequently an agreement was reached with Daimler-Benz AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars.A deal was announced on March 4, 1994, at a press conference at Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart that the companies would join forces in founding Micro Compact Car AG (MCC).
The Smart Car has been developed to maximise the convenience, comfort and safety of the driver and passenger, whilst at the same time causing as little impact on the environment as possible. This is a car which offers maximum comfort, agility, safety, ecology and driving fun, a pioneering vehicle concept that is one of the best with its low CO2 emission figures.
The Smart car has small dimensions at only 2.5m long, yet it offers all of the comfort of a large saloon. It has a top speed of 90mph and accelerates from 0-60mph in only 10.2 seconds, yet returns an average fuel consumption of 58mpg. Not only is it kind to the environment, it is kind to your pocket. The Smart qualifies for the lowest level of the UK Road Fund Licence, qualifies for Group 3 insurance.
Parent Company Daimler-Benz relates that "as a pioneer of automotive engineering, we feel inspired and obliged to continue this proud tradition with groundbreaking technologies and high-quality products".
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