Straight-Six, Automotive Journalism without the Restrictor Plates

October 10, 2007
FTLOD Review:
2008 Smart ForTwo
By John LeBlanc

Gallery: 2008 Smart ForTwo

MADRID, Spain - At times, locating a parking spot in any European city can be tougher than finding a cheap place to eat.

Hence the original 1998 Smart ForTwo’s main design objective: get three of the little buggers perpendicularly parked in the space normally taken by a normal car, like a Mercedes-Benz E Class.

If you happen to live in Rome, Paris or London, all very well and good. But what if your address is Halifax, Toronto or Vancouver?

Available this fall at Canadian dealers, a thoroughly revised 2008 Smart ForTwo attempts to address many of the current ForTwo’s faults. Many of which were the same criticisms I discovered in my cross--Canada road trip, like too much noise, lack of cargo space, negligible power and a transmission that’s better suited to a vehicle that cuts one’s lawn.

Retaining its characteristic rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, egg-on-wheels, two-tone safety cell and plastic body panels fashion, the ’08 ForTwo grows slightly by 195 mm in length. This allows the interior to expand a tad and there’s now 7.8 cubic feet of cargo space; more than a Mini Cooper.

Already on sale in some European markets, customers there can choose from a mix of diesel and gas engines options in their new Smart.

When Canadian ’08 ForTwos show up here this fall, in both coupe and cabriolet versions, instead of the current Smart’s 40 hp, 74 lb-ft of torque 799 cc diesel three-banger, we’ll be getting a new 71 hp, 68 lb-ft of torque normally aspirated 1.0-litre gas three-cylinder.

This new little gas mill is a sweetheart.

On the open road, it’s much smoother and quieter than the existing diesel. The old Smart had a hard time staying with traffic at 120 km/h, especially up inclines. But with the new model’s 77% increase in horsepower, one can easily keep up with faster highway traffic.

The new manumatic transmission actually losses a gear—now down to five—but Smart says its 60% quicker in shifting actuation. You won’t mistake the new gearbox for a Volkswagen DSG, but it’s an improvement, nonetheless. And its revised dynamic electronics, wider track and longer wheelbase means it doesn’t mind if you lean on it a bit in the corners.

Steering feel in Smart’s new two-seater is hugely improved as well (i.e. there is some).

Mercedes-Benz Canada, which imports the Smart from Europe, expects around 5.0 L/100 km in fuel consumption for the Canadian ’08 ForTwo. That may seem like a big jump compared to the current diesel Smart’s combined 4.2 rating. But I’ll bet you a tank of premium that the new car does a better job matching its rating in real life driving.

For the new ’08 ForTwo, Smart has wisely not messed around with the current car’s primary values.

It still works best in tight, urban environments, and remains a rolling mission statement for minimalists.

But with the quieter, larger, more powerful and better handling ’08 Smart ForTwo coming soon, it won’t just be fun to own, but also more fun to drive.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher