Smart Hybrid May Be Headed to North America

With Live Earth as a backdrop, DaimlerChrysler's Smart subsidiary unveiled four high-tech derivatives of its Fortwo minicar, at least two of which are headed for production. A Smart Fortwo hybrid with an advanced stop/start system could wind up for sale in North America.

Smart was an official sponsor of last weekend's Live Earth concerts to raise awareness of global warming. Among the artists performing at concerts across the world were Snoop Dogg and Shakira. Smart provided an environmentally friendly shuttle service at the concerts for artists and celebrity guests.

At the same time, Smart rolled out new variants of the Fortwo, with diesel, electric, hybrid and micro-hybrid powertrains.

Of immediate interest is the Fortwo with micro hybrid drive (MHD). Smart says the system will be in production by the end of the year in both coupe and cabrio versions "in all markets." Developed in cooperation with Valeo and Gates, the system employs a belt-driven starter/generator and switches the engine off when idling at stoplights to conserve fuel and reduce emissions. Equipped with an automated manual transmission, the 1.0-liter three-cylinder gas engine delivers 71 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. The Fortwo MHD returns fuel economy of 66 mpg and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 13.3 seconds. Top speed is 90 mph.

Smart also showed a Fortwo hybrid diesel concept that combines an 800cc three-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. Combined output is 72 hp, with 118 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is a sensational 97 miles per gallon. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes a leisurely 15.8 seconds, with top speed limited to 84 mph.

On the near horizon is the Smart Fortwo CDI, which uses the same common-rail 800cc three-cylinder diesel as the hybrid concept. In this production-ready application, the engine — billed as the world's smallest direct-injection diesel — makes 45 hp and 81 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is an impressive 86 mpg. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph is tortoiselike, at 19.8 seconds, and top speed is a modest 84 mph.

Smart also showed a pure electric Fortwo, with a 41-hp electric motor mounted in the rear, powered by an advanced sodium-nickel-chloride battery pack. The car has a range of just over 70 miles on a full charge, and the battery is said to last 10 years.