very stupid question (engine location)

[roscoe]

I've been reading about Smarts since spring, including a link to UK owners manual but can't find answer to these stupid questions:

-where's the engine? the owners manual shows, if I recall right, coolant fill in the front & oil checks in the rear hatch, but where's the engine?'


-is it front or rear wheel drive? my guess would be rear with a VW-like engine transaxle assembly- is this right?


thanks to all and forgive my ignorance- roscoe

[jwight]

Roscoe,

Welcome to another Ohio smart person! Rear engine, rear wheel drive (and 15 in wheels/tires) - the VW bug all over again.

[DaveInTexas]

[DaveInTexas]

We had one of the guys go to the LA Autoshow and take some really good pictures and get some real good information.

Here is a link.

[roscoe]

Thanks Everybody!

[Karl Roth]

Just being anal here but isnt the main mass ahead of the rear axle ala porshe boxter and not behind like the old VW

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

Just being anal here but isnt the main mass ahead of the rear axle ala porshe boxter and not behind like the old VW

Since the rear wheels are only a few inches ahead of the bumper, yes.

[oldgit61]

the smart coming to usa has a
mitsubushi 1000 cc 3 cylinder engine [ cc :- cubic capacity ]
in the rear of the smart driving the back wheels
it has a five speed box, the top of the range has
a choice of manual/auto box.
in manual you push the shift stick forward to go
up the gears, pull back to go down the gears.
to put it into auto, just press the button on the side
of the shift stick

Tony [ oldgit61 ]

[Fredvon4]

sorry oldgit61....but cc= cubic centimeter

a description of volume

Much like CI = cubic inches as in "428 CI V8"

This is a 999cc (cubic centimeter) 3 cylinder 4 stroke motor...generally refered to as having one litre of displacment.... 3cyl in line 1.0L

In our case, the Mitsubishi motor has 4 valves per cylinder and a 10.4:1 compression ratio requiring a 91 or higher octane fuel to prevent preignition (pinging)

The intake side of our motor will have variable valve timing to help emissions and make more power over a broader spectrum of RPM

This semi high tech motor will be controlled by a Engine Control Unit (ECU) the main computer ...

BUT this is not the complete Power Train Control description.... the Getrag transmission is a Manula gear box that is controlled by a computer also. Thus the transmission behaves much like an automatic transmission but not as smooth. You will feel each shift just like any manual transmission.

There are several other computer controled features....

ESP -- One of the standard features on your smart fortwo is something called Electronic Stability Program or ESP. When the ESP sensors indicate a skid or swerving of your car, they automatically control the engine throttle and the Anti-Lock brakes to maintain your present course. Also integral to the ESP safety system is Electronic Brake-Force Distribution Control (EBD), which helps to prevent the rear wheels from over-braking.

ABS - Another feature of ESP is the Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS). With ABS, you can hit your brakes hard knowing the ABS circuitry will apply and release each brake independently to keep you from skidding regardless of the type of road surface each wheel is on.

CBC - When you enter a corner and apply your brakes, the unequal forces at each wheel can result in a skid or a complete "end-around". With Cornering Brake Control (CBC) the inner wheels require less brake force due to less traction. CBC counteracts a potential tendency to swerve by distributing brake forces selectively - even below the threshold of ABS activity.

BAS - Avoiding accidents is often measured in inches. Electronic Brake Assist can sense when you have stepped on the brake quickly but have not applied it hard enough to activate the ABS system. It can be the difference in reaction time you need to avoid an accident.

ASC and ETC - Acceleration Skid Control (ASC) and Engine Torque Control (ETC) are designed to help the smart fortwo move forward on slippery surfaces. ASC acts much like a differential lock but does it by directing power to the wheel offering optimum traction. ETC provides engine control when driving on slippery surfaces. It "feathers" the throttle on low traction acceleration and limits torque in down shifting applications.

HSA - The auto/manual transmission of the smart fortwo is equipped with Hill Start Assist (HSA) which allows you to pull away on a hill without having to apply the handbrake. As you lift your foot from the brake pedal while sitting stopped on a hill, HSA holds the brakes on for about a second to give you time to move your foot to the accelerator. So don't worry about driving your smart fortwo in San Francisco.

The Smart car also uses all these sensors to determin the amount of inflation of the tires and is the tries are low by 20% or more a light will warn of the low or flat tire.

Fairly sophisticated electronics in this baby... makes a few of us not too happy with the 2/24 warranty as each of these systems is expensive to diagnose and repair if they ever fail

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by spdickey

Since the rear wheels are only a few inches ahead of the bumper, yes.

Doesn't that officially make it a mid-engine (as in 914)?