... About DRL and post-production fog lights: the is NO REASON that the car cannot be re-programmed. M. Amélineau, smart media spokesman, will inquire about why this is not offered or even possible stateside. The car, he said, is pre-wired in such a way that it can be easily re-programmed to accept new generation of diagnostic devices (ScanGauge), or post-production additions such as fog lights, DRL, etc... ...
JPaul,
What are the chances of suggesting to your contact that smart establish some sort of portal (maybe just you!) wherein we could make our needs and desires known directly to smart GmbH without smartUSA's and PAG's interference and filtration?
We have lots of issues in the US: DRLs, front foglight activation, rear foglight option, better horn, useable coolant temperature and oil pressure read-outs (pod?), etc. - real operational issues, not just "blingy things" best left to the after-marketeers.
The production line uses "magic numbers" (smart lingo), attributed to placed orders in sequence, when they are received from the dealerships/distributor. The plant does each car in chronological order of their "magic number", totally independently from their model, features and options.
I.e. a w/s/r coupe can be followed by a r/b/b cabrio, by another of totally different one, etc... The plant does NOT do a batch of cabrio followed by a batch of coupe, nor a batch of silver tridion followed by a batch of black tridion, etc...
unless this "magic number" silently accounts for sequencing similar models. How many production lines does the factory have? One would think coordinating (sequencing) cabrios vs coupes, for example, would be a necessity if there were on the same line, or perhaps the coupes vs cabs are split off on different lines? I know automation is truely an amazing thing, but it would seem like the risk of delivery the wrong parts (like the top, for instance) to the frame of the car as it travels down the assembly line would be higher if it was entirely random.
The problem with the rear foglight is that it goes into that final blank spot on the center console switch bank. I think there was a thread in here about how expensive it would be to do because you would then need to purchase an entirely new switch bank, or something along those lines.
We have lots of issues in the US: DRLs, front foglight activation, rear foglight option, better horn, useable coolant temperature and oil pressure read-outs (pod?), etc. - real operational issues, not just "blingy things" best left to the after-marketeers.
are these really operational issues? a better horn? oil pressure gauge? rear foglights? drls? those seem to be exactly the sort of blingy things best left to the aftermarket IMHO.
personally, i really don't care to see the moderate affordability of the vehicle impacted by the introduction of rear fog lights and oil pressure gauges. lol. certainly all these components can be added aftermarket for the sport-performance types who are interested in such but the everyday reality is that not a one of them is a real operational issue for the US or any other market.
I agree completely with rawlusA. The smarts delivered to the US are well equipped at a very good price, just look at what they pay in Canada or worse yet Germany. It also seems that the smaller the market the more models are offered. In Mexico all models (including Brabus) of the fortwo are offered along with the accessories but they are expensive. I'm buying an inexpensive run-a- bout for this day and time.
To some of us, DRLs, decent horn, workable foglights (front and rear) are safety issues not showy bling things. Coolant and temperature readouts instead of “Oops; too late” idiot lights are also an operational issue. There are apparently problems with getting non-factory installed stuff to work, even smart’s own stuff, so I wouldn’t rely on the aftermarket much. If there are some who want to do without and go cheapo, that is OK; I would just like to see the above sort of thing offered as ex-factory options that work first time around.
smart media spokesman is not aware of favorite colors by specific destination, market; he doesn't know that yellow may still be in high demand in the USA. Where is the rundown of colors that I saw posted earlier. Help!
As you requested, I put in my request for yellow and the reasoning behind it as I submitted to the International contact! I have done my duty!
I assume most of the engine changes would not apply to the US cars.
Here's the text translated by Google:
For the 2009 model year, there are some innovations. From June 2008, the smart fortwo cdi with a fully-fledged / closed diesel particulate filter. The rate is also increased to 49 hp.
As of 2 Quarter of 08 is the new navigation system (see further announcement from 09.03.08).
For the model year 2009 as of Aug / Sep 08, there will be two new colors. A uni-red (the metallic-red, and the uni-yellow omitted). New is a gray color.
In addition to the 71 hp mhd variant is now the 84 hp version with mhd available.
For the initial versions of 49 hp and 61 hp diesel gasoline is a variant BlueEfficieny considered.
The future, even the Brabus version with mhd available. From 2009, then in Los Angeles the current fortwo (C451) as the electric car and lithium-ion battery in a 2nd Field trial to London. Then (end 09 / early 2010), the fortwo from the factory with electric propulsion (electric drive) available.
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