News from smartville & Paris (September 08)

[JPaul]

Just got in touch with Olivier Amélineau, Media & PR Representative, smart France. Here are some of the subject of our conversation:

Production: no foreseeable increase, at least officially. The current shifts 2x8 will be maintained for the time beeing. The only option would be to increase to 3x8, but this is a risk that Daimler is not willing to take at this time.
Despite, the opening of the Chinese market, smart will still be produced in Hambach only. No other plant(s) planned.

Modifications: the forced change of the seat's angle, the change of tire's sizes, the defeating of electronics are all considered as potentially dangerous alterations with legal ramifications and are therefor deemed not advisable.

DRL: is a simple matter of programming and will be widespread shortly since the European Union has decided to make it mandatory. It is already available in Northern Europe and Canada. It shouldn't be difficult to have it for the US. [Let's ask smartUSA, PAG and Daimler to make it available asap.]

Post OEM fog lights: is a simple matter of programming. smart is reluctant to let any post-production changes in the computer. [Again, let's ask smartUSA, PAG and Daimler to make it available.]

Cruise Control: the majority of smart's markets are not interested, noted M. Olivier Amélineau, so Daimler doesn't see enough reasons to offer it OEM. In most European markets, the smart is used in cities, where there is no need for a cruise control. The person to convince is Mr. Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President for Marketing and Sales at smart for Daimler, Stuttgart.

Heated mirrors: that they are "on" all the time was news to my contact in Paris. He will ask his technical staff to check it out because "it is not normal".

More later.

[JPaul]

Mondial de l'Automobile (Paris car show, October 4-19, http://www.mondialautomobile.com/): $
smart will exhibit the "ed" (Electric Drive) already somewhat available in Berlin;
a "neutro-climat" project intended to compensate for the smart's pollution by sponsoring some "green" non-profit programs, and
a limited BRABUS SPECIAL FRANCE, different from the special currently offered in Germany.
Note also, a new Black/White special edition as follow
(I've posted this, even if it's in French, for the signature...):
smart fortwo white & black
Nouvelle série limitée pour smart : la fortwo white & black. Bien équipée, écologique (elle est
disponible, entre autres, en version 52 kW mhd), et dotée d’un tarif particulièrement
alléchant, la série limitée white & black se révèle irrésistible !
Les équipements
La série limitée white & black est disponible avec les motorisations essence 52 kW, 52 kW mhd
et 62 kW (sur base de passion uniquement avec 62 kW), en version coupé et cabriolet, et sur
la base des finitions pure ou passion. Quelle que soit la ligne de finition choisie, les véhicules
seront dotés des équipements suivants :
Horloge et compte-tours (coloris gris perle)
smart radio 9
Jantes en alliage léger 15’’ à 9 branches 155/60 R15 AV et 175/55 R15 AR
Boîte à gants verrouillable
Les seuls coloris prévus sont en peinture blanche avec tridion noir, ou peinture noire et
tridion argent.
Pour l’intérieur est prévu le tissus gris uni (fortwo white & black pure) ou design black
(fortwo white & black passion)
Le prix
Daimler Communications, Stuttgart (Germany)
smart – une marque de Daimler
Le positionnement tarifaire de la série limitée fortwo white & black est particulièremPeangte 2
attractif. En effet, tous les véhicules, quelles que soient leur motorisation et leur finition de
base, bénéficient d’un avantage client de 780 € TTC.
Grâce au bonus écologique de 700 € dont bénéficient toutes les fortwo white & black, la
fortwo white & black 52 kW mhd pure est disponible à partir de seulement 9.950 € TTC !
Cette série est limitée à 500 exemplaires.
Les options
- pack vision
- direction assistée
- sound system
- climatisation sur la base de pure
###
Contact :
Olivier Amélineau
Mercedes-Benz France, Direction de la communication
Tél. : 01 39 23 59 84
site media France : Site Média Mercedes-Benz France - Accueil
olivier.amelineau@daimler.com

[JPaul]

The MSRP remains the same 'till the end of 2008. At least as far as smartville is concerned.
Will it be the same in the US? Not sure. But why would PAG and/or smartUSA not adopt the same policy. Especially if one considers the current difficulties for credit.

BTW: as planned, production of '09 is starting tomorrow in Hambach.

[jwight]

Thanks, JPaul - great info as usual, and the cruise control response is exactly what a lot of us believed from the start. Looks like there are solutions for the DRLs and fog lights IF we can convince the right people.

[retiltxet]

Originally Posted by JPaul

The MSRP remains the same 'till the end of the year. At least as far as smartville is concerned.
Will it be the same in the US? Not sure. But why would PAG and/or smartUSA not adopt the same policy. Especially if one considers the current difficulties for credit.

BTW: as planned, production of '09 is starting tomorrow in Hambach.

Is this the end of the Model year or the end of the calendar year??

My dealer is still giving me the old price run-around.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by retiltxet

Is this the end of the Model year or the end of the calendar year??

My dealer is still giving me the old price run-around.

Calendar year.

[Dave Van]

DRL?? I'm a car guy....but missed that day in class!

[rawlus®]

daytime running lights.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Dave Van

DRL?? I'm a car guy....but missed that day in class!

Daytime Running Lights

[Orphan-Beggar]

Originally Posted by JPaul

The MSRP remains the same 'till the end of 2008. At least as far as smartville is concerned.
Will it be the same in the US? Not sure. But why would PAG and/or smartUSA not adopt the same policy. Especially if one considers the current difficulties for credit.

BTW: as planned, production of '09 is starting tomorrow in Hambach.

Why would PAG and/or smartUSA not adopt the SAME policy?!

This news seems favorable for those who take delivery by Dec 31. However, that could change anytime.
(Schembri blog)-"The pricing for 2009 is not yet confirmed, and I will let you know of any changes if they arise".

How unusual is the initial release of any new car model year, at no price increase, until the new calendar year (2-3 months later)?