While reading about 'How does the smart fortwo perform in the snow?' I found the following info;
'Regarding rust, the smart fortwo’s steel body is fully zinc plated. As a further provision against corrosion, there is a coat of cataphoretic paint under the main powder-coat paint, and all body cavities are preserved by a special agent. Finally, the body panels and complete underbody are made of plastic (polypropylene), which are not prone to rust even if scratched.'
I have never seen any of this in type before. This was on smart USA FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions on the Seattle dealer web site.
This should put to rest some of the discussion on powder coating and plastic panel properties.
So what is cataphoretic paint? Electrically bonded primer?, just guessing.
And what is the special agent?
Some answers and even more questions!