The replaceable panels' creative attachment design makes easy (and inexpensive) work of switching car color--reportedly making the Smart Car the first to offer such a feature.

From: Plastics Engineering Date: December 1, 1999

MCC Smart Car Molded-In-Color Body Panels with Clearcoat Win Body Exterior Award.

The molded-in-color body panels with clearcoat that encase and decorate DaimlerChrysler's 1999 MCC (Micro Compact Car) Smart Car were voted the winner in the Body Exterior category. The replaceable panels' creative attachment design makes easy (and inexpensive) work of switching car color--reportedly making the Smart Car the first to offer such a feature. An interior locking mechanism deters would-be panel thieves.

Additional News:

Mileage is improved by lightweight plastic body panels that are interchangeable with those of other cars and relatively cheap. You can convert your white Smart into a yellow one in just a few hours.

The body panels are made of recycled plastic and can be recycled again.

Smart Cars The future of transportation Katherine A. May ME '05

Katherine A. May ME says ” It has 9 body panels made out of a polycarbonate, that can be changed in under an hour to give the car a whole new look. A whole list of colors is available, such as Jack Black, Lite White, Aqua Vanilla, Phat Red, True Blue Metallic, Bay Grey Metallic, Numeric Blue, River Silver Metallic, and Stream Green Metallic. You could drive to work in classy Jack Black but then at night hit the town in wild River Silver Metallic or sexy Phat Red. They also make great company vehicles because a company logo or image can be put onto the side of the cars. Not only that, a diesel version became available this March.”