Unbelievable: Smart Fortwo will be Even MORE Economical

In a short time the company Daimler will start the tests of the system of automatic launch of the engine, that will make debut in the restyled Smart Fortwo at the end of the next year. This technology was invented to make the car even more economical in terms of fuel.
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CBR2200 - 6/4/2007 5:07:49 AM

+1 Boost

Umm, golf carts have been doing this for decades. Yawn.
I do think the Smart is a neat looking little car though.

Will_ - 6/4/2007 7:50:49 AM

+1 Boost

BMW recently announced similar technology for their regular vehicles didn't they?

I remember when I had my permit and I would drive to the bank and use the drive-thru, I would cut off the car, but my mother would say "you know it takes more gas/energy to start and stop the car than it does to leave it running for this short amount of time."

Was she right, or wrong?

Rupert - 6/4/2007 10:11:11 AM

+1 Boost

Drive thru banks!!
No way....

oh and from cold, she's right. but not when the engine's warm.
drive thru banks what the hell? That is just lazy...

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 6/4/2007 4:32:14 PM

+1 Boost

Bank drive thru? Hahahaha .. gotta love those Americans!

EnnNorak - 6/4/2007 8:28:36 AM

0 Boost

Yes CBR2200, it's just a cut above a golf cart and a death trap at that if it gets hit by a larger vehicle (usually at least twice its weight). Mercedes should have made a roomier, more comfortable, Smart Car with a more powerful, supercharged, DOHC 4 cylinder engine -- then I might have bought one only because it is cute and can be passed on eventually to one of my daughters.

Will, I do not turn off my engine if my stop takes two minutes or less because starter motors wear out and might cost a towing charge in addition to the cost of replacing the starter motor. I have not worked out the math but two minutes of idling may cost you a few pennies in gas in addition to polluting the air that you breathe in when sitting in the car that is running with the windows open. It is not fair to the drive-thru bank teller to have car after car pour polluted air into the atmosphere just outside the teller's window -- I'm sure some of it gets in through the little opening used to pass money through the window.