BMW says the German government’s diesel fix ‘doesn’t make sense for us’

Thomas Lohnes | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Harald Krueger, CEO of German carmaker BMW shows the German Chancellor Angela Merkel an 'i Vision Dynamic' all-electric concept car at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Auto giant BMW has said a proposal by the German government to make car companies retrofit polluting diesel cars “doesn't make sense for us.”

Millions of diesel drivers in Germany woke up Tuesday to find that their coalition government had agreed on a package of measures designed to prevent diesel driving bans starting up around the country.

The “Concept for Clean Air and Ensuring Individual Mobility in our Cities” proposal was subsequently presented during the mid-morning by Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) and Minister of the Environment Svenja Schulze (SPD).

Drivers were told they should be able to trade their cars in at a favorable discount for emissions-compliant models, or that their cars could be return to be retrofitted with hardware that could curb the emissions.

However, Germany's powerful motor manufacturers have offered a lukewarm response to that policy.

BMW Group said in an emailed statement to CNBC that it would reject the hardware retrofit option as it “does not make sense for us in this case.” The car company said hardware measures would only be available to customers from 2021 and would have a “negative impact on quality, weight, consumption/CO2 emissions and performance in the vehicles.”

BMW said it did welcome, however, the government's “concept plan” as a good way to ensure the continued use of diesel.

The firm added that from October anyone leasing or buying new BMW cars in Germany would get an environmental bonus of 6,000 euros ($6,925). For nearly new vehicles, or demonstration vehicles, the figure drops to 4,500 euros.

China Daily | Reuters
Employees assemble vehicles at a plant of SAIC Volkswagen in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China September 4, 2018.

Volkswagen Group, whose “dieselgate scandal” in 2015 triggered much of the awareness about pollution, has said it will offer diesel trade-ins in 14 German cities where pollution is considered high.

VW said 'Euro 5' class cars will get a trade-in boost of about 5,000 euros, while older vehicles will get up to 4,000 euros as an incentive.

In 1992 the 'Euro 1' was introduced as a standard class to denote the fitting of catalytic converters to gasoline cars to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. The latest standard is the 'Euro 6', which applies to all new cars from September 2015 and reduces some pollutants by 96 percent compared to the 1992 limits.

Volkswagen also shied away from the retrofit proposal, telling Reuters: “For retrofits, we assume that the federal government will ensure that all manufacturers take part in such measures.”

Daimler, the company that makes Mercedes-branded cars, has said it too would prefer to offer incentives rather than recalling cars to retrofit hardware.

In a statement provided to CNBC on Tuesday, Daimler said it would now look at the government's proposal in detail before issuing any further comment.

BMW CEO: The global auto market is at different speeds
22 Hours Ago | 00:42

A court in Germany ruled earlier this year that cities could ban 'Euro 4' and 'Euro 5' class diesel cars from streets in order to tackle air pollution. That ruling had given German lawmakers a headache over how to deal with the nearly 9 million cars on German roads that fall into those categories.

Hamburg has already banned such cars from two of its streets where pollution was found to be extremely high and it is thought other cities could soon follow.

Harry Hoster, an energy and pollution expert at Lancaster University, said in an email Tuesday that given the extreme level of the pollution problem and the long-term planning horizons of the auto industry, it was now time for the public to get behind a compromise solution.

“I find it appropriate for the public to support them in the transition instead of just yelling 'you should have known better.'”

European car registrations slowed dramatically in September after a new EU-wide emission-testing regime was put in to practice from the beginning of the month. Year-on-year, German and French registrations were down 31 percent and 13 percent respectively.

August sales were strong as car companies and showrooms slashed prices to offload stock that would not have complied with the new rules.

Toyota says hard Brexit would halt UK plant as BMW warns over Mini

Automotive industry Bosses of Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot and Daimler also voice concerns at Paris Motor Show About 90% of the cars made at Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire are exported to Europe Photograph: David Jones/PA Toyota would be forced to halt car production in the UK and BMW could shift production of the Mini… Continue reading Toyota says hard Brexit would halt UK plant as BMW warns over Mini

UPDATE 1-Carmakers step up warnings over disorderly Brexit

PARIS (Reuters) – Carmakers ratcheted up their Brexit warnings on Tuesday, with France’s PSA Group (PEUP.PA) and Germany’s BMW (BMWG.DE) both saying UK production would suffer if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG, and Ola Kallenius, member of the board of management… Continue reading UPDATE 1-Carmakers step up warnings over disorderly Brexit

smart at the Paris Motor Show 2018: Electric, urban, unconventional

02.

October 2018

Stuttgart/Paris

Press Contact (2)

Ariane Fiedler

Manager International smart Communications

ariane.fiedler@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-75924

Fax: –

Willem Spelten

Head of international Brand & smart Product Communications

willem.spelten@daimler.com

Tel: +49 (0)711 17-75847

Fax: +49 (0)711 17-79099473

car2go will have 400 smart EQ fortwos (power consumption, combined: 14.5–12.9 kWh/100 km(1); CO2 emissions, combined: 0 g/km(2); smart fortwo: fuel consumption, combined: 5.0-4.8 l/100 km(1); CO2 emissions, combined:114-110 g/km(2); smart EQ fortwo (power consumption, combined: 18.3–13.2 kWh/100 km(1); CO2 emissions, combined:0 g/km(2); smart EQ fortwo and smart EQ forfour: power consumption, combined: 20.8-12.9 kWh/100 km(1); CO2 emissions, combined:0 g/km(3)

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smart at the Paris Motor Show 2018

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

New special model: smart fortwo | edition pureblack

Oct 2, 2018

New functions in the “ready to” app: Sharing your smart and the costs

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

Intelligent app for smart EQ fortwo and smart EQ forfour: smart EQ control app: the perfect digital companion

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

smart forease: As uncompromising and fresh as the brand

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

Chocks away for car2go in Paris, too: Allez les Bleus!

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

The smart story: 20 years of smart

Stuttgart/Paris, Oct 2, 2018

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The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class: More Sports for the Tourer

02.

October 2018

Stuttgart/Paris

Fuel consumption combined: 5.6-4.4 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 129-115 g/km*Stuttgart/Paris. The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class puts the emphasis on sport with the Sports Tourer. It looks more dynamic than its predecessor and is more agile on the road while offering greater comfort. Its avant-garde interior makes for a unique feeling of space with the distinctive design of the instrument panel. One of the special features is a basic volume, which drops away towards the occupants and has cutouts in the area of the driver and front passenger. The intuitive user interface of the adaptive MBUX multimedia system is ground-breaking. Its strengths include brilliant graphics, “Hey Mercedes” voice control, a standard touch screen and functions such as MBUX Augmented Reality. When it comes to active safety, state-of-the-art driving assistance systems make the B-Class one of the segment leaders with functions carried over from the S-Class. In addition, the interior is now more spacious, while the engines are more efficient and cleaner. The eight-speed dual-clutch transmission makes its debut. Start of sales for the new B-Class is 3 December 2018, with delivery due to begin in February 2019.
“More practical than ever, more chic than ever,” is how Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes‑Benz Cars Marketing & Sales, characterises the new B‑Class. “In our portfolio of compacts, it’s the perfect vehicle for the whole family. And MBUX – the new Mercedes‑Benz User Experience – provides also the B‑Class with an all-new customer experience with functions that were previously the reserve of the luxury class.”
“The latest derivative of the new generation of compact cars from Mercedes‑Benz, the B‑Class writes a further punchy chapter in the success story of the dynamic Mercedes‑Benz Sports Tourer,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG. “With its emotional yet purist design, the new B‑Class blends seamlessly into the design language of Sensual Purity.”
The designers’ brief was to make the new B-Class stand out visually from the world of minivans. That brief was accepted and executed, with the long wheelbase (2,729 mm) with short overhangs, slightly lowered roof line and larger, 16- to 19-inch wheels making for dynamic proportions. The relatively squat, progressive front end with flowing transition from bonnet to A‑pillar and on to the windscreen, along with the muscular shoulder of the body, underlines the sporty overall look.
The same is true of the low-profile headlamps, the inside of which is already high-grade, detailed and precisely designed on the basic model with H7 headlamps and LED daytime running lights. When ordered with LED headlamps or higher, the B-Class comes with its own daytime running light signature in the form of a double torch. The optional MULTIBEAM LED headlamps have an especially sporty look. They allow fast, electronically controlled adjustment of the headlamps to suit the current traffic conditions. This feature from the luxury class, which made its debut in the compact segment in the new A-Class, now produces striking looks and added safety also in the new B-Class.
At the back, the width of the vehicle is accentuated by two-part lamps, reflectors integrated in the bumper and a distinctive black bumper bottom section with diffuser look and chrome trim strip. The large roof spoiler, along with high-gloss black spoilers at the sides of the rear window, makes for improved aerodynamics while ensuring a sporty appearance.
The cd value of the new B-Class starts at 0.24 (predecessor: 0.25). The lower roof line further contributes to a best-in-class airflow due to the smaller frontal area of the car. In addition, the aerodynamics engineers have reduced the wind noise thanks to extensive detail work. The benefits: stress-free driving as well as the ability to engage in a relaxed conversation.
The improved seat geometry and lower belt line make for an even more generous feeling of space than in the previous model. The driver sits 90 millimetres higher than in an A-Class, thus enjoying an especially good all-round view – also thanks to optimised cross-sections of the roof pillars, which obscure less of the surroundings.
Interior design: revolution, the second
The interior of the B-Class is as avant-garde as the much-praised revolutionary interior architecture of the new A-Class, yet distinctive: while the instrument panel of the sister model is split into two horizontal basic bodies, that of the B-Class has a single basic volume, which drops away towards the occupants and has cutouts in the area of the driver and front passenger. The cutout in front of the driver houses the fully free-standing display unit, which comes in three different versions: with two 7-inch displays (17.78 cm), with one 7- and one 10.25-inch display (26 cm) and, in the Widescreen version, with two 10.25-inch displays. A head-up display is optionally available.
The five round air vents feature a high-grade turbine look with finely styled air ducts, inspired by the world of aviation. In the Style equipment line, the vent surround is colour-accentuated in the depth of the vent geometry to give the impression of an afterburner. The centre console with touch-based control and input system comes with a black panel look similar to the E-Class. The ambience lighting with 64 colours and ten colour worlds, unique in this segment, allows individual adjustments, even to suit the mood.
The seats offer a flatter and, therefore, more comfortable seating position as well as a larger adjustment range, which also increases the maximum headroom. There is also more space in the width: at 1,456 millimetres (plus 33 mm), the front elbow width now has the dimensions of a mid-range vehicle.
ENERGIZING seat kinetics: supports changes of posture
With seat climate control and multicontour seats with massage function, the new B-Class is available with optional extras that were previously reserved for vehicles from much higher segments. This opens the way to even better seating comfort.
The new ENERGIZING seat kinetics is particularly good for the back. It can support orthopaedically beneficial changes of posture by regularly making minute adjustments to the angle of the seat cushion and backrest. The innovation is available for the front seats in combination with all-electric seat adjustment with memory function.
Variable rear seats and optimised luggage compartment layout
The interior has been fine-tuned in many places: the improved passage over the centre tunnel in the rear makes for a more accessible middle seat. The rear seat backrest comes as standard with a 40:20:40 split. Depending on version, from mid-2019 it will be possible to slide the rear seats forward by 14 centimetres and to move the backrest into a more upright position to vary the capacity of the luggage compartment behind the rear seats between 455 and 705 litres. Although the capacity is roughly the same as in the previous model, the luggage compartment can be more efficiently used thanks to the improvements.
With the rear seat folded down and luggage loaded to the roof, the luggage compartment, which is flat thanks to the adjustable load compartment floor, can accommodate up to 1,540 litres behind the front seats. A folding backrest of the front passenger seat (optional extra, expected to be available from mid-2019) makes for an even longer loading length.
An EASY-PACK tailgate is optionally available. It can be conveniently opened or closed automatically at the press of a button, even by means of a foot movement in combination with optional HANDS-FREE ACCESS.
MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User Experience: unique experience
What goes for A also goes for B: the new B-Class is the second car model after the A-Class to feature the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system, which ushered in a new era with Mercedes me Connectivity. Its ability to learn thanks to Artificial Intelligence makes the system unique. MBUX is customisable and adapts to the user. It thus creates an emotional link between vehicle, driver and passengers.
Its other strengths include touch screen control as standard as well as, depending on equipment, a high-resolution Widescreen cockpit, navigation display with Augmented Reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition, which is activated by saying “Hey Mercedes”. The touch screen is part of the integrated MBUX touch control concept – a trio consisting of touch screen, touchpad on the centre console (optional) and touch controls on the steering wheel.
MBUX is a revolution of the user experience in the car. Emotively appealing showcasing features underline the comprehensibility of the control structure and thrill through brilliant 3-D maximum-resolution graphics which are rendered, i.e. calculated and displayed, in real time. A head-up display is also available.
New and improved Mercedes me connect services were launched with the new MBUX infotainment generation. These include navigation functions based on Car-to-X communication and Vehicle Tracking, which makes it easier to find the parked vehicle, as well as a notification function in the event of the parked vehicle being bumped or towed away.
The Mercedes me collection of apps can be placed as an icon on the screen in a user-friendly way, and can be freely sorted on the homepage like all other main applications. In addition, online content, such as current petrol station prices, can optionally be displayed. Online updating is a simple way of allowing new content to be made available in MBUX.
The new B-Class is already set up for private car sharing: Mercedes me allows the new compact car to be shared with friends and family members. Operation is simple and secure using the Mercedes me Car Sharing app.
The new Mercedes me connect services On-Street Prediction, Real-Time Information and Off-Street Information can save Mercedes-Benz drivers valuable time and reduce their stress levels while at the same time cutting their fuel consumption and emissions when searching for a parking space. The real-time information is based, among other things, on Mercedes-Benz vehicles that have just left a parking space or driven past potential parking spaces.
Intelligent Drive: functions from the S-Class
The new B-Class comes with driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support, thus providing one of the highest levels of active safety in this segment with functions from the S‑C lass. For the first time, the B-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. To do so, it employs improved camera and radar systems to anticipate the traffic up to 500 metres ahead while using map and navigation data for assistance functions. For example, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC as part of the Driving Assistance package is able to support the driver in many route-specific situations, anticipatory and conveniently adjusting the speed, e.g. when approaching bends, junctions or roundabouts. Also on board are Active Emergency Stop Assist and intuitively understandable Active Lane Change Assist.
The new B-Class comes as standard with extended Active Brake Assist, which can help mitigate the severity of rear-end collisions with slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead – and now even with crossing pedestrians or cyclists – or prevent them altogether.
The new B-Class was developed and tested at the new Vehicle Safety Technology Centre (TFS), too. The design of the vehicle structures with regard to geometry, material thickness, joining technique and material quality incorporates findings from real-world accidents. Many bodyshell components are made of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel to obtain high strength with lowest possible weight, because the core of the safety design of the body is the highly stable passenger cell.
Driver and front passenger are provided with three-point seat belts with pyrotechnic belt tensioners and belt force limitation. In combination with the PRE-SAFE® system (optional extra), the front seats are additionally equipped with electrically reversible belt reel tensioners. Both of the outer rear seats are fitted with a seat belt with reel tensioner and belt force limiter. The new B‑Class comes as standard with airbags for driver and front passenger, kneebag for driver and windowbags and sidebags (combined thorax/pelvis bag). Rear sidebags are optionally available.
Double powertrain debut: new powerful two-litre diesel is Euro 6d compliant, new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission
Compared to its predecessor, the new B-Class is in all cases powered by new, efficient engines, all of which comply with the Euro 6d-TEMP limits. Making its debut is a transverse-mounted version of the OM 654 two-litre diesel with 110 kW and 140 kW, aluminium crankcase and stepped-bowl combustion process. Thanks to extended exhaust aftertreatment with an additional underfloor SCR catalyst, the B-Class with the OM 654q is the first compact model from Mercedes-Benz to be certified in accordance with the Euro 6d standard, which will become mandatory for new models only on 1.1.2020. The large diesel represents an addition to the four-cylinder diesel (OM 608) already known from the A-Class with 1.5-litre displacement, up to 85 kW and up to 260 Nm.
Also available are two four-cylinder petrol engines of the M 282 series with 1.33-litre displacement and 100 kW/120 kW. Innovations include cylinder management (in combination with 7G-DCT transmission), delta shape of the cylinder head and particle filter.
The new B-Class is initially available exclusively with dual-clutch transmissions. New here is the eight-speed 8G-DCT, which is used in combination with the larger diesel engine. Other new engines will follow, as will models with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. A 43-litre tank is installed as standard, while a 51-litre tank is optionally available, depending on the engine.
The following five engine variants will be available at the launch of the B‑Class:
B 180 (100 kW/136 hp, 200 Nm); with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 5.6-5.4 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 128-124 g/km)1 B 200 (120 kW/163 hp, 250 Nm); with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 5.6-5.4 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 129-124 g/km)1 B 180 d (85 kW/116 hp, 260 Nm); with 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 4.4-4.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 115-109 g/km)1 B 200 d (110 kW/150 hp, 320 Nm); with 8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 5.4-4.2 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 119-112 g/km)2 B 220 d (140 kW/190 hp, 400 Nm); with 8G-DCT dual-clutch transmission (combined fuel consumption 4.5-4.4 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions 119-116 g/km).2 [1]The stated fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures are provisional, were determined by the technical service for the certification process in accordance with the WLTP test procedure and correlated as NEDC figures. No EC type approval or certificate of conformity with official figures is yet available. There may be differences between the stated figures and the official figures.
[2] The stated figures were determined in accordance with the prescribed measuring method. These are the “NEDC CO2 figures” according to Art. 2 No. 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated based on these figures.
The new OM 654q diesel engine: lighter, more powerful, cleaner
The transverse-mounted version of the latest premium diesel engine family makes its debut in the new B-Class. Despite its lower displacement – just under two litres – the around 16 percent lighter new diesel engine with 140 kW (190 hp) puts out 10 kW more than the previous engine. On the inside, the OM 654q offers efficiency-enhancing technological highlights such as steel pistons with stepped bowls in an aluminium block. The cylinder liners are coated using the further-improved NANOSLIDE® process.
With a cylinder spacing of just 90 mm instead of 94 mm, the new engine is more compact than its predecessor thus allowing the exhaust aftertreatment components to be installed directly on the engine, where the exhaust temperature is higher, making for more efficient aftertreatment. Thanks to further improved exhaust aftertreatment, the powerful four-cylinder from the modern OM 654 engine family already meets the Stage 2 RDE (Real Driving Emissions) standard coming into force from 2020, and is certified to Euro 6d. Even in demanding driving situations and under challenging environmental conditions, the B-Class remains within all the emissions limits.
This is achieved by additional selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) in the exhaust system of the B-Class. This allows a more generous dose of the reduction agent AdBlue, as any surpluses can be reduced and converted in the second SCR. These surpluses (ammonia slip) particularly occur during fast temperature changes in the exhaust tract, e.g. when moving from city traffic to the motorway.
Suspension: agile and comfortable
At least as agile as its predecessor while even more comfortable – that was the development brief handed to the suspension specialists for the new B-Class. Depending on the version, several options are available for the basic configuration, including a lowered comfort suspension and a suspension with active adaptive damping, which lets the driver control the damper tuning while driving using DYNAMIC SELECT. The system uses an electronic valve, the control of which additionally analyses the driving state and optimises the damping rate individually for each wheel.
In all versions of the new B-Class, the front wheels feature McPherson struts and forged-aluminium wishbones, to which are attached cast-aluminium steering knuckles. This makes the unsprung mass as low as possible in the interests of road-holding and comfort.
At the rear, the models with the entry-level engine variants come with a compound crank rear axle in the basic configuration. In combination with the more powerful engine variants or if the customer opts for one of the optional suspension systems, use is made of a sophisticated four-link rear axle, which is made extensively of aluminium to reduce the unsprung mass. The three wishbones and one trailing arm on each of the rear wheels are mounted on a subframe, which is isolated from the bodyshell by rubber bushings to reduce the transfer of vibration and noise from suspension to body. Single-tube shock absorbers and separate coil springs are used for both the four-link and the compound crank rear axle.

Press Contact

Christian Anosowitsch

Manager Communications SUV

christian.anosowitsch@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-75849

Fax: +49 711 17-98646

Koert Groeneveld

Head of International Product & Technology Communications

koert.groeneveld@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-92311

Fax: +49 711 17-94365

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GLE Celebrates World Premiere at “Meet Mercedes” in Paris

01.

October 2018

Paris

Fuel consumption combined: 9.4–7.4 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 214–169 g/kmOn the eve of the 2018 Mondial de l’Auto Paris, Mercedes-Benz showcased the latest member of its premium SUV family, the new GLE. More than 400 invited guests witnessed the world premiere of the SUV trendsetter at the brand’s “Meet Mercedes” event. As in previous years, the Hotel Molitor, with its Art Deco design and street-art elements, provided the perfect setting for the popular event format. Besides a best-in-class cd figure of 0.29, the GLE also offers a compelling new operating concept, innovative driver assistance systems, a new engine line-up and considerably more space.
“21 years ago, we founded the premium SUV segment with the M-Class. Since then, the importance of these models has continuously increased – not only for us, but also for the whole industry,” says Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “That’s strong motivation for us to make the GLE even better. Families will enjoy the additional space; business people will be happy about the improved connectivity and fans of the outdoors will love its new driving capabilities.”
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE is packed with innovations. One world first is the 48-volt E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL active suspension, while the driver assistance systems go one step further with Active Tailback Assist. The interior is even bigger and more comfortable, with an optional third row of seats. The infotainment system comes with bigger screens, a full-colour head-up display with a resolution of 720 x 240 pixels and MBUX interior assist, which can recognise hand and arm movements for convenient operation. The exterior design exudes not only presence and strength but also sets a new aerodynamics best-in-class in the SUV segment.
At Meet Mercedes at the Molitor, the former iconic swimming pool converted into a luxury hotel in 2014, invited journalists enjoyed an exclusive insight into several new products and technologies from the brand with the three-pointed star. Also unveiled alongside the new GLE were the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC (fuel consumption combined 7.4-7.3 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 169-167 g/km) and the smart forease show car, which will celebrate their world premieres tomorrow at the Mercedes-Benz press conference at the 2018 Mondial de l’Auto Paris. Another world premiere scheduled for tomorrow is that of the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Celebrating its show premiere is the EQC, the first battery-electric vehicle from the EQ product and technology brand.
A live stream of tomorrow’s press conference and the Media Special on the 2018 Mondial de l’Auto Paris are available at https://media.mercedes-benz.com/paris2018.

Press Contact

Katja Bott

Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations
Daimler Trucks North America LLC

katja.bott@daimler.com

Tel: +1 503 7454373

Fax: –

Koert Groeneveld

Head of International Product & Technology Communications

koert.groeneveld@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-92311

Fax: +49 711 17-94365

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smart forease: As uncompromising and fresh as the brand

28.

September 2018

Stuttgart/Paris

Stuttgart/Paris. smart celebrates its 20 anniversary at the Paris Motor Show (4 to 14 October) with a show car that interprets and embodies urban driving fun in a refreshing way. The smart forease is extroverted and offers an uncomplicated solution for urban mobility. Seated under the open sky, the driver is at the centre of the hustle and bustle of the city, in which, thanks to the electric drive, they can freely participate. The openness and minimalistic style are a tribute to the pioneering smart concept vehicles “crossblade” (2001) and “forspeed” (2011).
Everyone knows that smart is practical. That smart is cool will be made clear to visitors at the Paris Motor Show by the smart forease show car. Reduced to the essential, it is uncompromisingly open, pays no heed to convention and is, of course, powered by an electric powertrain. It takes up the original motto of smart, reduce to the max, with a twinkle in its eye, standing for the authentic urban mobility that continues to be the underlying concept behind the brand.
Both the smart brand and the smart forease stand for emotionality, lifestyle and attitude. The vehicle owes its unconventional beauty to the opening of the interior to its environment, the absence of a roof and the shorter windscreen. With its radiant, dramatic metallic-white and colour accents in “stream green”, the smart forease promises a carefree driving experience, freed from convention, yet in harmony with its surroundings.
“The smart forease embodies a refreshingly simple form of driving fun in the city, standing for urban electric mobility without compromise – because, if in doubt, smart always opts for a consistent approach. The result is a sustainable driving experience built on freedom,” says Katrin Adt, new Head of smart from October.
“The smart forease is proof that smart thinks unconventionally. Its design is reduced and pure,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer, Daimler AG. “The smart forease is a statement of urbanity and individual style. It has the coolness of the metropolis and demonstrates a truly free spirit.”
The design: uncompromisingly open based on the smart EQ fortwo cabrio
The designers bring the smart brand aesthetic to life with the smart forease, creating a light-heartedness that results from the unconventional approach typical of smart (ease by being unconventional): unconventional beauty, lightness and energy (energizing lightness) are achieved by reduction to the essential (clever reduction).
Like the concept vehicles “crossblade” (2001) and “forspeed” (2011) before it, the smart forease pays no heed to the convention that a car generally has a roof. It is open to the sun's rays and the wind, allowing its passengers to enjoy a liberated and pure driving experience. The shorter windscreen offers little resistance to the headwind.
The smart forease cleverly focuses on what is essential for urban driving enjoyment. Its manoeuvrability and relaxed openness exert a liberating and invigorating effect on the occupants. Safety comes courtesy of the two domes behind the seats.
The door handles, which are seamlessly recessed in the door, make for an elegant touch. The smart forease has a paint finish in effect-rich metallic-white. This offers a subtle contrast with the matt-silver Tridion cell and the brilliant “stream green” accents both inside and outside. Some of these are instantly noticeable, such as the contrasting green decorative seams on the upholstery, the green border around the media interface and the “stream green” contrast surfaces on the sides of the seats. Others become apparent at second glance from certain angles, such as the green honeycomb look inside the air vents plus further details on the headlamps and wheels.
The open vehicle concept produces a link between exterior and interior, the entire play of colour being at all times in evidence. The interior therefore contributes to the exterior impact of the vehicle. This is also reflected in technical details in the interior. A particular feature is the two round displays in place of centre air vents in the instrument panel – as if there were not already enough fresh air! The displays can be used, for example, to present content from the “ready to” app, which allows the driver to share their smart with friends or to monitor its functions. The speakers of the audio system, which provide a perfect sound for listening to music or making phone calls, are visibly integrated in the rear wall of the cockpit, emphasising the car's cool, playful character.
The smart forease is based on the standard-production smart EQ fortwo cabrio and can therefore be driven. It is a tribute to the two earlier concept vehicles crossblade (2001) and forspeed (2011).
It also affords a preview of the electric future of the smart brand. smart is the first automotive brand with its sights set on a systematic switch from the combustion engine to the electric drive: since 2017, smart has been selling only electric vehicles in the USA, Canada and Norway. From 2020, it will be marketing only battery-electric cars in Europe, too. The rest of the World is due to follow soon after. The smart forease makes it clear that electric cars for use in the city will be anything but boring.
2002: smart crossblade for total openness
This is an area where only few concept vehicles have succeeded: unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2001, the “Crossblade” show car met with such an overwhelming response that smart decided to go into series production with it. From 2002, a small batch of 2000 units was characterised by total openness. The smart crossblade had no doors, roof or windscreen. Its driver was able to drive through the countryside under open skies with the wind in their face for an incomparable driving experience. A narrow, tinted wind deflector, extending across the cockpit area, was all there was to counteract the headwind.
2011: smart forspeed is open and electric
Ten years after the crossblade, smart unveiled another open concept vehicle. The smart forspeed was not intended for series production, but as a radical forerunner of the smart electric drive, which was to come out just a few months later. The forspeed combined contemporary urban mobility with the typical smart fun factor. With no roof or side windows, the two-seater featured a low-profile wind deflector instead of a windscreen in the style of a classic propeller aircraft. The result was an incomparable fresh air experience. Further driving pleasure was guaranteed by the responsive, further-developed electric drive with boost function.
Further information about smart is available online: http://www.media.daimler.com/, https://media.mercedes-benz.com and http://www.smart.com/

Press Contact

Ariane Fiedler

Manager International smart Communications

ariane.fiedler@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-75924

Fax: –

Willem Spelten

Head of international Brand & smart Product Communications

willem.spelten@daimler.com

Tel: +49 (0)711 17-75847

Fax: +49 (0)711 17-79099473

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