Mercedes to launch smart car in India

Mercedes-Benz had recently conducted a feasibility study of introducing the Smart in the Indian market and rumour has it that Smart would make it to India in 2014. Meet the car It has ample room for two people and also has space behind for two smart ebikes, which can charge their batteries on the cargo area during the journey.It is small, agile and does not need any petrol thanks to its electric drive. Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.

Mercedes-Benz had recently conducted a feasibility study of introducing the Smart in the Indian market and rumour has it that Smart would make it to India in 2014.

It is a logical thought. I assume in the foreseeable future, we will come to that part of the world and discuss the possibility of rolling out Smart," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman, Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes Benz.

Smart could be priced anywhere in the range of Rs 12-15 lakh.

Smart is turning the automotive world upside down once again and challenging ideas about what an urban pickup should look like.

In a tongue-in-cheek manner the for-us signals that this is the right car for the young and young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road space.

The smart for-us translates the practical loading concept of a pickup to the reality of 21st century urban traffic for the first time.

With its exterior dimensions (length/width/height: 3547/1506/1701 mm) it could almost go unnoticed on the loading area of a typical pickup, and it is also anything but ordinary under the body.

Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.

Thanks to the 55 kW magneto-electric motor the smart for-us is agile and lively to drive.

With 130 Newton metres of torque it boasts powerful, lag-free acceleration and it can overtake other vehicles with the greatest of ease.

The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft yellow fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel.

Electric drive: zero-local-emission driving fun The electric drive of the smart for-us is based on the innovative drive concept of the smart fortwo electric drive, which will be launched from the spring of 2012.

The large brand emblem is proudly sported on the grille, and the front has a pronounced three-dimensional design with an underride guard finishing off the lower part of the front end.

The longer wheelbase (2480 mm/plus 613 mm) and the track that has been widened by 50 mm on each side also emphasise the robust look of the study. At the same time the extremely short overhangs at the front and rear make it exceedingly compact.

The tailboard at the rear of the smart for-us is electrically driven. When it opens first of all the cargo floor including tailboard retracts by 280 mm, then the tailgate slides down in a parallel position.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

In place of a conventional rear-view mirror the smart for-us features a smartphone accommodated in a holder on top of the instrument panel support. The driver can see what is happening on the road behind with the help of an integrated video camera. Stylish, uncomplicated, highly functional and easy to individualise – the two seats in the concept car are typically smart.