Mercedes Smart

It's offically called: Smart - Swatch Car Concept by Mercedes-Benz.
There's a Swiss company, MC Micro Compact Car AG (MCAG) which handles all the action around this microcar, which will be made in France from late 1997.
There'll be two versions: saloon and cabrio (the later is shown on the photo). It's size is absolutely similar to those Japanese microcars wherefrom I'd swore they got the idea.
There'll be four engines: two petrol from Mercedes, an electro and an electro-diesel hybrid by Swatch.
This car is only 2.5 long, the forthcoming A-class is 3.5. So there's the difference.
An annual output of around 200.000 units is expected after three years.
Here are more pictures:
Crash-test
In the States about 10 crash tests were carried out and they hope this car will be one of the safest micro-mini.
Cool dresses, cool car
The safety cell
The interior
Twin-airbags are standard. The passenger's seat are placed a bit behind the driver's. The colors a la Twingo.

Go back to the IAA report!