- Economical turbocharged 698 cc engine
- Small turning circle
- Suspension lacks compliance
- Short-travel suspension lacks compliance
- Countersteering needed against strong winds
- Semi-automatic transmission provides slow gearshifts
- No steering wheel adjustment
- Cabin lacks sound insulation
Overview
Released in June 2003, Smart C450 City-Coupe was a light, three-door hatchback. Manufactured in Hambach, France, the rear-wheel drive City-Coupe was powered by a 698cc turbocharged three cylinder petrol engine that was mated to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed semi-automatic transmission. Initially marketed in Australia as the ‘City-Coupe’, the model name from 2004 was ForTwo Coupe ; the related A450 Cabrio and A450 ForTwo Cabrio have been reviewed separately.
Suprex M160E07LA engine
The City-Coupe was powered by Suprex-designed 698 cc M160E07LA engines which had aluminium construction, a Garrett GT12 turbocharger, a single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder, two spark plus per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.0:1.
Dimensions and suspension
The C450 City-Coupe was 2500 mm long, 1515 mm wide, 1549 mm tall and had a 1812 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the City-Coupe had wishbone front suspension with MacPherson struts and DeDion rear suspension with wishbone coil springs.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-Coupe | 698cc turbo petrol I3 | 6sp auto, 6sp semi-auto |
45 kW at 5250 rpm | 90 Nm at 2000-4000 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Smart City-Coupe included dual front airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control with corner braking control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
Euro NCAP crash testing
In Euro NCAP crash testing , a 2000 Smart City-Coupe received a three star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 21.84. In the frontal offset impact test, protection from serious leg injury was poor for the driver, while chest protection was weak for the front passenger. In the side impact test, there was a slight risk of serious abdomen injury for the driver.
Features
Standard features for the Smart City Coupe included 15-inch alloy wheels with 145/65 R15 front and 175/55 R15 rear tyres, a two speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, front fog lamps, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, remote central locking, power windows and a tinted glass roof.
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