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| On the road Smart Crosstown concept car: asphalt jungle! A sort of small urban SUV with a hybrid engine, the Smart Crosstown concept car is probably a foretaste of the next Smart Fortwo, expected late 2006.
The Crosstown immediately brings to mind the Smart Fortwo on account of its compact dimensions, with its wheelbase of 1.90 m, a length of 2.68 m, a height and width of 1.58 m. The very similar dimensions of the small two-seater are respectively 1.81 m, 2.50 m and 1.51 m (width and height). This concept also shares the Smart Fortwo's Tridion safety cell of high-strength steel coated with a layer of titanium, as well as its two-tone body made from two different materials (a characteristic feature of Smart Cars).
In the looks department, the Crosstown bears some resemblance to a small Jeep (another brand of the Daimler Chrysler group) with its steeply angled windscreen, rectangular radiator grille, round headlights, visible door hinges, bulky rear and clearly accented wheel arches. The Smart Crosstown is a convertible, and equipped with a windscreen that stows right away under the bonnet. Inside, the trendy dashboard has a lockable storage compartment that extends from the passenger door to the middle of the car, to offset the small boot capacity. There is no shortage of allusions to street life in the passenger compartment: the pedals are like mountain bike pedals, the gear-lever knob is in the shape of a skateboard wheel; handier still, the control unit in the centre of the dashboard includes PDA and USB connection ports, so you can stock up on MP3s!
And to carve your way through the urban jungle, there's nothing like a hybrid engine! The Smart Crosstown hybrid concept combines an electric motor with maximum output of 23 kW with a 61 hp petrol engine, making for minimal fuel consumption of 4.7 litres / 100 km. At standstill in traffic jams or at red lights, the engine is cut by the "Start and Stop" function (see our article). Top speed is limited to 135 kph (84 mph) and the car accelerates from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 15.5 seconds. At the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, Smart had already presented a hybrid version of the Fortwo, and has repeated the experiment with the Crosstown. However, no one knows when this engine will be available for the next Smart models. On the other hand, one thing is certain: from spring 2006, the Smart Fortwo and Forfour CDI will be equipped with a particulate filter.  | ||||||||||||
