Hybrid upgrade elevates fortwo to #1 spot

Last month's upgrade to smart's base-level fortwo model has snuck the Benz babycart into first place on the Federal Government sponsored Green Car Guide (greencarguide.gov.au)... though that title may be short lived as MINI has confirmed the MINI D is destined for Australian showrooms (more here).

Now known as the smart fortwo mhd (micro hybrid drive -- and that total absence of capital letters is smart's way of doing it, not ours).

Smart has introduced the mhd technology as standard fixture on all its 52kW non-turbo petrol fortwo coupe and cabrio models. The primary difference between mhd and the conventional unit it replaces is the introduction of an engine stop-start system. Drivers can deactivate the system when they don't want it, but that shouldn't be very often given the palpable difference smart claims it makes to fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

The mhd system keeps the Mitsubishi-sourced 1.0 litre three-cylinder engine but replaces its predecessor's conventional starter motor with heavy-duty starter-cum-generator feeding an absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery. When the system detects a foot on the brake and the car decelerates through a threshold of 8km/h, it cuts the engine. As soon as it feels the foot leaving the brake pedal, the electric motor provides the muscle for almost undetectable kick-starts. When it's not doing that, it's topping up the car's electrical supply.

smart has modified the ratios of the five-speed clutchless manual gearbox to improve combined-cycle ADR 81/02 fuel consumption by over 6 per cent. Using PULP, this translates to a drop from 4.7 to 4.4L/100km. In slow, heavy traffic, it can do even better.

CO2 emissions are also down by around 6 per cent, from 112 grams to 105 grams per kilometre.

Prices, remarkably, remain unchanged -- coupe from $19,990; cabrio from $22,990.