2016 Smart Fortwo Won't Hit Magic 40 MPG
The next-generation Smart Fortwo, expected to go on sale in North America shortly, won’t achieve the magical 40-mpg benchmark in highway driving, reports Car & Driver.
Fuel economy for the Mercedes microcar will stay similar to the current generation at 33 mpg city and 39 mpg highway when equipped with the automatic transmission. Manual models will get the same highway fuel economy, but give up 1 mpg on the city cycle.
Not all is bad. Performance of the 2016 Smart Fortwo will increase thanks to a 19 horsepower bump in output, from 70 hp to 89 hp. Torque receives a relatively massive increase from 68 lb-ft to 100 lb-ft.
Those looking for increased efficiency will be able to shell out for the Fortwo Electric Drive toward the end of next year, but prepare to spend big bucks for it if the current model is any indication. The base price of the Fortwo ED is $25,000 before federal and local incentives in the U.S.
Comments
Join the conversation
Hulk can't fit in Smart Fortwo. Hulk SMASH!
Where they messed up was the branding. Put the pointy thing on the grille, call it a "Benz For Two," and they wouldn't have been able to keep them on the lots. Because Benz, ya know.
The older Saturns would regularly get 45 mpg highway. My Chevette diesel gets 45-55 mpg, has twice the room of the Smart, plus has trunk space. Rename the Smart car, the Dumb car.
Since it is inherently a city car, why not just go all-EV & dump any ICE option? Range should never be an issue, and it already has an EV-esque top speed. It would solve all their transmission issues.