The smart fortwo conquers the Arctic

TORONTO , Feb. 9 /CNW/ - After covering more than 7700 kilometres on some of the most scenic, remote and challenging roads in Canada , the smart Winter Expedition concluded over the weekend. The expedition began on January 26th , in Kelowna, British Columbia, and throughout the course of two weeks, 46 participants over three waves made their way up and down the west coast, through the Yukon and all the way to Inuvik, N.T (68 degrees 22' North Latitude) before ultimately completing their journey on February 6 at the smart Centre in North Vancouver .

The rear-engine, rear drive smart fortwo has a balanced chassis and excellent weight distribution that allows it to perform very well in snow and icy conditions. The caravan of smart fortwos remained poised and easily navigated the ice covered roads, changing elevations, blowing snowdrifts, poor visibility and strong crosswinds they encountered throughout the 12-day program.

The smart fortwo's myriad of standard active and passive safety systems including Electronic Stability Program (esp(R)), traction control, cornering brake control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and brake assist always kept drivers safely in control despite the extreme conditions. In addition, steering wheel shift paddles, which are standard on the passion model, allowed for easy downshifting to effortlessly climb steep mountain inclines or reduce speed in advance of sharp, slippery corners.

From the changing elevations on the Coquihalla and Alaska Highways to the notoriously challenging Dempster Highway and everything in between, the smart fortwo performed very well throughout the entire expedition and proved that the difficult conditions could be surmounted by the vehicle's intelligent design.

The comfortable, spacious interior featured a radio 10 sound system with a 6-disc CD changer and Aux jack to keep passengers entertained, while the automatic temperature control and heated seats kept occupants warm despite the harsh temperatures outside. In addition, the 340 litre cargo compartment provided ample capacity for both the driver and passenger to store their voluminous suitcases and bags for the long, cold journey.

"The smart winter Expedition was planned to demonstrate what our 16,000 + loyal customers already know; the smart fortwo is a safe, comfortable and extremely versatile vehicle regardless of the prevailing climatic conditions, varying terrains or distances traveled," said Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada . "The compact smart fortwo offers class leading fuel efficiency, low emissions and the highest levels of safety and technology in its category, which serves both the driver and passenger well whether they are navigating congested urban streets, suburban areas or even traveling on remote stretches of highway north of the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter."

Further information about the smart, including highlights from the winter expedition, route maps and photos can be found online at www.thesmart.ca

For further information: JoAnne Caza, [phone]; Michael Minielly, [phone]