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Mercedes will sell the diesel-engined version of its Smart Fortwo in the UK, a company source has revealed.
The car, which has a 44bhp, 799cc three-cylinder diesel unit, can do 85mpg and produces only 88g/km of CO2. By current standards, this would make it the most fuel-efficient UK production car.
The Smart Fortwo CDI had originally only been intended for mainland Europe, but this week's sign-off to produce a right-hand-drive version for marketing in Britain comes in the wake of several...Read the full article

It's about time.  Owners clubs have got together to petition Smart to bring the diesel to the UK ever since the MK1 Smart For 2, but they wouldn't listen.  Anyway, a new Smart For 2 capable of 85 mpg would be popular, let's hope the engine isn't too rough and unrefined.  It is a Mercedes after all, so maybe it won't be.

Utterly pointless car... I wonder what the 0-60 time is... If it ever gets there?

I don't think this is a pointless car. This car is just what Britain needs. It makes way more sense than a G-Wiz, and it will keep on going without filling up for absolutely ages. Add in to the mix the free tax and ultra low CO2 emissions, and this will be a very, very cheap car to run. A lot of people aren't bothered about 0-60 times at the moment considering the ridiculous fuel prices - more people want something economical which is still reasonably cool. Small cars really are the next big thing.

I agree. In the UK such a car would be well placed.

I  was only recently thinking we 'need' a car like this, with a nice big fuel tank. Those who would buy it would not consider the 0-60 times, as they add that nice cheese cake to their weekly shopping at Waitrose.....

I would be interested.

Stephen Guckel:

I agree. In the UK such a car would be well placed.

I  was only recently thinking we 'need' a car like this, with a nice big fuel tank. Those who would buy it would not consider the 0-60 times, as they add that nice cheese cake to their weekly shopping at Waitrose.....

I would be interested.

 

Agreed, much of my motoring in the week is done alone. It would make more sense for Mrs SP to have the main car and for me to have something like this. As long as it can do 75mph and sip diesel, I'd have to consider buying one.

Not for the joy of owning it you understand but for the necessity of having to move from A to B to earn a living. I read somewhere recently that the petrol can do something like 400 miles from a 33 litre tank (?) so this will be better no doubt.

And that's the way it'll end up for the likes of us enthusiasts eventually, driving to the fuel gauge. Even then, I'd take some enjoyment from doing that well.

I suspect some will disagree though.
 

Ok, well maybe I was just a little bit harsh, I can see it does have it's place, at least economically. I think I'm just bitter at the current economic situation which is forcing this upon us... Just for me, as a car enthusiast, this car would be terrible, regardless of the economic benefits.

So here we are 6 months on and as far as I am aware no more news about the Smart Fortwo diesel coming to the UK. I have been running an early LHD Fortwo petrol for over 5 years now with no problems at all, getting 57 mpg average, but being tight and greedy for more fuel efficient motoring are hankering for the diesel which will do 80 mpg plus and no road tax (if new after Mar 2001). I bought my car privately in the UK already UK registered but has anyone gone to the continent and bought one there, what's the form,costs and pitfalls involved for importing/registering for the UK, I would be very grateful for more info.

Good news if it happens. I once spent a week driving a Mk1 Smart around Sicily. It is without doubt the worse car I've ever driven but by the end of that week I loved it. Strange things sometimes cars.

the smart is the only car Mercedes builds at present that makes any kind of real sense in todays world.......the mass public just dont realise it yet.