With the credit crunch leading many motorists to look to downgrade their vehicles, the smart fortwo has risen as a worthy option for motorists, it has been stated.

First-time car buyers or those generally looking to make financial savings should consider the smart fortwo, according to car buying advice company Parkers.

An article by Leigh Robinson in the Swindon Advertiser states that the smart fortwo coupe is the "ideal" car for a motorist looking for a low cost vehicle that allows them to remain "cool".

Other benefits touted in the report include that it has "easy manoeuvrability" due to its short dimensions, while it is a vehicle that generally "wins fans at the expense of its more mundane rivals".

The length of a smart is only eight foot ten inches, meaning that it equals the width of a regular parking slot.

Thus, two or three smart vehicles can fit into a regular parking space taken up by one vehicle.

The vehicle also has its engine positioned at the back to maximise its front crumple zone and some impressive crash test ratings have been achieved.

Discover all the big benefits of the smart at www.thesmart.co.uk

A charity collector has found the perfect aid in his smart car to complete his latest fundraising mission.

Nathan Kift drove his 2003 smart fortwo pulse coupe over 2,100 miles to Italy and back to raise money for Gloucester Royal Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

He was joined on the trip by his step-brother Craig Jackson and between them, the pair raised over £5,500, the biggest single donation every received by the charity.

Mr Kiln stated that he was impressed by how easily the car completed the trip.

"The smart was actually the only reliable part of the trip and even though we were driving for 12 hours a day, we were always comfortable and it performed superbly, especially when it came to fuel economy and crossing the Alps," he said.

"Through doing the run I’ve seen a level of generosity that I never thought existed and I’m certain that the smart’s universal appeal played a major part in helping us to raise so much."

The smart fortwo can either be bought as a three door hatchback or a two door convertible.

Good things come in smart packages at thesmart.co.uk

Mercedes-Benz has scooped two gold honours at the recent ADAM and EVA Awards.

The coverted EVA Award was won in the ‘Corporate Events’ category for the world premiere of the launch of the Mercedes-Benz CLC Sports Coupe at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

At the event, which was held in January this year, two vehicles were presented on a runway, while models showed animated design sketches which linked the design of the vehicles with fashion.

The other gold award, the gold ADAM, was won for the company’s trade fair stand stand ‘Road to the Future’ at the IAA 2007.

Fuel efficient, clean running vehicles were shown at the event, helping the company to win in the category for ‘XXL over 1,500 m2′.

One silver award was also collected at the event by Mercedes-Benz in the ‘Consumer Events’ category.

This was based around 3,000 spontaneous test drives of the smart car in busy locations across 13 German cities.

After the release of sales figures from October, year-on-year sales of smart vehicles were 41.3 per cent higher than the previous year.

See the current Mercedes-Benz offersfor this quarter

Sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles worldwide remained positive over the first ten months of the year, as the sales figures for October have been released.

Some 93,800 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart and Maybach passenger vehicles were delivered to customers during October, meaning that worldwide deliveries remain at a two per cent high for the year at 1,073,700 units.

In the UK and other areas in Western Europe, 56,800 Mercedes-Benz vehicles were delivered, taking the annual total to 633,000.

Overall, the brightest spark of the sales figures continues to be smart vehicles.

Some 11,300 were delivered worldwide throughout October, a positive percentage change of 6.5 per cent.

This also took the annual sales figures to 113,400, which is a positive change of 41.3 per cent.

Smart also sold well during September, with year-on-year sales figures improving by almost ten per cent.

Dr Klaus Maier, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, said of the September figures: "Along with the new-generation smart fortwo electric drive, we also presented the first hybrid production car from Mercedes-Benz in September."

Discover all the big benefits of the smart at www.thesmart.co.uk