Smart has unveiled a new green driving initiative called ‘smart eco driving’. Developed alongside the launch of the smart fortwo cdi, the lowest CO₂ emitting car in production, the initiative builds on smart’s green driving credentials and teaches motorists how to drive in the greenest and most economical way.

The initiative is designed to encourage all drivers to adopt smarter driving techniques to enable them to save money and cut back on CO₂ emissions via a smart tutorial. Green driving courses will also be available from Mercedes-Benz World later this summer. Motorists will be able to book a theory lesson to learn tips on how to effectively reduce both fuel consumption and emissions, as well as practical tuition with a professional eco-driving instructor where the techniques can be put into practice.

smart eco-driving expert, Mick Linford, comments; “The smart cdi is the greenest car on the road, but a smart driving tutorial can still help save money and CO₂ emissions. With fuel prices rising, applying a smart approach to driving has obvious economic benefits, whatever car you are driving, and by learning how to get more out of a tank of fuel, motorists can make a difference to both their pocket and the environment.”

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director of Mercedes Benz UK adds: “smart eco driving is something that all drivers can adopt to make a real difference to the amount of CO₂ they emit and the fuel they consume. If every driver on the road follows these simple techniques, we will together reduce emissions and fuel consumption by up to 20%.”

At the centre of the smart driving initiative are the GAS principals, three easy to remember steps that will see a typical driver save between 15-20% on fuel and emissions.

Gears – stay in as high a gear as you can, for as much of your journey as possible

Anticipation – look well ahead and adapt your speed to what is happening in the distance

Smooth Driving – accelerate and brake as little as possible to maintain momentum, thus saving fuel

Additional smart driving tips include:

Eco driving lessons will be available from Mercedes-Benz World later this year. To find out more visit: www.smart.com/uk

The smart range of cars starts from £8,272.87 and is available through the Mercedes-Benz retai

smart will once again take over Mercedes-Benz World for the now annual smart festival which takes place on Saturday 12th September.

The 2009 smart festival will build on the phenomenal success of last year’s event that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the iconic brand when more than 1,200 smarts converged on Mercedes-Benz World.

The smart festival is a key highlight in the brand’s vibrant social ‘scene’ and is a must for all smart owners and enthusiasts. As well as competitions for ‘Most Modified’, ‘Best Kept’ and ‘Best Dressed’ smart, the festival will have an area dedicated to the latest smart products and visitors will also be able to take part in games involving smart driving.

smart fans can find out more about the smart festival and register to attend by visiting www.thesmart.co.uk/festival.

Al Young, Chairman of thesmartclub, said, “The smart festival reflects the passion and enthusiasm the members have for the brand and months before any information about the event was available we were receiving enquiries. In the week that registration opened, 300 people signed up to take part.”
Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “Our UK smart festival continues to be one of the world’s biggest smart gatherings. It truly captures the concept of smart culture and continues to be ‘the’ event to attend in the smart calendar.”

Fresh from supporting the Pussycat Dolls this summer, new singing sensation Steve Appleton will be supplying live entertainment and will also present the competition winners with their prizes.
Registration for the festival is also available at – www.thesmartfestival.com – or by calling thesmartclub on 0845 299 0332.

The smart range is available through the Mercedes-Benz retail network. For more information about smart log onto www.smart.com/uk. The smart social community website is www.destinationsmart.co.uk.

smart is delighted to announce the launch of a new social community website: destinationsmart.co.uk.
This exciting new website gives smart owners, enthusiasts and fans the opportunity to register and interact with each other in a dedicated, smart-branded online space.

Recent customer research has shown that smart enthusiasts like discussing the brand, regularly use the Internet for research and are very active online, particularly using social media.

Registration on destinationsmart is free, and members can create a profile, upload videos and images, participate on forums, join groups and events and communicate with each other. A regular flow of interesting news features on relevant topics such as eco-driving can be shared using the full range of social bookmarking tools.

Members can interact directly with smart via the ‘Ask an Expert’ function. Through this unique facility, members can contact an expert directly with their questions about smart and receive a personal reply.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz UK, said: “destinationsmart will appeal to smart lovers across the globe. We want to bring smart even closer to customers and prospective customers and at the same time gain valuable insight into how they perceive our brand.

To become a member, simply visit www.destinationsmart.co.uk and register your details.

The smart range is available through the Mercedes-Benz retail network. For more information about smart log onto www.smart.com/uk