2006 Smart fortwo (Type 450)

Today's post is about my current daily driver. It's a 2006 Smart fortwo Passion originally destined for the Netherlands and imported by G & K Auto Conversion. This was the last year for the "Type 450" generation and its turbocharged gasoline engine, which was only sold in Europe and Australia (the diesel was also sold in Canada but is still illegal to import to the US).

The 2004-2006 Passion and Pulse models have a 698cc turbocharged three cyllinder Mercedes-Benz engine, and output is a staggering 61HP. It is driven through an automated 6-speed manual transmission, which shifts in sequential fashion without the use of a clutch pedal (not to be confused with a shiftable automatic transmission). It can also be put into a fully-automatic mode, though it isn't as smooth as an automatic transmission.

You can easily tell a Type 450 apart from the much more common Type 451 (2008-present) by looking at the head- and taillights. Type 450's have peanut-shaped headlights (the registered importer created custom housings as part of the conversion, but the shape is the same as original) and three vertical taillights on each side. The 451 is a completely new and slightly larger vehicle with a naturally aspirated Mitsubishi engine and a 5-speed transmission, which diminishes the performance of an already leisurely car (the 450 is capable of 100mph). Originally selling for between $26,000 and $32,000, it is quite difficult to put a value on a used 450, as with most grey market vehicles. About 1,000 Type 450 Smarts were imported to the USA by G & K. Another importer called ZAP also imported an unknown number in 2002-2004, though their method has been replaced by the one exclusively granted to G & K.

More information can be found on the Wikipedia article, from the importer, and in the Original Smart section of the Smart Car of America forum.