Smart Says MicroHybrid Technology Not Meant For North American Market

The diesel-powered Smart ForTwo will soon feature start-stop technology, which the company calls its "micro hybrid" drive. The technology cuts off the engine during braking when the vehicle speed slows to 5 mph or less. Stop-start technology isn't new, but European manufacturers are starting to offer it on higher-end vehicles, primarily to improve fuel economy.

Start-stop technology could be incorporated into all vehicles, conventional or hybrid, but the technology is particularly attractive to hybrid manufacturers. The addition of stop-start will not only save fuel, but will also reduce emissions. The new models of the ForTwo will also be equipped with a closed diesel particulate filter, which will remove most particulate emissions.

The Smart ForTwo can accelerate from 0 to 60 in a stately 13.3 seconds and has a top speed of 90 mph. The European version of the car offers a fuel economy of about 66 mpg. It all sounds good, but the company says the micro hybrid drive won't be coming to North America. The 71-hp ForTwo model has had the micro hybrid drive since last year, and the company will now outfit the 61-hp model with the same technology. They have not indicated when, or if, the diesel micro hybrid drive will hit the US market.

Sources: Autoblog, Edmunds Inside Line
Photo: Smart