"Naturally, the Inuvik expedition will go a long way toward proving beyond doubt that a smart can excel on some of the most challenging snow-covered roads in the world. For most people, though, the track we set up at ICAR still brought to light the effectiveness of our ESP in ‘real-world’ conditions, including the freezing rain that caught us by surprise on the third day," recalls Mr. Ah-Yu.
The event also served to remind the public that the smart is roomier than they think.
"A lot of people wrongly believe that the interior is cramped and uncomfortable," he adds. "But when the participants saw me and my 6'2" frame enter and exit with so much ease, they quickly changed their mind!"
Seeing is believing
Michel Cuerrier, a resident of the Greater Montreal area and owner of a diesel-powered smart fortwo (which he nicknamed "450") wanted to compare his old model with the new one and put the latter’s driving dynamics to the test.
"The closed course at ICAR was nicely set up and allowed us to perform manœuvres that we wouldn’t even dare to do in the streets yet demonstrate the effectiveness of the car’s safety technologies. I’m a believer now more than ever!" said this member of Club Smart Québec, Inc.
Even more impressed were drivers with little to no knowledge of the brand. One owner of two Hyundai vehicles (Tucson and Accent) ultimately saw the smart fortwo as a viable replacement for his Korean subcompact.
"My wife hates everything big and since she rarely drives far from home, the smart would prove perfect," he told us.
Another participant, who owns a Jeep TJ and Toyota Corolla, said he uses the latter for his daily 260-kilometre commute. Beyond the decent handling on slippery surfaces, he was particularly impressed by the smart’s mileage figures (average of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres) and low maintenance costs (about $250 per 15,000 kilometres according to Justin LeBlanc, representative at Automobiles Silver Star Montreal).
"It would definitely better the numbers of my Corolla," he said at the end of the test drives.
Patrick Ah-Yu met with several other converts during the four-day event. He takes pleasure in telling the story of a couple who came at ICAR with their big Mercedes.
"They used to keep their smart in the garage during the cold season for fear of what might happen, but after doing some laps with our expert drivers, they went back to their dealer to buy a set of winter tires. Now, they fully trust the smart!" concludes Mr. Ah-Yu, smiling.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
 |
| Icy rain took the organisers by surprise on the third day of the event! |
The event also served to remind the public that the smart is roomier than they think.
"A lot of people wrongly believe that the interior is cramped and uncomfortable," he adds. "But when the participants saw me and my 6'2" frame enter and exit with so much ease, they quickly changed their mind!"
Seeing is believing
Michel Cuerrier, a resident of the Greater Montreal area and owner of a diesel-powered smart fortwo (which he nicknamed "450") wanted to compare his old model with the new one and put the latter’s driving dynamics to the test.
"The closed course at ICAR was nicely set up and allowed us to perform manœuvres that we wouldn’t even dare to do in the streets yet demonstrate the effectiveness of the car’s safety technologies. I’m a believer now more than ever!" said this member of Club Smart Québec, Inc.
Even more impressed were drivers with little to no knowledge of the brand. One owner of two Hyundai vehicles (Tucson and Accent) ultimately saw the smart fortwo as a viable replacement for his Korean subcompact.
"My wife hates everything big and since she rarely drives far from home, the smart would prove perfect," he told us.
Another participant, who owns a Jeep TJ and Toyota Corolla, said he uses the latter for his daily 260-kilometre commute. Beyond the decent handling on slippery surfaces, he was particularly impressed by the smart’s mileage figures (average of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres) and low maintenance costs (about $250 per 15,000 kilometres according to Justin LeBlanc, representative at Automobiles Silver Star Montreal).
"It would definitely better the numbers of my Corolla," he said at the end of the test drives.
Patrick Ah-Yu met with several other converts during the four-day event. He takes pleasure in telling the story of a couple who came at ICAR with their big Mercedes.
"They used to keep their smart in the garage during the cold season for fear of what might happen, but after doing some laps with our expert drivers, they went back to their dealer to buy a set of winter tires. Now, they fully trust the smart!" concludes Mr. Ah-Yu, smiling.
 |
| Patrick Ah-Yu, who helped set up the event, is one of the people in charge of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Article Gallery