The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 Fuel Economy Guide 2009 ranks smart fortwo as the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle in the United States. The guide places the fortwo as fifth overall in the ranking. The smart fortwo is sold in the United States by smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc."The smart fortwo demonstrates there are options, other than hybrids, when seeking excellent fuel economy at a time when fuel prices have been at a historic high," said Dave Schembri, president of smart USA. "This vehicle has a low cost of ownership starting under $12,000 and is one of the most ecological vehicles on the road today, not only for its environmental friendliness, but also for its compact size in an age of increasing urban congestion."
The 2009 smart fortwo achieves an average of 41 miles per gallon on the highway according to 2009 EPA regulations. The smart fortwo is powered by a state-of-the-art, compact, three-cylinder gasoline engine that sits at the rear of the vehicle. The engine capacity is 61 cubic inches, producing an output of 70 hp.
The vehicle already exceeds the goal set by Congress for the vehicle fleet and is classified as an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle by the California Air Resources Board for its extremely low exhaust emissions. It is also certified by EPA as a "Smartway" vehicle, which indicates good environmental performance, placing it among the "greenest" vehicles on the market.
The ecology of the smart fortwo extends into its component materials and the manufacturing processes used to produce it. Ninety-five percent of the vehicle is recyclable, and the dash material is made from recycled synthetics. In addition, the "smartville" factory in France, where the vehicle is produced, is one of the most modern and environmentally friendly plants in the world.
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