Tarrant County's first smart center will make February debut at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth

The name is intelligent and the appearance amusing, but the smart fortwo is all about economy and ecology. Since its introduction in January 2008, the smart fortwo has swept the country and now the unique car will make its way to Tarrant County in February 2009 with the opening of smart center Fort Worth at 5601 Bryant Irvin Road.

 

At only 104 inches long, the smart fortwo is no bigger than a longhorn. The new facility, called a "smart center," will be housed within Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth, the existing Mercedes-Benz dealership, with a space created especially for smart. smart center Fort Worth is the only authorized smart dealer in Tarrant County and along with its sister dealership at Park Place Motorcars Dallas, the only authorized dealers in North Texas.

 

"Fort Worth is the perfect location for our newest smart center," said Ken Schnitzer, Chairman of Park Place Dealerships. "The city has a great appreciation for the environment and smart drivers will certainly be pleased about the fuel economy of this vehicle as well as its innovative safety and design features."

 

The smart fortwo is the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle in the U.S., according to the 2009 EPA Fuel Economy Guide, achieving an average of 41 miles per gallon on the highway. The smart fortwo also is certified by the EPA as a "Smartway" vehicle, which indicates good environmental performance, placing it among the "greenest" vehicles on the market. With the smart fortwo's small and agile design, navigating through traffic and into tight parking spaces is a snap.

 

"In addition to being a fun car to drive, it is very safe," added Schnitzer. "The 2008 smart fortwo achieved the highest ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in front and side crash worthiness. Manufactured by the Mercedes Car Group, safety is their highest priority."

 

The highlight of the safety management system is the tridion safety cell. The safety cell is made from steel, half of which is high-strength material, especially in highly stressed areas. The cell is designed to keep occupants protected. The reinforced steel and the design of the car, including the wheel bases, allow the distribution of the crash energy. The smart fortwo comes standard with four airbags (two full-sized front and two side for head and thorax protection).

 

The smart center Fort Worth will offer three trim levels of the smart fortwo. The pure coupe will start at $11,590, the passion coupe at $13,590, and the well-equipped passion cabriolet starting at $16,590. (Prices do not include tax, title and license.) Complete information about pricing, standard equipment and options can be found at www.smartusa.com.

 

The smart fortwo is a fashionable vehicle that stands out from the crowd. Customization possibilities are virtually boundless through an extensive range of accessories. A set of 10 innovative, removable panels lets the consumer change the color scheme of their vehicle as often as they desire.
The 2009 models feature two new colors: a sporty and intense "rally red;" and a cool and elegant "gray metallic."

 

The smart center Fort Worth itself is a reflection of the car's contemporary spirit. A stark white interior with bright yellow accents showcases the cars in a young, new way. Mac centers allow clients to access the internet during their visit. The smart fortwo stands as the centerpiece, almost as a work of art in a gallery. In fact, the smart fortwo is on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City ­ a testament to the artistic aesthetics of this small green machine.

 

Park Place Dealerships represents luxury brands in Texas and California including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lexus, Volvo, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Maserati. More information is available at www.parkplacetexas.com.