smart center Fort Worth opens

The City of Fort Worth is expected to grow from 1.5 million to 2.9 million people by the year 2030, putting an even greater demand along major highway corridors and creating the need for more environmentally friendly vehicles. An ultra-low emissions vehicle, the smart fortwo is the most fuel efficient two-seat vehicle in the U.S. The popular new vehicle is now available at smart center Fort Worth at 5601 Bryant Irvin Road.

“As one of the largest cities in Texas, Fort Worth is an ideal location for a smart center,” said Ken Schnitzer, CEO of Park Place Dealerships. “With the incredible growth that Tarrant County is experiencing, it is important to provide transportation alternatives that will positively impact our community. We are very happy to bring the smart fortwo to Fort Worth. We have a great amount of confidence in the Fort Worth market and expect to sell more than 500 vehicles this year.”

Smart center Fort Worth, the only authorized smart dealer in Tarrant County, is housed within Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth. The Mercedes-Benz dealership opened in 2005 and employs 71 people, which also includes the smart center Fort Worth staff.

The smart fortwo, which sold more than 24,000 cars nationwide in 2008, is the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle in the U.S. According to the 2009 EPA Fuel Economy Guide, the smart achieves 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 and placing it among the “greenest” vehicles on the market.

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 the 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 sell several trim levels of the smart fortwo. The pure coupe will retail starting at $11,590, the passion coupe will retail starting at $13,590, and the well-equipped passion cabriolet will retail 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.

Customization possibilities are virtually endless through an extensive range of accessories. The innovative removable door panels on the smart fortwo allows consumers to change the color of their vehicle as they desire. The new 2009 models also feature two new colors, a sporty and intense “rally red”, and a cool and elegant “gray metallic.” Park Place Dealerships also offers an infinite number of custom colors, including TCU purple, as demonstrated by the smart fortwo unveiled recently at the new dealership.

The smart center Fort Worth is a reflection of the car’s contemporary attitude. A stark white interior with bright yellow accents showcases the smart fortwo in a modern environment, surrounded by Apple computers and a comfortable seating area. 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.

Founded in 1987, Park Place Dealerships is comprised of nine dealerships in Dallas/Fort Worth and Mission Viejo, California. In addition to smart, Park Place represents high-end brands including Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maserati, Lexus, Porsche, and Volvo.