Without question, one of the most unique concept cars being shown in Detroit this week is the smart forstars. Debuting in Paris last year, the smart forstars has a hood mounted video projector that turns the tiny two-seater into a mobile theater. Simply find a flat surface to park in front of, link your smartphone via bluetooth and you’re in your own private drive-in, complete with an additional speaker.

The smart forstars can reach a top speed of 80 km/h (49.7 mph) and is electrically powered by a 17.6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batters with a 60 killowatt magnetto-electric motor powering the wheels.

Though we will likely never see the projector on the upcoming smart models, the concept does give us a sneak peek into the future of smart’s design direction. Most notably, the new smart will have a wider track and longer wheelbase than the current smart fortwo.

smart forstars at NAIAS in Detroit

Press Release

The forward-thinking smart brand brings to life an innovative electric Sports Utility Coupe (SUC) concept vehicle named the smart forstars. The tongue-in-cheek name refers to the vehicle’s glass roof which offers passengers a clear view of a starry sky or, via the video projector in the hood, turns the car into a drive-in on wheels.

Head of smart Dr Annette Winkler said, “The smart is the most inexpensive series-produced electric car. Not only is it emission-free and fast, it is also possible to conveniently set the perfect interior temperature in advance with a smartphone, and it is simple to charge at a domestic socket. What’s more, with its powerful battery and integrated projector the smart forstars can transform any grey backyard into an animated open-air cinema.”

zero-emission driving fun

Thanks to its 60-kilowatt magneto-electric motor, the smart forstars is both agile and fun to drive. The concept car boasts a powerful 100 lb.-ft. of torque and a top speed of 80 mph. With its state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery, the smart forstars has a capacity of 17.6 kilowatt-hours of electric power.

The forstars has ample space for two people and a generous cargo area under the glass tailgate (length/width/height: 139.8/67.3/59.3 in.). The car needs only a flat wall for a spontaneous cinematic experience. The projector’s media player (located in the hood) is operated via Bluetooth® from an iPhone®. To add to the viewing experience, a high-quality sound system with additional loudspeakers is built into the ventilation openings behind the doors.

sassy and sporty exterior

The smart forstars boasts striking new features which offer a sneak peek into the future of smart’s design direction.

The sporty forstars is painted in the eye-catching “alubeam rouge” finish, giving the car an edgy and futuristic look. The body color is contrasted against the matte titanium-colored tridion safety cell.

The concept car has a longer wheelbase than the current smart fortwo (97.2 in./plus 23.7 in.) and a wider track (front 58.1 in./plus 7.6 in., rear 58.1 in./plus 3.5 in.), helping to emphasize its sporty look.

stylish, sleek interior

Stylish yet uncomplicated, the interior features sleek, mother-of-pearl white surfaces with brushed aluminium details. The distinctive “alubeam rouge” body panel color has also been carried into interior accents.

The seats are covered in a red graphic print and trimmed with a high-quality white leather and exquisite white piping. Perforated leather on the door panelling adds a modern touch.

Rather than a conventional rearview mirror, the smart forstars features a smartphone in a holder at the top of the windshield. The driver can see what is happening on the road with the help of an integrated video camera. The smartphone also serves as a media source and controls the projector.

Electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and smart are already covering the entire spectrum of individual mobility. This is underscored by the three new battery-electric drive vehicles celebrating their premieres at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Together with the series-production version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive and the smart BRABUS electric drive, the show also sees the premiere of the B-Class Electric Drive concept, a battery-electric variant of the B-Class. While both two-seaters set sporty accents – each in their own way – the electric B‑Class, due for market launch in 2014, presents a compelling case with its full everyday usability. Mercedes-Benz is setting further accents at the world’s most-visited motor show with the equally environmentally friendly B-Class Natural Gas Drive, as well as the new A-Class, which is already enjoying a very successful market debut here in France.

“Three new electric cars in three different segments – a wonderful demonstration of our broad-ranging e-mobility line-up. Our new electric SLS of course symbolizes the dynamism of the Mercedes-Benz brand in a particularly impressive fashion,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. The three electric cars shown in Paris come with the suffix “Electric Drive” in their model designations. In future, this lettering will grace the rear lid of all battery-electric passenger vehicles from Mercedes‑Benz, Mercedes-AMG and smart.

The B-Class Electric Drive concept combines comfortable driving fun with full everyday and family usability. It is driven by a 100 kW electric motor, which delivers exceptional dynamics plus a range of 200 kilometres thanks to its powerful torque of 310 Newton metres. Ensuring that the generous and variable interior space remains unaffected is the “ENERGY SPACE” in the vehicle floor in front of the rear axle. It provides a space-saving and secure location for the lithium-ion battery, while also benefitting the vehicle’s centre of gravity.

“Electric cars are a significant component of our strategy for sustainable mobility,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “In the B-Class, we have an extremely versatile compact car that is well-suited to a variety of different drives – from internal combustion engines through pure battery-electric drive to fuel cells. Thanks to the ENERGY SPACE, the B-Class is the Mercedes pioneer for alternative drives in the compact premium car segment.”

SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive – the most powerful super sports car with electric drive

Mercedes-AMG is launching a whole new era with the new SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive – the zero-local-emissions super sports car with Formula 1 high-tech is the most exclusive and dynamic way to drive an electric car. The most powerful of all AMG high-performance vehicles is equipped with four electric motors delivering a total output of 552 kW and maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. These vital statistics make the gullwing the fastest electric-drive series-production vehicle in the world – the SLS AMG Electric Drive completes the sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz Premiered the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

smart BRABUS electric drive and smart forstars concept – more style, more power and more exclusiveness

smart is expanding its portfolio of zero-local-emission cars to include the particularly dynamic smart BRABUS electric drive. Like the production model, the uprated variant is available as a coupé and a cabrio. “The smart BRABUS electric drive is our sports car with a green heart”, says smart boss Dr Annette Winkler. “Electric driving in the city is more fun than ever with short bundle of power.” The same applies outside city limits: the smart BRABUS electric drive sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and with a top speed of 130 km/h it is also a little faster than the basic model. And despite the enhanced performance it has the same range of 145 kilometres (NEDC).

With the smart forstars, smart is continuing its series of clever concept vehicles and also offering a glimpse of the brand’s future design idiom. smart’s presentation in Paris will focus on the world premiere of the electrically driven two-seater that features an integrated video projector. Further new products that smart is presenting at the Mondial de l’Automobile are the special model smart fortwo edition iceshine and the dynamic smart BRABUS electric drive.

Mercedes-Benz and smart at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 in Paris.Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart, presenting the smart forstars.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Concept – The electric Mercedes in the compact segment

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive concept is powered by an electric motor, which puts out 100 kW and 310 Nm of torque. This powertrain can take the electric B Class from nought to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 10 seconds and up to a top speed of 150 km/h. Mercedes says that with a fully charged battery, the B Class electric is able to run for up to 200 km. If you’re batter is empty, and you need to drive for a maximum of 100 km, you only need to recharge it for an hour. To save energy, Mercedes used the “keep it clean”

Mercedes-Benz Premiered the B-Class Electric Drive concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show

A super start for the new A-Class – 70,000 advance orders in Western Europe

A further Mercedes highlight in Paris is the new A-Class, which is already enjoying a very successful market debut in France. More than 60,000 potential customers came to the market launch in the showrooms of French Mercedes dealerships. A total of around 700,000 visitors took part in the market premiere. Dieter Zetsche: “We have taken around 70,000 advance orders in Western Europe alone. This makes the market premiere of the new A-Class the most successful experienced by Mercedes-Benz to date.”

The new A-Class has an exceptionally emotional design, with dynamic engines ranging from 80 kW (109 hp) to 155 kW (211 hp). It is highly efficient, with emissions figures starting at 98 g CO2/km, it has a best-in-class cd value of 0.27 and boasts exemplary safety. The list of standard equipment includes the radar-guided assistance system COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST. The petrol engines and the top diesel unit already fulfil the EURO 6 standard, setting the benchmark for clean exhaust emissions.

Mercedes-Benz Premiered the B-Class Electric Drive concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show