Urban commuters – here’s just what you’ve been looking for. It’s nimble, maneuverable, parkable, economical, stylish and easy to accessorize. You’ll fall in love with it, and even be downright “passion-ate” about the smart fortwo passion.
The smart passion coupe is a fuel-sipper, and it’s fun-to-drive. With an MSRP of just $13,990, the passion coupe comes equipped with a 1.0-liter DOHC three-cylinder engine 
that produces a respectable 70 hp. This engine is coupled with a five-speed automated manual transmission with those cool paddleshifters. This combination registers a miserly 33 mpg city and 44 mpg highway. The cargo area allows for trips to the grocery store, the cleaners and the like, with 7.8 cubic feet of space.
The passion coupe’s 73-inch wheelbase means squeezing into parking spaces is no problem, and the 28.7-foot turning radius allows for masterful maneuverability on those mean city streets, where your destination may require a quick U-turn. It also comes with front independent MacPherson struts with lower wishbones and anti-rollbar while the rear is composed of a DeDion rear axle with coil springs and shock absorbers.
Creature comforts in the standard equipment package include power windows, a panorama roof with sunscreen (add a solid top at no extra charge), air conditioning with temperature control, an AM/FM radio with CD player, a three-spoke leather sport steering wheel with paddleshifters and electric heated side mirrors. Add the Comfort Package to get power steering, heated leather seats, automatic headlights and a rain and light sensor.
For safety, the smart passion coupe is equipped with dual-stage front airbags with a passenger’s side occupant sensor, head and neck protecting side airbags and a tire pressure monitor. For road stability, there’s traction control, antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and cornering brake control, and an electronic stability program (esp®) with Hill Start Assist.
In fact, individual consumers aren’t the only ones looking into the fuel-efficient, space-saving smart fortwo passion. Recently, the County of San Bernardino, California, started testing a few of the passion models with an eye toward adding some to their fleet of vehicles. “They’re small, nimble and run real well,” said San Bernardino County Fleet Manager Ron Lindsey, “and they’re very comfortable, surprisingly, for how small they are.”
For those looking to save on gas, make urban driving a lot less stressful, reduce their carbon footprints and perhaps turn a few heads, the smart fortwo passion holds the answers.
