2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE weight

Opening and closing
86
>> Controls.
Opening the upper tailgate on the
coupé1
Handle recess>Press button
©
on the key twice.
>Press and hold button
»
on the key for ap

proximately two seconds.
or
>Pull the release handle in handle recess
1
of the lower tailgate.
The upper tailgate is unlocked.
>Swivel the upper tailgate upwards to open.
Observe information on loading the vehicle
(

page 155).
For information on vehicle weights, see
(
page 301).
Opening the lower tailgate on the
coupé
G
Warning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
G
Warning!
High outside temperature, stop
and
go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may in

crease the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around
the air slots in the rear apron may be hot.
Let the engine cool off before touching
this area to prevent burns.

Opening and closing
>> Controls.
87
>Open the upper tailgate (

page 86).
1
Release lever
>Pull both release levers
1 backwards
either simultaneously or one after the
other.
The lower tailgate is unlocked.>Swivel the lower tailgate downwards to
open.
The lower tailgate is held in the horizontal
position by means of the two retaining
straps.
!
When folded down, the lower tailgate can
bear loads up to maximum of 220lbs (100 kg).
Observe information on loading the vehicle
(

page 155).
For information on vehicle weights, see
(
page 301).
Closing the tailgate(s) on the
coupéG
Warning!
To prevent possible personal injury,
always keep hands and fingers away from
the cargo compartment opening when
closing the tailgate(s). Be especially
careful when small children are around.

Seats
92
>> Controls.G
Warning!
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the
vehicle is operated.G
Warning!
When adjusting the seat, make sure that
no one becomes trapped.
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while
driving. Adjusting the seat while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the
seat backrest in an excessively reclined
position as this can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a colli

sion. If you slide under the seat belt, it
could apply force at the abdomen or neck,
potentially causing serious or fatal inju

ries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a position that is as upright
as possible and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt
(
page 98).
Observe the following points:
• Adjust the seat backrest until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
• Adjust the seat to a comfortable
seating position that still allows you to
reach the accelerator/brake pedal
safely. The position should be as far to
the rear as possible, consistent with
ability to properly operate controls.
• Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is
being adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an acci

dent and/or serious personal injury.
Observe the notes on the air bag system
(
page 54).
G
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom

mended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see
"Children in the vehicle" (

page 65).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child re

straints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.

Seat belts
98
>> Controls.
Fastening the seat beltsG
Warning!
Always fasten your seat belt before driv

ing off. Always make sure your passenger
is properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely
severity in an accident. You and your
passenger should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your inju

ries can be considerably more severe
without your seat belt properly buckled.
Without your seat belt buckled, you are
much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be
seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of
injury or death is lessened if you are
wearing your seat belt. The air bags can
only provide the protection they where
designed to afford if the occupants are
using their seat belts (

page 54).
G
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom

mended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see
"Children in the vehicle" (

page 65).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child re

straints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.
G
Warning!
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be
sure everyone riding in the vehicle is
correctly restrained with a separate seat
belt. Never use a seat belt for more than
one person at a time.

Soft top system (cabrio only)
112
>> Controls. The soft top system of the smart cabrio
consists of a:
• Retractable soft top
• Rear soft top
• Side rails
You can remove the side rails over the doors
when you open the retractable soft top and
open the rear soft top.
i
Opening the rear soft top is possible after
the retractable soft top has been opened
completely (

page 115).
Notes on the soft top system!
When transporting long objects inside the
vehicle, make sure that they do not press
against the retractable soft top when it is
closed.
When carrying objects that protrude from the
rear of the vehicle, make sure that they are
not resting on the retaining clips.
When loading, make sure that no sharp objects
come into contact with the soft top or the rear
window.
Do not place any evenly distributed loads with
a weight of more than 165 lbs (75 kg) on the
rear soft top when folded down.
Make sure that the high mounted brake lamp is
not concealed.
!
Do not block the soft top system's locking
apertures.
Only place the side rails in the designated
storage space of the tailgate.
!
Do not sit on the folded
down rear soft
top.
Do not fold down the rear soft top at temper

atures below 14°F (
10°C).
Do not place any pointed, sharp
edged, hot
(above 176°F (80°C)), incandescent or burn

ing objects on the soft top's lining.
Do not apply wax to the soft top fabric and
select only wax
free washing programs when
using an automatic car wash.
Only drive with the retaining clips closed, as
exhaust fumes could otherwise reach the
vehicle’s interior.
!
Please keep in mind that weather condi

tions can sometimes change rapidly. Make
sure to close the retractable soft top and the
rear soft top when leaving the vehicle. If water
enters the vehicle interior, vehicle electron

ics could be damaged which is not covered by
the smart Limited Warranty.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
157
The cargo compartment cover blind
• serves to protect objects that are stored in
the vehicle's cargo compartment from
prying eyes.
• prevents smaller objects from penetrating
into the passenger compartment from the
cargo compartment; however, it is not in

tended to act as a load restraining device.
The parcel net bag
• is for storing small, lightweight objects.
• prevents small objects from sliding around
inside the passenger compartment.!
If objects are placed on the cargo
compartment cover blind when mounted, the
cover may be damaged.Fitting
1
Cargo compartment cover blind
2
Top mounting
3
Bottom mountingIf you wish to use the cargo compartment
cover blind as normal, assemble it in
mounts
2. If you do not need the cargo
compartment cover blind, insert in mounts
3.
>Open the tailgate.
>Secure cargo compartment cover blind
1
at the front of the cargo compartment with
the parcel net bag.
>Insert cargo compartment cover blind
1
on the right
hand side in top mounting2
or in bottom mounting
3.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
161
> Opening: Pull on glove box lid release
2
and fold down the glove box lid.
>Closing: Lift up the glove box lid with a bit
of force until it engages.
>Locking: Insert the key into glove box
lock
1 and turn counterclockwise.
> Unlocking: Insert the key into glove box
lock1 and turn clockwise.Storage compartment in the tailgate
1
You can store small objects in the storage
compartment in the tailgate.1
Handle
>Open the tailgates.
>Pull handle
1 on the inside of the tailgate
backward.
>Lift up the storage compartment cover.
Loading instructions
1 coupé only.
G
Warning!
Transport heavy or hard objects in the
cargo compartment, not in the passenger
compartment.
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible using fastening ma

terials appropriate for the weight and
size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or
sudden maneuvers, loose items may be
thrown around inside the vehicle, causing
injury to vehicle occupants.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
163
The gross vehicle weight which is the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, installed
accessories, passengers, and luggage/cargo
must never exceed the load limit and the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for your
vehicle as specified on the placard located on
the driver’s door B
pillar (

page 293). In
addition, the load must be distributed in such
a way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
for the front and rear axle. The GVWR and
GAWR for your vehicle are indicated on the
certification label which can be found on the
driver’s door B
pillar (

page 293).
For more information, see "Tire and Loading
Information" (

page 185).
The handling characteristics of a fully loaded
vehicle depend greatly on the load distribu

tion. It is therefore recommended to load the
vehicle with the heaviest items being placed
towards the front of the vehicle.Please pay attention to and comply with the
following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:
• Always place items being carried against
seat backrests, and fasten them as securely
as possible.
• The heaviest portion of the cargo should
always be kept as low as possible against
seat backrests.
• Do not stack loads higher than the top edge
of the head restraints.
• Make sure that no luggage/cargo items can
get above or next to the driver’s and/or
passenger seat into the passenger com

partment.
• Make sure that luggage/cargo is properly
secured.
• Always use, if so equipped, cargo net* when
transporting cargo.
G
Warning!
Do not store any flammable substances
inside the vehicle that could ignite and
start a fire. G
Warning!
The manufacturer has not approved your
vehicle for towing a trailer. A trailer can
permanently impair driving safety.