2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE steering

When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the
braking distance.
G
WARNING
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded. The ABS cannot prevent
accidents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others. Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®
)
Your vehicle is equipped with the
Electronic Stability Program (ESP®
). The
ESP ®
is operational as soon as the engine
is running and it monitors the vehicle’s
traction (force of adhesive friction
between

the tires and the road surface) and
handling.
The ESP ®
recognizes when a wheel is
spinning or if the vehicle starts to skid.
By applying brakes to the appropriate
wheel and by limiting the engine output,
the ESP ®
works to stabilize the vehicle. The
ESP ®
is especially useful while driving off
and on wet or slippery road surfaces. The
ESP ®
also stabilizes the vehicle during
braking and steering maneuvers.
The ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster flashes when the ESP ®
is
engaged.
The ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster comes on when you switch on the ignition. It goes out when the
engine is running.
Depending on the driving situation, the
ESP
®
R reduces the speed
R selectively brakes individual wheels
R equalizes

the speed of the driven wheels
R stabilizes the vehicle when braking
R assists you in evasive maneuvers on all
roads G
WARNING
If the ESP ®
warning lamp ÷ in the
instrument cluster flashes, proceed as
follows:
R While driving off, apply as little
throttle as possible.
R While

driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed. G
WARNING
The ESP ®

cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The
ESP ®
cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents. The capabilities of an ESP ®
equipped vehicle must never be exploited
in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine must be turned
off (ignition switched off) when the
parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer. Active braking action Driving safety systems
47
>> Safety. Z

g
For removing key
1
Ignition (power supply for all
electrical consumers) and driving
position
All lamps (except low‑beam
headlamp indicator lamp,
high‑beam headlamp indicator
lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the
instrument cluster come on. If a
lamp
in the instrument cluster fails
to come on when the ignition is
switched on, have it checked and
replaced if necessary. If a lamp in
the instrument cluster remains on
after starting the engine or comes
on while driving, refer to “Warning
and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster” ( Y page 162).2
Starting (
Y page 78)i
When you switch on the ignition, the
indicator and warning lamps (except
low‑beam headlamp indicator lamp,
high‑beam

headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless
activated) in the instrument cluster
come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low‑beam headlamp
indicator lamp, high‑beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal
indicator lamps if activated) will go out
when the engine is running. This
indicates that the respective systems
are operational. Seats
Safety notes
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 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
collision. If you slide under the seat belt,
it could apply force at the abdomen or neck,
potentially causing serious or fatal
injuries. 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.
Observe the following points:
R Adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
R 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 back as
possible with the driver still able to
operate the controls properly.
R 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 accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Observe the notes on the air bag system. 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
recommended

for the size and weight of the58
Seats
>> Controls.

child. For additional information, see
“Children in the vehicle”.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child
restraints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.
G
WARNING
Contact an authorized smart center if the
seats have become damaged.
The
seat is an integral part of the vehicle’s
safety system in the same way as seat belts
and air bags. Damage to the seats may
reduce their ability to protect the
occupants in an accident. Seat adjustment
:
Seat backrest tilt
; Seat fore and aft adjustment
Seat backrest tilt X
Pull adjustment lever : upwards and
adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.
X Release adjustment lever : when the
desired seat backrest tilt is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat
backrest is again fixed into place.
X Check for proper engagement before
driving. Seat fore and aft adjustment X
Pull adjustment handle ; upwards and
slide the seat to a seating position that
still

allows you to reach the accelerator/
brake pedal safely.
X Release adjustment handle ; when the
desired seating position is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat
is again fixed into place.
X Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Seat height The seat guide is inclined in the
horizontal plane. Seat fore and aft
adjustment also alters the seat height.
Armrest* on driver’s seat
Folding up and down
X
Folding up:
Hold front of armrest and fold
it up in direction of arrow :.
X Folding down: Hold front of armrest and
fold it down in direction of arrow ;.
Adjusting armrest angle
You
can adjust the angle of the armrest when
it is folded down.
X Turn thumb wheel =.
R
Direction of arrow ?: down
R Direction of arrow A: up Seats
59
>> Controls.
* optional Z

not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the seat belt under
your arm.
R Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.
R Place
the seat backrest in a position that
is as upright as possible.
R Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
R Do not fasten a seat belt around a person
and another object at the same time. When
using a seat belt to secure infant or
toddler restraints or children in booster
seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
R Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure it is properly positioned.
R Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care to maintain a
snug fit when wearing loose clothing. G
WARNING
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
Do not allow the seat belt to get caught in
the door or in the seat adjustment
mechanism. This could damage the seat
belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the
effectiveness of the seat belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not

be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced. Contact an authorized smart
center. Correct driver seat adjustment
G
WARNING
Observe ”Safety notes“ ( Y page 58). X
Adjust the driver’s seat properly
(Y page 59).
Make sure that you
R are positioned as far away from the
driver’s front air bag as possible
R can reach steering wheel : with your
arms slightly bent at the elbows
R can fasten seat belt ; properly
R you have adjusted seat backrest = to
a position that is as upright as
possible
R you can move your legs freely
R you can depress the brake and
accelerator pedal safely.
X Make sure the seat belt is fastened
properly (Y page 62). Lighting
Exterior lamp switch
For safety, smart recommends that you
drive with your low‑beam headlamps on
during

the day. In certain countries, local
laws dictate that low‑beam headlamps are
switched on automatically during
operation of the vehicle. 64
Lighting
>> Controls.

Turn signals
:
Turn signals, right
; Turn signals, left
X Switching on: Push the combination
switch in direction of arrow : or ;.
The corresponding turn signals flash.
The
corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp # or ! in the instrument
cluster flashes.
The combination switch resets
automatically after major steering
wheel movement.
i To signal minor directional changes
such as changing lanes, push the
combination switch only to the point of
resistance and release. The
corresponding turn signals will flash
three times. Coming home function
Vehicles without rain-light sensor: The
interior lamps come on and then go out
again

after 12 seconds every time when you
lock or unlock the vehicle.
Vehicles with rain-light sensor*: In
addition to the interior lamps, the
exterior lamps come on and then go out
again after 12 seconds depending on the
brightness of the ambient light when you
lock or unlock the vehicle. When leaving the vehicle X
Remove the key from the starter switch.
X Exit the vehicle.
X Press button * on the key.
The vehicle is locked.
The

interior and exterior 9
lamps come on
and then go out again after 12 seconds.
When returning to the vehicle X
Press button #
on the key either once or
twice.
The vehicle is either selectively or
globally unlocked.
The interior and exterior 9
lamps come on
and then go out again after 12 seconds. Front fog lamps
G
WARNING
Vehicles with rain-light sensor*:
In low ambient lighting or foggy
conditions, only switch from position
à to L with the vehicle at a
standstill in a safe location. Switching
from à to L will briefly switch off
the headlamps. Doing so while driving in
low

ambient lighting conditions may result
in an accident.
i Fog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low‑beam headlamps on.
Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low‑beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding
permissible lamp operation.
i Vehicle with rain-light sensor*:
Fog lamps cannot be switched on manually
with the exterior lamp switch in
position Ã. To switch on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
position L first.
9 Vehicles with rain-light sensor*. 68
Lighting
>> Controls.
* optional

Continuous operation
X
Set the rocker switch to position ?.
The interior lamp is permanently
switched on.
! When leaving the vehicle, make sure the
interior lamp is not set to continuous
operation and none of the doors is left
open for a long period of time.
Doing otherwise could result in a
discharged battery.
Ambient lighting* The ambient lighting illuminates the
vehicle

interior with 6 LEDs when the low-
beam headlamps are switched on. The LEDs
can be dimmed.
The LEDS are located
R in the overhead control panel
R in the door pockets, driver’s and
passenger side
R in the storage trays to the left and right
of the steering wheel
R in the storage compartment, passenger
side
In addition to the ambient lighting, the
footwells on the driver’s and passenger
side are also illuminated by separate
lamps.
i When you open a door, the interior
lighting comes on and the brightness of
lamps in the footwells increases. X
Make sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
X Switch on the low-beam headlamps.
X To brighten or dim ambient lighting:
Press button : repeatedly until the
desired setting is reached.
The current setting is stored.
i When adjusting the ambient lighting,
the illumination level for instrument
cluster is also changed (Y page 92). Windshield wipers
Switching windshield wipers on and off
Example illustration coupé
X
Make sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
X Switching on: Turn the wiper switch to
position 2 or 3, depending on the
intensity of the rain.
! Do not operate the windshield wipers
when the windshield is dry. Dust that
accumulates on a windshield might
scratch the glass and/or damage the
wiper

blades when wiping occurs on a dry
windshield. If it is necessary to operate
the windshield wipers in dry weather
conditions, always operate the
windshield wipers with windshield
washer fluid.
! If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them
off immediately. 70
Windshield wipers
>> Controls.
* optional

X
Depress the brake pedal.
X Press the release button (Y page 79) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.
X Move the gear selector lever to reverse
gear R.
R appears in the transmission position
indicator.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal. Parking
G
WARNING
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system. These materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement can cause serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
the vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always
do the following before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle:
R Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the curb.
R Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove the key from the starter
switch.
R Take the key with you and lock the vehicle
when leaving. G
WARNING
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering* systems. In this case, it is
important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly. X
Properly stop and park the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Engage the parking brake ( Y page 80).
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp $ (USA only) or J (Canada
only)

in the instrument cluster comes on.
X Release the brake pedal.
Parking brake The parking brake serves to secure the
vehicle against rolling away when it is
stationary or parked.
G
WARNING
Engaging the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion can cause the rear
wheels

to lock up. You could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident. In
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged. X
Releasing: Depress the brake pedal.
X Pull up slightly on parking brake
lever ; and press release button :.
X Push parking brake lever ; down as far
as it will go.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp $ (USA only) or J (Canada
only)

in the instrument cluster goes out.
X Engaging: Pull up parking brake
lever ; firmly.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning 80
Driving and parking
>> Controls.
* optional

Turning off the engine
G
WARNING
Do not turn off the engine before the
vehicle has come to a complete stop. With
the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering*
systems. In this case, it is important to
keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Press the release button (Y page 79) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.
X Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
The transmission position indicator
should be on P
! Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Turn the key to starter switch position
0.
X Remove the key from the starter switch.
The electronic immobilizer is
activated. Transmission
Introduction
Your vehicle is equipped with a 5‑speed
automated transmission with manual or
automatic mode. For information on
driving with the transmission see also
“Starting” ( Y page 78).G
WARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats*
or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance. During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between

or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury. Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for transmission
:
Release button j
Park position
k
Reverse gear
i
Neutral position
h
Drive position
p
Manual gearshifting
q
Upshifting
±
Downshifting
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator. When manual gearshifting M is
selected, the currently selected gear
appears ( Y page 88). G
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park position P or neutral position
N if the engine speed is higher than idle
speed.

If your foot is not firmly on the brake
pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly
forward or in reverse. You could lose 82
Transmission
>> Controls.
* optional