New interior materials and more airbags standard. The manumatic is still there however 
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - April 8, 2012
2013 Smart Fortwo – New pricing unknown while providing a 34/38 mpgUS city/highway rating.
A redesigned line of fortwo’s will make their U.S. debut in May 2012. The new lineup features a larger front grille and apron, side skirts and a modified rear bumper fascia.
While an exterior facelift is the focus, interior changes include new optional crystal grey leather package that features a leather/fabric combination for the seats and simulated leather on the dash, and door panels. Contrast stitching is included on the seats, dash and doors.
Trims
The new fortwo lineup is comprised of same three versions as before: The pure, the passion and the passion cabriolet. The pure is the least expensive, the passion coupe offers more standard equipment, and the passion cabriolet adds top-down, open-air driving.
Gasoline or electric drive (ED)
The Fortwo coupe or cabriolet can be ordered with the same 70 HP I3 or an all electric drive system. Rated at 38 mpg in EPA highway tests, the conventionally powered fortwo is the most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered non-hybrid in the U.S. On a combined basis anyway???
ED - The smart electric drive looks just like a Fortwo and the battery is located where the fuel tank used to be, in the underfloor area between the front and rear wheels, while its electric motor replaces the conventional engine between the rear wheels. The new generation electric drive will not arrive until the 4th quarter of 2012.
Li-Ion battery - Neatly hidden under the floor, the Li-Ion from the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotove in the new generation of the fortwo electric drive provides 17.6 kWh of power with a power density of 110 Wh/kg. The range for the third-generation electric drive is expected to be more than 100 miles. Probably LA-4 test cycle so maybe 70 on the EPA?
The electric motor is a 55-kW unit provides 35 kW of continuous power. In kickdown mode, the EM-motive motor (joint venture between Bosch and Daimler) makes peak power of 55 kW for about two minutes, which translates to 96 pound-feet of torque. This power provides acceleration from zero to 60 mph in less than 13 seconds, and a top speed of 78 mph.
BRABUS
Available for the gasoline-powered fortwo models, an optional BRABUS sport package includes even sportier front, side and rear fascias, six-twin-spoke alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system and sport suspension. Inside, the BRABUS sport package includes sport pedals, BRABUS floor mats and black leather seats.
"sharpred" special edition
Never mind….
A stylish car that stands out from the crowd, its small size makes for nimble movement and easy parking, especially for people who commute through congested city traffic. The fortwo is big on agility and ecology.
The Manumatic is still all there
The fortwo is equipped with an automated manual transmission. Although it's a manual, it has no clutch pedal. Instead of a conventional stick, which involves coordination between the left and right feet, drivers can use the gear shift lever to shift the transmission manually with a simple touch of their hand. Passion models also offer racing-type shift paddles on the steering wheel so drivers can safely shift up or down gears without ever taking their hands off the wheel. Too bad they are continuing to force this upon us.
Three roofs
The roof of the fortwo is unique in its class. The passion coupe offers the no-charge choice of a conventional solid roof or a panoramic see-through panel of high-strength polycarbonate.
The soft top on the cabriolet model is fully automatic and can be opened to any position, and at any speed. Unlike most convertibles, the smart cabriolet top can be opened or closed at the touch of a button while driving on the highway - a great example of the two-seater's outstanding practicality. For a total top-down experience, the roof side bars can be removed and stowed in the trunk. And, the cabriolet even has a heated glass rear window.
ED Infotainment
An entry level RDS AM/FM radio with USB and AUX ports for an MP3 or CD player is standard. A large three-line display makes it easy to navigate through the menus and operate an iPod through the radio controls.
Two optional audio systems are also available – the smart highline and a surround-sound system. The highline is a high-quality multi-media system with a 6.5-inch touch-screen display, an integrated navigation system with perspective maps and hands-free Bluetooth.
The versatile touch screen provides convenient operation of the radio, CD/DVD player and hands-free Bluetooth operation of a cell phone and GPS navigation. The highline system also includes an iPod/USB connection that enables users to play music from an iPod or data stick through the car’s audio system. Bluetooth audio streaming is also included in the package.
Additionally, an SD card slot also allows videos and photographs to be displayed on the touch screen for the passenger to view.
The optional surround-sound system includes a multi-channel digital amp with matched tweeters in the outside mirror triangles, mid-range speakers in the doors, rear-fills in the B-pillars and a subwoofer under the driver's seat.
Safety
Although many people wrongly perceive small cars as unsafe, Mercedes-Benz safety experts designed the fortwo to excel. It earn a 4 star rating on the older NHTSA and with the addition of knee and side curtains, we may see yet another 4 star on the new and tougher 2011 NHTSA tests.
The 2013 fortwo incorporates eight standard air bags - front, side, knee and window curtain - for the driver and passenger. Because of the cabriolet's open-top design, head/thorax bags are installed instead of side and window curtain air bags.
While seat belts and airbags are great at protecting occupants when a crash is inevitable, the high-tech safety of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and the electronic stability program (ESP) can help the driver avoid crashes in the first place. All standard on the fortwo as it is on every vehicle sold in North America now IIRC?
The fortwo’s most endearing feature? Its 28.7 ft. turning diameter of course.
All 2013 Smart models sold in the U.S. will covered by a four-year, 50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty. Expect to see the refreshed fortwo in dealership showrooms this May.
Linear Mode
