IF YOU live in London, then I urge you to get along to the South Bank and visit smart’s urban stage.
Smart, the maker of those tiny coupes and cabriolets, have transformed a car park behind the National Theatre into a…well, car theatre – their urban stage.
The idea is to present the cars, their manoeuvrability, and so on. It’s very clever. I went on a 20 minute test around some of London’s back roads I didn’t know existed; pinged into a warehouse where photographs of me and the car were taken against an urban backdrop; and then headed back to the ‘stage’ HQ, where we drove through a smart gallery (including painted smart car) before picking up a coffee to place in the drinks holder. All very clever.
It’s very funky and fun. I received the invite through Twitter. But you can turn up on the spot or visit the website here: www.smarttestdrives.co.uk/urban-stage. But it’s only on until May 16 – although it will visit other cities in Britain.
The car I chose to drive was the smart fortwo electric drive coupe. While I’m fairly sceptical about electric cars for businesses as a practical proposition, many small businesses and sole traders already use the smart to publicise their business. So an electric smart could work well – distance shouldn’t be the issue (about 80 miles on a charge) if it’s all local driving.
Finding a charging point might be trickier – although there is an adaptor to use the mains…if your cable can reach the plug in point without dangerously looping across the pavement of course.
Anyway, downsides apart, I’ve always been a big fan of this small car. Any car that makes me smile gets my vote; the smart always has. Hell, I’ve even driven one to Birmingham and back – although not sure I’d like to do that every day!
And the electric smart is more of the same. In fact, it’s a bit like a dodgem car. Except you have two pedals. Otherwise the sensation is the same (minus the fairground bloke hanging from the pole behind you). Quick on-off power, highly manoeuvrable, and able to squeeze into spaces you wouldn’t believe.
Go and try it while you still have a chance.
Editor’s Blog on smart’s urban stage in London
