smart USA Launches Cross-Country Road Show to Introduce the fortwo
Consumers Can Test-Drive Vehicles in 50 Cities Nationwide May Through November
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI, (May 9, 2007) – A small car with
a big urban solution is coming to the streets of cities across
the United States as eager consumers will have their first
opportunity to experience the fun and functionality of the
smart fortwo. smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske
Automotive Group, Inc., (NYSE: PAG), is launching a national
road show May 19, starting in Los Angeles, California, to
introduce the revolutionary smart fortwo to U.S. consumers.
The tour provides a hands-on experience, allowing consumers
to test-drive the fortwo and experience its innovation, functionality
and the joy of driving. The 50-city tour will visit events
from festivals and universities, to sporting events and retail
outlets, to other popular city destinations through November.
“The smart fortwo is all about urban independence and
freeing people from the constraints of city driving, so this
road show offers consumers a unique way to discover the brand
and get up close and personal with this amazing car,”
said Dave Schembri, president of smart USA. “The best
way to understand the benefits of a smart fortwo is to experience
it – and this vehicle will change the way drivers look
at the driving experience.”
Three road show teams will visit three regions of the country
simultaneously, showcasing four drivable vehicles at each
stop. The tour will stop in each city for approximately four
days, starting in Los Angeles in May, and ending in Miami
in November. The anticipated road show schedule is noted on
the next page, and updates can be found at www.smartusa.com.
Each road show stop will showcase the fortwo in a truly smart
fashion, highlighting how the vehicle offers urban mobility
at its best. The tour will roll into each city in a large,
smart-branded semi-truck adorned with depictions of smart
vehicles on the side and smart fortwo vehicles inside. The
truck’s trailer will transform into a mobile smart exhibit,
complete with interactive displays and virtual demonstrations,
including a display of the tridion cell (steel cage surrounding
the driver and passenger for protection in case of a crash),
the four airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock
brakes, and other features typically reserved for luxury vehicles.
Vehicle test-drives will be conducted on either a closed course
or on neighboring streets, depending on the location. During
the drive, consumers will be able to experience the vehicle’s
dynamic capabilities and benefits including acceleration,
braking, steering response, maneuverability, safety and ease
of parking. A smart representative will accompany each test-drive
to explain vehicle features and abilities, plus answer questions
during the driving experience.
In addition to test-driving the new fortwo and interacting
with smart USA team members, event attendees can register
as a smart “insider” to receive regular updates
to keep them in touch with the latest smart news. Away from
the event, consumers may place a $99 refundable reservation
for a production model on the smart USA home page (www.smartusa.com)
by clicking on the reservation link and following the instructions.
Tour Stops
The smart road show is scheduled to stop in the following
cities between May and November:
| Western Region |
Central Region |
Eastern Region |
| Los Angeles, CA (May 19-June 6, 15-20) | Minneapolis, MN (June 16-20) | Boston, MA (June 30-July 4) |
| San Diego, CA (June 8-13) | Chicago, IL (June 23-27) | Hartford, CT (July 13-15) |
| Las Vegas, NV (June 21-27 | Milwaukee, WI (June 28-July 4) | Providence, RI (July 20-21) |
| Phoenix, AZ (June 29-July 4) | Indianapolis, IN (July 6-11) | New York, NY (Aug. 11-12) |
| Albuquerque, NM (July 6-11) | Columbus, OH (July 13-15) | Edison, NJ (Aug. 18-19) |
| San Antonio, TX (July 13-15) | Detroit, MI (July 18-21) | Princeton, NJ (Aug. 23-25) |
| Houston, TX (July 19-20) | Cleveland, OH (July 28-29) | Philadelphia, PA (Sept. 1-2) |
| Denver, CO (July 27-29) | Buffalo, NY (Aug. 3-5) | Baltimore, MD (Sept. 8-9) |
| Salt Lake City, UT (Aug. 3-5) | Pittsburgh, PA (Aug. 10-12) | Raleigh/Durham, NC (Sept. 14-16) |
| Sacramento, CA (Aug. 10-12) | Virginia Beach, VA (Aug. 25-26) | Charlotte, NC (Sept. 21-23) |
| San Francisco/ San Jose, CA (Aug. 18-19 & Aug. 25) |
Winston-Salem, NC (Aug 31-Sept. 2) | Charleston, SC (Sept. 28-30) |
| Seattle, WA (Sept. 1-3) | Birmingham, AL (Sept. 7-9) | Atlanta, GA (Oct. 5-7) |
| Portland, OR (Sept. 8-9) | Knoxville, TN (Sept. 14-16) | Jacksonville, FL (Oct. 12-14) |
| Nashville, TN (Sept. 21-23) | Orlando, FL (Oct. 19-21) |
| Louisville, KY (Sept. 28-29) | Tampa, FL (Oct. 27-28) |
| St. Louis, MO (Oct. 3) | Miami, FL (Nov. 2-4) |
| Kansas City, MO (Oct. 7-8) | |
| Tulsa, OK (Oct. 13-14) | |
| Dallas (Oct. 20-21) | |
| Austin (Oct. 27-28) | |
Please visit – www.smartusa.com
for schedule updates.
The smart fortwo
The smart fortwo is expected to go on sale in the United
States in the first quarter of 2008 through a dealership network
being developed by smart USA, the exclusive distributor of
the smart fortwo in the United States and Puerto Rico. Approximately
50-70 dealers are expected to be appointed across the country.
The 2008 smart fortwo will be available in three trim levels.
The entry-level pure is planned to start at under $12,000*,
with standard convenience features such as a 5-speed automated
manual transmission with manual or automatic mode, central
remote locking system, 2-spoke leather steering wheel, and
a radio-ready console. The well-equipped passion coupe, expected
to start at under $14,000*, includes all the standard features
described on the pure, plus a panorama roof, alloy wheels,
air conditioning with climate control, 3-spoke leather sports
steering wheel with shift paddles, power windows, electric
and heated side mirrors, and an AM/FM radio with CD player,
all standard. Those seeking top-down excitement can choose
the passion cabriolet, planned to start at under $17,000*,
with a standard upgraded radio and sound system that includes
an mp3 compatibility and in-dash 6 CD changer.
Each vehicle features the two-color concept characteristic
of the smart brand. All models come standard with a black
tridion safety cell that can be upgraded to metallic silver
at an additional cost. The changeable body panels are available
in six colors - deep black, light yellow and crystal white
are standard, while blue metallic, red metallic and silver
metallic are offered for an additional charge. Additional
details on all trim levels and colors are available on the
smart USA website.
* Expected prices exclude tax, license, registration, destination
charge and options.
ABOUT smart and smart USA
The smart fortwo is manufactured by the Mercedes Car Group
and is a member of the DaimlerChrysler family. This technologically
advanced vehicle has been designed to achieve 40 plus m.p.g.
under normal driving conditions. The vehicle is 8.8 feet long,
5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide and comes equipped with many
functional and safety features
reserved for most luxury models. The smart dealer network
will be announced during the second half of 2007. smart is
currently sold in 36 countries, and over 770,000 smart fortwos
have been sold since 1998.
smart USA Distributor LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan, is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo
in the United States and Puerto Rico and is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
ABOUT PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered
in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, operates 311 retail automotive
franchises, representing 41 different brands, and 27 collision
repair centers. Penske Automotive Group, which sells new and
previously owned vehicles, finance and insurance products
and replacement parts, and offers maintenance and repair services
on all brands it represents, has 169 franchises in 19 states
and Puerto Rico and 145 franchises located outside the United
States, primarily in the United Kingdom. Penske Automotive
Group is a member of the Fortune 500 and Russell 1000 and
has nearly 16,000 employees.
Statements in this press release may involve forward-looking
statements. Actual results may vary materially because of
risks and uncertainties, including production delays, delays
in developing a dealership network and external factors such
as interest rate fluctuations, changes in consumer spending
and other factors over which management has no control. These
forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with
additional information about Penske Automotive Group's business,
markets, conditions and other uncertainties that could affect
Penske Automotive Group’s future performance, which
are contained in Penske Automotive Group's Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2006, and its other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which are incorporated
into this press release by reference. This press release speaks
only as of its date, and UnitedAuto disclaims any duty to
update the information herein.
For additional
information, visit www.smartusa.com or www.penskeautomotive.com
