Crank it up! smart Rolls Into Austin for Fun Fun Fun Music Festival

MONTVALE, N.J., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- smart, the quirky, irreverent car that asks people to re-think the way they drive, is cranking up the iPod and heading to Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest for three days of bands that are changing the way people think about music.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/NY70305LOGO )

Fun Fun Fun, which takes place from November 4-6, is dedicated to booking music from the underground. It ignores the hype and focuses on artists that simply sound great whatever style of music they play.  Spanning punk, indie rock, hip-hop, electronic music and comedy, Fun Fun Fun provides a chance for in-the-know fans to see new performers up close and personal before everybody else knows their names. This year's performers include Spoon, Passion Pit, Lykke Li, Slayer, Public Enemy, Major Lazer, Odd Future, Henry Rollins and Reggie Watts.

smart will have several vehicles on display throughout the festival for people to explore and test drive. smart will also be included in all of the festival's advertising, public relations and social media activities.

Fun Fun Fun is the latest event smart is sponsoring that offers a look at what's next in culture. The forward-thinking car has also supported programs that showcase innovators in fashion and eclectic arts (Gen Art, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) and sustainability (author Neil Chambers' Urban Green Tour).

"smart is a car designed for people who are a little bit unconventional, ahead of the curve and are looking for something innovative and different to meet their transportation needs," said Tracey Matura, general manager of smart.  "That's exactly what Fun Fun Fun does in the world of music. It's relaxed, yet forward-thinking. And, of course, it's an absolute blast to be a part of."

The distinctive smart product line consists of five models in the U.S., with pricing starting at $12,490: the gasoline-powered smart fortwo in coupe (in "pure" or "passion" configuration) and cabriolet body styles as well as an all-electric version of both the smart fortwo coupe and cabriolet.  Beyond their eclectic design, the fortwo benefits from a strong emphasis on sustainability, safety and customization.

Everything that goes into a smart is about perpetuating the importance of sustainability -- from the recycled materials used during manufacturing to its congestion-reducing design and its ability to achieve 41 MPG on the highway (the highest highway mpg of any gasoline non-hybrid).  smart cars, which come equipped with eight airbags and a patented tridion safety cell design, provide a high level of occupant protection and have benefited from the innovative safety technology developed over the years by Mercedes-Benz.

Through the smart Expressions program, customers can create their own lifestyle (or fashion) accessory by selecting from a broad palette of over 40 standard or custom colors and over 42 pre-made full vehicle wraps (customers also have the ability to custom design their own wraps).  Each of the smart fortwo's easily-interchangeable body panels can also be individually customized or painted for an endless array of possibilities.

About smart

smart, a Daimler AG brand, has its U.S. headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey. The smart model-line consists of five fortwo models:  the pure coupe, passion coupe, passion cabriolet and all electric drive versions of the coupe and cabriolet.  The unique models which are classified as ultra-low emissions vehicles by the State of California Air Resources Board are just under nine feet long, 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide.  Despite their microcar exterior dimensions, smart vehicles are surprisingly roomy inside and have a full array of technological features including the patented tridion safety cell which is designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision.  All smart vehicles, designed to be 85% recyclable and over 95% reclaimable, are produced in the environmentally oriented "smartville" factory in Hambach, France. Over 48,000 smarts have been sold in the U.S. to date.  Additional information on smart can be found at www.smartusa.com.

SOURCE smart