Date Announced For 2010 Smart Festival

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – April 9, 2010: This year’s annual smart festival takes place on Saturday 4th September at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, and is a date for the diary for smart owners and motoring enthusiasts alike.

The event has grown year-on-year since its introduction in 2002 and the 2009 festival attracted 1,400 drivers and their cars – making it the world’s biggest-ever single day gathering of smart enthusiasts.

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the arrival of right-hand drive smart cars in the UK, organisers are confident that this year’s festival will be the biggest, the best and even more fun than previous years. In fact, attendees are being invited to contribute to the event’s success.

People can visit the smart social community website – www.destinationsmart.co.uk – and put forward their own ideas for attractions and fun activities that they would like to see at the event. Previous highlights have included competitions for ‘Most Modified’, ‘Best Kept’ and ‘Best Dressed’ cars, as well as smart driving games, such as crazy golf, ‘ping the ring’ and egg and spoon.

There are already plenty of things planned to keep visitors entertained at the 2010 smart festival including the chance to test drive the new zero-emission, smart fortwo electric drive. This latest model uses state-of-the-art lithium ion battery technology to achieve a range of approximately 84 miles (New European Drive Cycle) and can be charged via a standard 13 amp socket.

Examples from the stunning smart BRABUS tailor made collection will also be on display, showcasing a selection of the vivid colours and bespoke interiors that smart owners can now individualise their car with.

“The smart festival is firmly established in the calendar of smart events. Our retail partners use it as a way to cement relationships with smart customers. Many organise breakfast meetings and convoys from their sites to the festival – a trend that we’re expecting to continue in even larger numbers this year,” said Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Dermot added: “With smart’s growing reputation for fun and affordability, we’re hoping that this year’s festival will generate even more interest from the public than ever before. The event is a great way to find out more about the brand and have fun at the same time: you certainly don’t have to be an existing smart owner to attend or to receive a warm welcome.”

Al Young, Chairman and Managing Director, thesmartclub ltd comments: “As thesmartclub celebrates its 10th Anniversary and its longstanding association with smart, the 2010 smart Festival is a ‘must attend’ event for smart owners and enthusiasts. The unparalleled diversity and spectacle of countless car colours, modifications and attractions reflects the ongoing passion and enthusiasm for the cars and the smart brand.”

The 2010 smart festival takes place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 4th September. Registration opens on 1st May at www.smartfest.co.uk and updates on the festival’s attractions will be posted on Twitter for the first time @smartfortwouk.

The smart range is available through the Mercedes-Benz retail network. For more information about smart log onto www.smart.com/uk. The smart social community website is www.destinationsmart.co.uk.