On A Joyride With The Smart Boss
On A Joyride With The Smart Boss

Video: On A Joyride With The Smart Boss

Video: On A Joyride With The Smart Boss
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Annette Winkler was working towards November 22nd. On this day the new Fortwo and Forfour come on the market. The manager told us what the two-seater has to offer during a trip through Stuttgart.

By Frank Mertens

November 22nd is not just any day for Smart. It's the most important day since the brand was founded 15 years ago, says Annette Winkler after a moment of thought. On this day in three months, a Saturday, the new Smart Fortwo and Forfour will roll into the dealerships. It is a date that Annette Winkler has been working towards since taking office as Smart boss in September 2010.

Accordingly, she also liked to interrupt her vacation on Lake Constance to convince a handful of journalists of the advantages of the new two-seater during a ride. “You see,” says Annette Winkler shortly after leaving in an orange-painted Fortwo with a black roof in Stuttgart's Bolzstrasse, “I can tell you a lot about the advantages of the Smart as the ideal city car. But you have to experience a turning circle of just 6.95 meters from curb to curb for yourself."

Sales kept stable for years

As soon as she says it, Winkler heads for a narrow side street and starts to turn around. "I haven't been here either, I don't even know if that's enough." But it's enough. Without having to engage the reverse gear of the 2.69 meter long Smart, the journey continues in the opposite direction. “Isn't that fantastic? In such a narrow street, without reversing, that's what makes this car so special,”enthuses Winkler. You can tell that she is visibly satisfied with what she will soon be able to offer customers.

In the past few years, Winkler has not had an easy job to master since taking office. After all, she had to keep the sales of an aging car as stable as possible, with special models from year to year. Sagging? The Smart boss doesn't like to hear something like that. After all, in 2010 no one forced them to accept this task. When she took office, she knew that there would only be a new car in 2014.

Strong growth announced

Annette Winkler in the new Smart Fortwo
Annette Winkler in the new Smart Fortwo

But Winkler doesn't need to be angry about such trivialities. Eventually, it managed to keep Smart's small car brand in the range of 100,000 units per year. Not a bad result for a car at the end of its life cycle. But that is the past. Winkler now has two new models available.

What is actually more difficult? To market an old model or a new one? She never found her job difficult, says Winkler, but rather as inspiring. A sales professional is not only characterized by the fact that he can sell the latest, the greatest product at an attractive price, but also a model at the end of his life cycle, says the Smart boss on the tour through Stuttgart. Your responsibility now lies in making the two new models a success. Winkler is confident that Smart will grow strongly with the Fortwo and Forfour. How powerful, she doesn't say, however.

Interior with nice, small details

In order for the new Smart to live up to this claim, it was given a new, fresher design. This also includes the new snub nose. Does the boss like her too? Yes, says Winkler. It goes very well with the new Smart. The new model looks more futuristic, but has remained a smart one. The new one has grown up and, thanks to the ten centimeter increase in width, has "a cozy interior with nice, small details".

Winkler pulls out a small drawer on the right side of the central tunnel. "You see, you can stow small things here." "And how do you like the interior?" Asks Winkler. “And the seats? Are you sitting comfortably?”She asks. "They are quite tight, but quite comfortable," I say and add that the thigh support could have been a little longer for me with my height of 1.91 meters. But otherwise there is little to complain about from my position in the passenger seat. Winkler notes with satisfaction.

Forfour only slightly more expensive than two-seater

Annette Winkler in conversation with Frank Mertens
Annette Winkler in conversation with Frank Mertens

But on November 22nd, not only the two-seater is introduced, but also the four-seater, which was taken off the market in 2006 due to unsuccessfulness. Why should it be any different this time? Because this time the four-seater is also a real Smart, based accordingly on the same platform, says the Smart boss. In addition, there is the price - the Forfour costs only 660 euros more than the two-seater, which starts at 10,895 euros.

This is a very, very attractive offer to your customers. As a house number, Winkler reckons that two thirds of all Smart sales will be accounted for by the two-seater and the rest by the four-seater. The Forfour should not only be of interest for the car2go car sharing offer, but should also bring new customers to the brand for whom the Fortwo was a tad too small. So there are good prospects of boosting the brand's sales.

Network increasingly smart

The new Smart Fortwo
The new Smart Fortwo

But sales is one thing, innovation the other - and this is where Smart wants to further distinguish itself. Because, according to Winkler, Smart is not just a car brand, but a mobility concept. And what is there to be expected? Another networking of the vehicle, says Winkler.

Among other things, customers are offered an app with which they can find free parking spaces, for example, or recommend them to other smart drivers. “Our customers can interact here. It will soon be possible for each individual city to have the individual advantages displayed, which can only be enjoyed by drivers who drive a car less than three meters in length,”says Winkler with satisfaction. This currently works via iPhone or smartphone, but will also be part of the new navigation system by the time it is launched, reports Winkler. After 30 minutes, the Smart boss finishes the journey with the new Fortwo, visibly satisfied. After four years without a new product, a new era begins for her on November 22nd.

You can read a detailed interview with Annette Winkler tomorrow, Tuesday, in the Autogazette

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