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The fort va pens in ice '.'Ill ite, phat red an d sh ine ye llo w . Prices range from $75 t o 5100.

It's cute, it's fun, it's fuel-efficient, n and it's coming to America. Get ready fo r the debut of the diminutive Sm art . Best I ­ of all, it's coming with the right mate: a wri ti ng instrumen I collection designed exclusively for Sma rt by Italian i pen ma ke r Aquila Brands. BUILT IN , THE temporary pen user s." Like Aqu ila, Sma rt USA SMART "fortwo" model­ Th e Smart pen s, avail­ is counting on wide appeal. nam ed for its two- seater able as fountain or ball­ " We' re going after configuration-was originally poin t with ge l refi ll, are 'Generation E', whi ch the product of a collabora­ well-matche d to the spiri t stands for 'e ver vb odv," tion between Mercedes­ of the car. The y're small says Ken Kett enbeil of Benz and Swiss watch but multifunctional, with a Smart USA. " We're not company Swatch. Now cone-shaped barrel end focusing on age and wholly owned by Mercedes , th at can be used on a PDA incom e. It's more lifestyle Smart was launched in when the pe n is closed. and attitude, and it 's going Europe in 1998 and in The elon gated, spri ng­ to be a rang e of ages. It's Canada in 2005, with loaded clip mimics an eye ­ m ore of a mindset than a 750,000 sold in 36 coun­ gla ss frame when slipped dem ographic that we're tries so far. The current ov er the edge of a shi rt going after. The time is fortwo will be redesigned for pocket. The chro me d bra ss right, wha t wi th urban con ­ 2008 , when sales will begin cap complements each of gestio n and vo latile energy in the US with the introduc­ five lacquered barrel col­ prices, and we thin k the tion of the new mod el, sold ors-phat red, ice white, car is going to do very we ll through SmartUSA. bay grey, sh ine yel low and in the US." The car is a perfect fit jack black-that reproduce Aqu ila appreciates the fo r Aqu ila, which ha s als o som e of the ava ilable advant age s th e Sm art created writing in struments Sm art exterior shades. And offers . In the Italian in partner ship with Du cati while each is pr esented in coastal city of Naples, near m otorcycle s and Jaguar a metal gift box, th e first which his bus ine ss is head­ au tomobiles . "O ur portfolio 5, 000 sold w ill include a quartered, the sm all inclu des brands wi th clea r­ model of the car. are a com m on sight . He ly distinguished features, Smart's popu larity tra n­ speak s fr om pe rso nal which app eal to individuals scends traditional demo­ expe rience when he says , who come from different gra phi cs, and Aquila " Of all the cars I have , I wal ks of life and with dif ­ bel ieves the Sma rt pen enjoy driving a Smart fort­ ferent personali ti es," says will, too. " Unlike the wo in the highly congested Giusepp e Aquila, CEO of majority of w riting instru­ streets of Napl es. It's Aquila Brands. "S m art 's ments, Sm ar t pen s appeal plea sa nt to dri ve, I can rev olutionary concept has to both men and w ome n," park it literally anywher e, brought gr eat innovation Aquila says. "O ur targ eted and as a popular Italian into the car ma rket and ence consist s of young comedian says, ' Have yo u changed the vi sion of the or yo ung -at- heart, dynamic ever see n a person driving city car altogether with the and trend-con sciou s indi­ a Sma rt who is not hand­ fortwo, whi ch has becom e viduals who are tired of some?' Sma rts are grea t a cult vehicl e in many conv entional writing instru­ cars, and the pens were countries. Wit h our Smart ments-and co nve ntional developed with the sam e pen collection, we aimed at cars . Smart cars are sma ll, philosop hy in mind." a youn g and dyn amic aud i­ pra cti cal, colo rful and Fun For more on Aquila ence, hoping to duplicate to drive. Sma rt pen s Brands ' Smart pen, tele ­ the car's succ ess and cre­ reflect th ese values and phone 203.438.8800; visit ating a cult object for con­ are fun to write with." aquilabrands. com/sm art. T h~ n e - s h a p e d barrel end 0' the SMART IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE US cras h test standards. Sm art per doubles as a PDA st ylus vehicle, It is sm all enough Should you des ire a color Sm art is a popular ca r brand in that two of them will fit en d­ cha nge, its plastic body pan­ Eur op e, w here it is an ideal ve hicle for zipping throuqh crowded cit ies to-end in a stan dard parking els snap on and off; reskin­ while sav ing fue l. space; it can even be parked ning the enti re car takes perp end icul ar to th e curb, about two hours. Equ ipped without the nose sticking out with winter tir es, it tackles into tra ffic. Don't be fooled foul wea the r as well as any 1 by th e size, though. With its co m pact car, and it s 1.0 liter high roofline and sloping rear-mounted takes floor, Sma rt is co m fo rtable regul ar-grade gaso line and even for those well over 6 returns an estimated 50 mpg. feet tall. I've st uffed twelve This is not an all-p urpose bag s of groceries and tw o vehicle; originally design ed cases of soda into the cargo for Europe's narrow streets area, and the passen ger seat and legendary par kin g woes, fold s flat for even more stor­ Smart is primarily a city com­ ag e. Opt for the cabriolet m uter, des ign ed for singles or model, and you get a soft couples carrying a reasonable roof that can be push ed back am ou nt of carg o. Even so, it or dropped down and roo f ca n handle itself on the high ­ rail s th at sna p out easi ly for a way; acce leration isn't blis­ fu ll open-air experience. tering by anyone's measure, The car is built ar ound a but once yo u get it going, rei nforced Tri dion steel cage Sm art can crui se all day at for safety. Smart contains 75 mph. four ai rbags and electro nic For more on Smart, visit stability control and meets all smartusa.com.

Jil r-lcl nt os h is a freelance writer an d au to re v iewer in Oshawa, Ontario .