Smart fortwo gets some northern exposure

Despite being one of the smallest cars on North American roads, the Smart fortwo can add a northern notch to its belt after completing its winter expedition through Canada’s frozen tundra.

The 7,700 km trip took Mercedes-Benz Canada reps and some eager automotive journalists from Kelowna, B.C., all the way to Inuvik, N.T. on a 12-day expedition.

Put through its paces by icy roads and blowing snow, the caravan of Smart’s tiny offerings wound its way on the Coquihalla and Alaska highways. The media launch was designed to highlight the capabilities of the fortwo and demonstrate that it could manage a long, cold journey through the country’s barren north.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, said the trip shows the fortwo is just as capable on “congested urban streets, suburban areas or even traveling on remote stretches of highway north of the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter.”