Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Paris, Germany/France, Sep 24, 2010

An unusual cooperation project has its world premiere. smart, the packaging specialist CD CARTONDRUCK AG from Obersulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and the Berlin-based artist Sarah Illenberger unveil the first smart fortwo to have its interior and exterior components designed and produced in high-quality recyclable cardboard from the company Gmund. The CARTONDRUCK smart will be on show in Paris at the smart urban stage from 28 to 30 September 2010, in parallel with the Paris Motor Show.


"With this project we want to show that the smart is by no means 'disposable', and can make a truly lasting impression – even when constructed out of an unorthodox material. We like to keep finding new ways to highlight the urban creativity, diverse design possibilities and exceptional environmental friendliness of the smart. This smart fortwo once again underlines all of these aspects," explains Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director smart brand and Head of Sales & Marketing.

Steffen Schnizer, member of the management board at CD CARTONDRUCK AG, adds: "The CARTONDRUCK smart demonstrates that cardboard and boxes, used intelligently, offer surprising, sustainable design possibilities." Not only does the CARTONDRUCK smart have thousands of cardboard boxes in diverse sizes and colours glued to its exterior; its door mirrors and various interior fittings are also produced from cardboard, yet remain fully functional. Some of the instruments, the rear-view mirror, the sun visors, and even the floor mats are made from the material.

The renowned designer Sarah Illenberger, who develops visual ideas and concepts for editorial departments and independent advertising productions, was won for this project. Illenberger, who can be placed somewhere between art and design, produces her creations by hand, with loving attention to detail. Her installations have appeared in international publications such as Style and the Family Tunes, Sleek, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times Magazine. She works mainly with sustainable materials such as paper, wood and wool.

For the exterior of the CARTONDRUCK smart, Illenberger, who has won numerous ADC awards, used a camouflage-like natural pattern called ECO-FLAGE. Applied in a pixel-like fashion to the smart's outer skin, it is reminiscent of the pattern of a bush's foliage, and so emphasises in a light-hearted way the sustainability of both the material and the smart itself.

The smart urban stage takes place in Paris from 28 September 2010 to 17 October 2010. Address: Porte de Javel Bas, 75051 Paris. www.smart-urban-stage.com



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