A Smart Fortwo (or is it Fort Wo?) has clocked up over half a million kilometres, equal to more than 13 times around the equator.

The car, first registered in 2000, is still running on the original 3-cylinder engine and gearbox. It began its life 5 years ago doing daily trips of more than 300 kilometres for a German dental laboratory and has since been run by an automotive magazine.

The car's repair history during its marathon mileage has been unspectacular: the original brakes were changed at 136,000 kilometres and the clutch at 154,309 kilometres. All other repairs have been minor and the car is still going strong.

Sam Tabart, senior manager responsible for Smart in Australia, said: “people tend to make the assumption that small cars are not particularly durable, however, the Smart Fortwo is not an ordinary small car as it is engineered and produced by Mercedes-Benz.

“The Smart Fortwo is not only remarkable when it comes to fuel efficiency and its appearance, it is also very practical no matter how many kilometres it travels”.

The Smart Fortwo was launched in Australia mid-2003 and there are now close to 1,000 Fortwo’s on Australian roads.

Prices for the Smart Fortwo start from $19,900 for the coupe and $22,900 for the cabriolet variant.

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