MERCEDES-Benz UK has confirmed that the DaimlerChrysler Smart car is to be built in a right-hand-drive form and is likely to be on sale in the UK by next summer. UK Mercedes dealers are being contacted to establish the 'viability' of a UK launch for the Smart car, which independent dealers have already begun importing in its left-hand-drive form.

A Mercedes spokesman said: 'The Smart car is an out and out city car, and initially it was thought it was not suited to the UK market. However, there has been a good deal of interest and a business plan is being prepared. Mercedes has announced that it will be building a right-hand-drive Smart car. This will be for the Japanese market, and is likely to also be introduced to the UK market.'

The standard car has a 599cc petrol engine, putting out 44.25bhp at 5,250rpm, has a top speed of 84mph, and a torque figure of 52lb-ft at 3,000rpm. It also has a combined fuel consumption of 58mpg. The announcement that the Smart car could if necessary could be on sale in the UK in just six months' time, comes only a few months after Mercedes denied that it was planning to launch the Smart car in Britain and said it was too difficult to convert the car to right-hand-drive.