Smart ForTwo diesel news - Fuel crisis? What fuel crisis? - 2008

Don't worry about rising fuel costs. The Smart ForTwo diesel is coming to UK early next year, and it's so ridiculously economical that you'll probably only need to fill it up once a decade.

The ForTwo's three-cylinder common rail diesel may only develop 44bhp, but it returns a near-absurd 85.6mpg - which means a theoretical range of 670 miles. That's Dover to Prague. On a tiny tank.

Even better, it'll save you on your tax disc too. The ForTwo CDI emits just 88g/km of CO2, making it the cleanest production car in the world and putting it the 'Free! It's all free!' band of vehicle excise duty. And allow you to bask in a warm glow of self-righteous smugness.

The diesel ForTwo goes on sale in right-hand drive in the UK next February in both soft-top and hard-top flavour. Here's hoping it delivers on its promises better than that prototype electric Smart.