Smart's limited two is a special edition version of the ForTwo city car and is aimed at trendy young city drivers. It comes with a whole host of stylish added extras including alloy wheels, leather interior and a chameleon-like paintjob that changes shade with the light. Add a choice of coupe or cabriolet bodystyles and this car is sure to turn some heads as you drive through urban traffic.

When the smart ForTwo first emerged on the market, the concept was fresh, exciting and original. The idea of a miniscule city car that did away with all that unnecessary space and concentrated on the important principles of looking cool whilst being seen to do your bit for the planet captured the imagination of the urban trendys. Inside the coffee shops and art galleries of fashionable London, new-media types were able to claim bragging rights as their very own smart car's original looks and low CO2 emissions ensured they were the cutting-edge alpha-green in their office. But before very long the smart had lost some of its exclusivity as more and more small, stylish city cars appeared on the roads, vying for a piece of the action. In order to differentiate their own models from the competition, manufacturers put an increasing emphasis on style in order to capture the imaginations of young, urban drivers. And this is what smart are hoping to do with the limited two.

Based on the popular Passion trim level in the original ForTwo, the limited two is available in coupe and cabriolet body styles and adds a range of additional equipment over the original. Perhaps the most striking feature that makes it stand out and earn its 'special edition' status is the paint-job. Its light blue metallic finish turns silver and beige depending on light conditions, meaning you're bound to turn some heads while making your way through urban traffic.

Inside there are Cognac Brown leather heated seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gearshift, a leather gear knob and velour mats with leather trim. It also features six-spoke alloy wheels with 15-inch tyres, a rev counter, clock and air-conditioning, not forgetting electric front windows, front fog lights and exclusive limited two badging. Three optional extras are available to further customise your purchase; electric power-steering, a lockable glovebox, or the smart sound system. The smart radio 9 sound system features RDS radio and a CD player and is compatible with the smart Bluetooth hands free system and the portable smart navigation system.

"Add a choice of coupe or cabriolet bodystyles and this car is sure to turn some heads"

If you're looking for a car with extremely cheap running costs, you won't find many more attractive prospects than the limited two, which boasts a frugal fuel consumption figure of 70.6mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 112g/km. Bare in mind the fact that your average limited two driver will be driving their vehicle around congested city centres, where other more conventional cars can produce some fairly uninspiring consumption figures, and you'll see where the smart really comes into its own.

Under the bonnet you will find the naturally-aspirated 71bhp engine that features in the ForTwo range. It's a 12-valve, three-cylinder unit and has a capacity of less than one litre. The engine is lightweight and compact and produces a decent amount of torque through a relatively low amount of revs, ensuring you can nip in and out of traffic with ease. The transmission is either an automated manual five-speed which features steering-wheel-mounted 'softip' paddles to shift up and down or a softouch automatic gearbox. Naturally, driving a smart around the city gives you massive advantages when it comes to squeezing into tight parking spots and it may be worth opting for the electric power-steering to make it even easier.

Insurance premiums are kept to a minimum with the limited two due to the easy nature of repairs. Your standard bumper-to-bumper parking knocks won't even register with the smart's plastic-elastic body panels and the colour is deep-moulded in so superficial surface scratches are hard to spot.

Safety features include ESP (Electronic Steering Programme), and ABS (Anti-locking Braking System) as standard as well as hydraulic brake assist and front and side airbags. A smart limited two may not look like the best place to be sitting in the event of a road accident but the limited two's safety feature have been developed in conjunction with the experts at Mercedez-Benz. These safety measures include a solid steel door structure, collapsible steering column and an area of space between the occupants and the windscreen to act as a barrier.

Traditionally the smart car has traded on two things, its economy and its style. This special edition smart is likely to appeal to the latter. That is young, urban drivers who place a lot of emphasis on originality and looking good as they travel about. There are much bigger city cars on offer in this price bracket with similar running costs that offer a lot more practicality, so someone who does opt for a limited two is going to be doing do for style purposes.

You will have to do away with the convenience of two back-seats and pretty much an entire boot, but if you're seriously considering a limited two, it's a safe bet that these luxuries aren't high on your agenda anyway. What the limited two does give you is head-turning style, an impressive amount of comfort and gadgets for a car of its size and seriously low running costs. With the option of coupe and cabriolet models and the special edition limited two paintjob you may find your biggest problem in owning one is keeping your eyes on the road as you check out your reflection in passing boutique windows.