The old Smart was heavily criticized for its slow-witted steering and ponderous, jerky gearchange. Both elements have been updated for the new car. The automated manual gearbox now offers five speeds instead of six and the semiautomatic shifts are said to be smoother and faster than before. A fully automatic mode will also be available, and Smart is redesigning the gear selector to make it more intuitive for American customers. The steering is 10 percent more direct than the old car, according to Smart.