INUVIK - Marcus Breitschwerdt, president of Mercedes Benz Canada, could barely contain his happiness as he sat in Tonimoes restaurant early Monday morning enjoying a coffee surrounded by journalists from across the country.

Fourteen of them from media outlets such as Globe and Mail and Toronto Star had just joined him for a drive up the Dempster Highway in seven Smart Cars.

President of Mercedes Benz Canada Marcus Breitschwerdt stands beside his 2010 Smart Fortwo model car Monday morning at the Mackenzie Hotel parking lot. Breitschwerdt drove the car up the Dempster on Saturday and Sunday and is going to do the journey again. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

After two days of driving, starting from Whitehorse, they finally made it to the Mackenzie Hotel at about 8 p.m. on Sunday evening.

For Breitschwerdt the journey proved that Mercedes Benz's latest Smart Car, the 2010 Smart Fortwo, is capable of withstanding the harshest winter conditions.

"It's a winter expedition," he said. "We wanted to show the Smart Car is a marvellous piece of technology, a mastermind of innovation that does well in the big city in Toronto but (also) in the last frontiers of nature like on the Dempster and the Arctic Circle. If you bring innovation into Canada it has to work in the winter. It's doing very well."

Called the Smart Fortwo Winter Expedition, the journey started Jan. 26 in Kelowna, B.C., and is expected to end on Feb. 6. As of Monday, the driving brigade already completed two of the four legs of the journey, Kelowna to Whitehorse and Whitehorse to Inuvik. On Monday morning at 8 a.m. they set out from the Mackenzie Hotel to conquer the Dempster again to Whitehorse to complete the third leg. The final section will be from Whitehorse to Vancouver.

The remarkably fuel efficient vehicle known for its outstanding crash ratings has just enough room to fit two people, hence the name Smart Fortwo. The crew was able to maintain a speed of 100 km/h on most sections of the Dempster.

Mark Richardson, Wheels Editor for the Toronto Star, was one of a few drivers who lost control of their diminutive vehicles. Regardless, he said he was impressed, though not surprised, by the car's performance over the treacherous highway.

"When you're driving you're not slipping around on the road," he said. "It's a light car. It does slip but it has a variety of safety features to keep you in control.

"There's no reason why this car shouldn't be able to drive on the Dempster comfortably. It's got four wheels and a steering wheel.

"The hardest part is seeing where the hell you're going."

He said he liked what he saw of Inuvik and promised to be back for a longer visit.

As for Breitschwerdt, he was fascinated with the Igloo Church and spent part of the morning snapping photos of it.

"I'm from Germany," he said. "In every single tourism book you see of the North there, there is a picture of this church. It's quite amazing."

Mackenzie Hotel manager Muriel Klengenberg was amazed that the fleet made the journey up the dangerous Dempster with relative ease. With blustery conditions forecast for Monday, she said she was concerned about their trip back.

"I'm not sure how experienced the drivers are but since they made it this far I'm sure they can make it back again," she said with a laugh.