Mercedes parent company Daimler has launched a new app for Smart car owners that will show them if and how all of their shopping will fit in the trunk of their compact city car.

‘Pactris' is described as a digital loading assistant and is essentially a smartphone app that combines a clever algorthim with a growing database. When out shopping use the app to scan a box's barcode and it will work out if it will fit in the back of a Smart ForTwo or a Smart ForFour.

That in and of itself is not particularly impressive, but what makes the app stand out is that it can work out how to pack multiple items together so that everything fits and the trunk lid still closes. As well as a growing list of bar codes, the database supporting the app also includes a number of generic items such as standard-size packing boxes, wine cases or drinks crates

The Pactris app is available to download for the iPhone and iPad.