by Michael Cavinta (RSS feed) August 31st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
When the gas prices had a sudden increase in 2008, car owners began their search for a more fuel efficient automobile. One of the cars that experienced high sales was the small Smart Fortwo. An astonishing 25,000 units of Daimler’s “smart car” were sold that year, followed by a substantial though less spectacular sales during the whole of 2009.
Though the ForTwo experienced significant sales in the US, it took a turn for the worse in 2010. For the first half of this year, Automotive News stated that Smart has only sold 4,000 units of Fortwo. Also, according to the German newspaper, Der Spiegel, the Smart sales in the US will probably make only one third of the 25,000 units that were sold last 2008. Considering the low US sales, Smart is at risk of selling less than 100,000 units globally for 2010, a number much lesser than the 114,000 units sold last 2009.
Some experts think that ForTwo’s sparkle is already gone in the US as their fuel economy registers 33 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg in highway is not as great as far more convenient hybrids like Toyota Prius. ForTwo is also beginning to be compared to bigger gas-powered automobiles like the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Cruze. Nor were experts excited with the Fortwo when they reviewed their 2009 model. As of now, the only way Smart will get back on track in the US is if the petrol prices go up again, or if the forthcoming model of the Smart Forfour get good reviews from the car experts.
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by Michael Cavinta (RSS feed) August 31st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
A tiny Mercedes-Benz electric automobile equipped with batteries from Tesla Motors Inc., will be presented at the Paris Motor Show this coming October.
Daimler AG, the mother company of Mercedes-Benz, has labored alongside with Palo Alto-based Tesla to manufacture the automobile, which based on the reports has a range of less than 125 miles.
Mercedes-Benz is geared to produce at least 500 of the automobiles, though they won’t be up in the United States car market. Rather, Mercedes will lease them to clients in Germany for a span of four years.
Mercedes and Tesla worked together on a battery technology last 2009. Tesla also produces batteries for electric versions of the small two-seater Mercedes “Smart Car”.
The Paris Motor Show is scheduled to run from October 2 to 17.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 21st, 2010 at 9:02 pm
It has been ten years since Smart sold its first vehicle in the UK. To celebrate the occasion, the company launched a brand new limited edition model that they’re calling the Smart Fortwo GB-10. It will be up for display in the Smart Festival that will fall on the 4th of September this year. How limited? Smart UK says that they’ll only be selling 100 of these babies, which will all be wearing a special ‘1 of 100′ badge.
The GB-10 will have four variants, namely the 50 MHD Coupe, the 10 MHD Cabrio, the 30 CDI Coupe and the 10 CDI Cabrio. Each of these will have Pioneer’s AVIC-F910BT audio and navigation system, air conditioning, power windows, and Panoramic roof, all of which will be standard equipment.
To make the GB-10 even more special, Smart is throwing in a good dose of Brabus hardware. All variants will have Brabus’ Monoblock Vii 15″ alloys, LED daytime running lights and third brake lamp. If you opt for the Premium interior package, Smart will put an extra GB-10 logo on the Brabus shift knob and the emergency brake. The GB-10 logo will also be sown onto heated, Rosso-red leather seats. The same bit of luxury will be present on the door panels, kneepad as well as e-brake gator, while the upper-half of the dashboard will be a contrast between black Alcantara and silver on much of the instruments.
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by Michael Cavinta (RSS feed) August 13th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
car2go released report of a new business team-up with advertising agency GSD&M Idea City. With this new partnership, GSD&M Idea City will invite its Austin-based employees to make use of car2go’s convenient service.
According to the president and CEO of GSD&M Idea City, Duff Stewart, Austin’s international distinction for green innovation is built upon a solid community support of outstanding ideas. He also added that they are proud to team-up with car2go as they are impressed with the concept and they believe that the partnership can be a relevant part of Austin’s future with regards to transportation.
car2go presented their mobility program to the Austin public last May after a very noteworthy program that started with the City of Austin in November 2009. In the duration of this pilot program, car2go has teamed-up with a few Austin companies and organizations which includes: LIVESTRONG, urbanspace, the Entrepeneurs Foundation, the State Preservation Board and the Council on Competitive Governments.
According to Nicholas Cole, president and CEO of car2go North America, GSD&M Idea City advocates forward-thinking ideas that make a difference in people’s everyday lives. This partnership notably demonstrates the eagerness of the Austin populace, both business and residents, to welcome new and creative ideas to have both a local and global significance.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 11th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Been waiting for Smart’s drive app for your iPhone? Well, wait no more. The app is now available on the iTunes App Store for $9.99. And you may want to get the Smart Drive Kit as well. It’s a cradle that enables advanced telematics using the iPhone app. You could now buy the cradle at any Smart dealerships all around the country. Remember, both the app and the kit are for sole use on the Smart Fortwo.
The Smart Drive Kit lets you charge your iPhone directly in your Fortwo while also integrating audio to your in-car entertainment system. The app and kit combo has actually been awarded with the “Best Portable Telematics Solution” in the 2010 Telematics Update Awards. These two turns your iPhone into a versatile console wherein you can access information and multimedia right in the comfort of your Fortwo.
If you buy the Smart Drive Kit from any Smart dealership in the US, you’ll get a $10 complimentary gift card which you can use on the Apple iTunes store. So it’s like saying that, “Hey, you buy a kit and we’ll pay for your app!” Sounds like a nice deal, ain’t it?
Mercedes-Benz created the app to be extremely user-friendly. You can upgrade it to have a full navigation system complete with destination guidance, on-screen map, voice instructions detailing each turn you have to take as well as real-time traffic information. It’s pretty much a done deal. Now, all you have to do is visit a Smart dealer, or check out https://www.smartusa.com/driveapp for more info.
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by Michael Cavinta (RSS feed) August 7th, 2010 at 6:29 am
The tuners at Carlsson have showcased their initial tuning packages for the 2011 smart fortwo coupe and convertible lines. The modifications suggested by Carlsson are targeted at making exterior and interior developments, and without creating any adjustments to the power unit.
To start with, the outside of the 2011 smart fortwo was installed with LED daytime running lights in front and two black radiator grill inserts built from powder-cated stainless steel and brand new alloy wheels. The LEDs also serves as sidelights. The ready to install set is offered by Carlsson for EUR 415. Based on the statement released by Carlsson, this would indicate that the LEDs may be utilized at the same time as dipped headlights and so to differ themselves from the regular modification kits.
With regards to its interior, the Carlson 2011 smart fortwo coupe and convertible are given a leather package which mixes Napa leather and Alcantara that stretches on areas like the instrument panel, knee area, steering wheel, instrument cluster, air vents, center console, doors and seats. The leather package amounts to a total of EUR 4,163. Additionally, to fit every interior colour, the car manufacturer offers a gear selector in high quality leather (EUR 89) in the colour mixtures black and silver, black and red or black and beige.
Another showcase that comes in the package is the top of the line Exclusive Edition sound system that boasts of digital two channel amplifier that produces 400 Watts RMS, a 16.5 cm loudspeaker and a textile tweeter. The audio system for EUR 1,295 comes with an LED footwell lighting which turns on when the doors open.
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by Michael Cavinta (RSS feed) July 27th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
There is a rumor going around the internet that the recent partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Renault are set to revive the long dead Smart Roadster. According to our sources, an insider within Smart stated that their company is geared towards reviving the roadster back into the auto market for some time now. Based on the reports, the supplier of the Smart car is fascinated in branching out from its city car beginnings, which something that Renault is set out to assist. Renault has a wide experience in manufacturing low-priced small cars that Smart might be able to take advantage on.
Although sources does not state which Renault model Smart would utilize as a foundation for reviving the Roadster, there are some signs that other products may also be included in the company’s plans. There are also reports of a possible Mini Countryman competitor, which means that Smart is setting its eyes on the CUV conflict. With the prices of the fuel down, the American market is not interested in shifting to smart cars like the ForTwo range, but it is highly probable that they would be attracted to an ultra-compact convertible.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 20th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
We know you’re all waiting for news of the second generation Smart model, which is set to launch at the Paris Auto Show in September by the way. But it looks like you have to wait a little while longer. In the meantime, Smart decided to launch something to keep you preoccupied—the Smart Limited Silver Edition, which is based on the Passion version with a little bit more, worth around 2,000 euros, thrown into the package for a price tag of 12,990 euros.
You’ll find traces of Brabus styling all over the Spec-Ed which is powered by an environmentally-safe micro hybrid drive, or MHD, engine that’s capable of 71 horsepower. Not much but hey, it’ll take you around town in acceptable comfort. The MHD incorporates a start-stop system that shuts your engine off when resting at full stop, and then turns it on upon depressing either the throttle or clutch pedals. The system effectively cuts down fuel consumption and, thus, carbon dioxide emissions.
The Spec-Ed is going to be offered in both stylish silver or gray metallic finishes. Inside it is Smart’s Radio 9 with an MP3 and CD player, a lockable glove box,and Smartl’s iPhone drive kit, otherwise known as the Smart Bluetooth headset.
We’ll let your eyes and our photos do the talking from this point onward.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 14th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Feel your creativity flowing? Then let it show on your Smart Fortwo. The company’s USA branch, Smart Distributor LLC, has just launched its Smart Expressions program. It offers the widest choice of paint finishes and wrap designs for all Fortwo owners. The company, which is a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, is now providing paint and wrap customization by order at all Smart network dealers in the US.
So from six basic colors, the Fortwo can now be transformed into a masterpiece choosing from as many as ninety-three PPG Aquabase® Plus and Aquabase® Plus Tri-Coat paint color options. It doesn’t end there. You can even bring your own color sample and have it mixed and matched at any dealership under Smart’s Any Color You Want program. All these options are backed up by a lifetime limited paint performance guarantee.
The full and partial wrap options, however, are what really sets Smart uniquely. Made of laminated 3M vinyl material that’s available in either matte or gloss, the wraps come in pre-designed patterns that are guaranteed eye candy. Soon, it’ll be your turn to submit your own design concepts to really bring to life your Fortwo. The wraps are warranted up to three years to resist fading, peeling and cracking. Strictly speaking, they’re virtually shit-proof.
You can now view the full gallery at Smart USA’s website design studio at http://www.smartusa.com/smartexpressions.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 8th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Smart’s latest attempt to reach out to the whole world comes in the form of a small mobile TV studio. It happens to be the smallest of its kind in the world as well. Included in the tour, which began on July 2, are Rome, Berlin, Paris, London and Barcelona. The studio will be offering locals a drive around their city on the latest Smart Fortwo as ambassadors for ‘urban mobility and lifestyle’.
The studio is a Smart Fortwo that’s heavily equipped with video camers, five in all, located both inside and outside the vehicle. So it’s kind of like having your very own TV crew cover your journey around the city. But it’s not all about a bunch of locals driving the latest Smart vehicle. No. It’s more of a TV coverage of urban lifestyles divided into four different formats, namely fashion, music, speed dating and urban view.
We’re pretty sure speed dating got your ears hooked. It’s all in keeping with Smart’s ‘Remix Your Reality’ backdropped by urban culture and lifestyle. By exploring the phenomena of speed dating, Smart successfully employs its marketing scheme with loads of fashion and music. So this is something you definitely do not want to miss.
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