Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/#commentsFiled under: ,

Smart ED production - click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this week, Daimler launched production of the new generation Smart electric drive at the Hambach, France plant where all Smarts are built. The first stage of production will see the plant build a run of 1,000 of the battery-powered two seaters. The cars will be used in a variety of field test programs around the world beginning in the next few months.

Unlike the previous-generation electric Smart of which about 100 examples were built, the new model uses a lithium ion battery pack. The pack and charging system were developed and supplied by Tesla Motors. The Smart development program led Daimler to buy a nine percent stake in the California startup.

From 2012 onward, Smart is planning to produce an electric model as a part of the standard powertrain offerings for the ForTwo. The electric drive should finally resolve the biggest driveability issue of the Smart - the rough shifts of the automated manual transmission - and may make the ForTwo a far more viable option for drivers.

Gallery: Smart ED production


[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant

Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smart edsmart electric carsmart electric drivesmart electric vehiclesmart evsmart for twosmart fortwosmart fortwo edsmart fortwo evSmart FourTwoSmartEdSmartElectricCarSmartElectricDriveSmartElectricVehicleSmartEvSmartFortwoSmartFortwoEdSmartFortwoEvSmartFourtwoThu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Forget Zipcar - Smart reportedly readying car2go car-sharing program in Texas]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/17/forget-zipcar-smart-reportedly-readying-car2go-car-sharing-pro/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/17/forget-zipcar-smart-reportedly-readying-car2go-car-sharing-pro/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/17/forget-zipcar-smart-reportedly-readying-car2go-car-sharing-pro/#commentsFiled under: ,

Steers and Smarts - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Daimler announced in March it would bring the tiny Smart car to the big state of Texas through its car-sharing service car2go. At the time, the German automaker declared that entering the Austin market with 200 ForTwos was "the next logical step." Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche now thinks that the car share program is also a good way to boost sales numbers, which have dropped recently.

Smart's U.S. sales were down 70.4 percent last month compared to October 2008, and only 661 ForTwos were sold in the U.S. last month. In Austin, as in the first car2go location of Ulm, Germany, the shared cars will initially only be available to city employees. Expansion to other residents - and then to other cities - is expected once the demand is there. Make that if demand is there.


Gallery: smart fortwo in Texas and Germany


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Forget Zipcar - Smart reportedly readying car2go car-sharing program in Texas originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinaustin car2goAustinCar2gocar2gocar2go smart fortwoCar2goSmartFortwodaimler austindaimler smartDaimlerAustinDaimlerSmartsmart carSmartCarTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Smart Fortwo: World's Most Fuel Efficient Drift Car?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/04/smart-fortwo-worlds-most-fuel-efficient-drift-car/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/04/smart-fortwo-worlds-most-fuel-efficient-drift-car/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/04/smart-fortwo-worlds-most-fuel-efficient-drift-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rear-wheel drive, two seats, short wheelbase, sequential manual gearbox, available in either closed-roof or convertible body styles... sounds suspiciously like a sportscar, no? Yet nobody in their right mind would conclude after driving the Smart Fortwo that it is in the least bit sporty. Fuel efficient? Sure. Exciting? Not in the least.

No matter, a well-trained driver can make just about anything on four wheels respond the way in which he pleases. And that includes drifting extraordinaire Sam Hubinette, who tells his fans in a recent blog posting that he's traveling to Spain to film a "pretty intense" car/motorcycle chase scene for an upcoming flick called Night and Day, starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Must be nice.

As you've likely surmised by now, Hubinette's chariot for the stunt will be a Smart Fortwo. Hubinette says he's never tried drifting a Smart... maybe the producers will be willing to shell out some of their $130 million budget to put something with a bit more power under the Fortwo's rear bonnet. Nah, probably not. And so we have what may be the World's Most Fuel Efficient Drift Car. Quick - someone better call Guinness.



[Source: Toxic Drift]

Smart Fortwo: World's Most Fuel Efficient Drift Car? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameron diazCameronDiazfortwofortwo driftFortwoDrifthubinettenight and dayNightAndDaysam hubinetteSamHubinettesmartsmart driftsmart fortwoSmartDriftSmartFortwotom cruiseTomCruiseWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[smart cdi clinches MPG Marathon with 80.61 mpg, driver shows how [w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/17/smart-cdi-clinches-mpg-marathon-with-80-61-mpg-driver-shows-how/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/17/smart-cdi-clinches-mpg-marathon-with-80-61-mpg-driver-shows-how/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/17/smart-cdi-clinches-mpg-marathon-with-80-61-mpg-driver-shows-how/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The 2009 edition of the ALD World MPG Marathon was held a couple weeks ago and this year's winner gained a result unseen in the contest's seven-year history: 80.61 mpg U.S. (96.81 mpg UK). Mick Linford was the man behind the wheel for the 360-mile contest and wrung the result from a smart cdi. Officially rated at 71.28 mpg U.S. ( 85.6 mpg UK) combined, the mileage master managed to make a 13 percent increase with the machine. The two-seat oil burner, which just became available in the UK this year, makes 45 brake horsepower from its three-cylinder common-rail engine but, perhaps more importantly, emits a mere 88 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Unfortunately, like so many other fuel-frugal cars, the smart cdi is unavailable in the U.S.

This was not Mr. Linford's first time to pilot the smart. He was also the driver during a somewhat controversial one-tank journey from London to Edinburgh. It all makes us wonder if Mick isn't something of a company man (not that there's anything wrong with that) seeing that his video showing us 10 ways to achieve these kind of results, and which awaits you after the jump, seems to have been slickly produced by the manufacturer.

[Source: smart UK]

Continue reading smart cdi clinches MPG Marathon with 80.61 mpg, driver shows how [w/VIDEO]

smart cdi clinches MPG Marathon with 80.61 mpg, driver shows how [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ALD World MPG MarathonAldWorldMpgMarathonMick LinfordMickLinfordMPG MarathonMpgMarathonsmart cdiSmartCdiSat, 17 Oct 2009 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Elektromotive and Smart get serious with electric vehicle test]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/12/elektromotive-and-smart-get-serious-with-electric-vehicle-test/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/12/elektromotive-and-smart-get-serious-with-electric-vehicle-test/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/12/elektromotive-and-smart-get-serious-with-electric-vehicle-test/#commentsFiled under: ,

Elektromotive smart ed - click above to enlarge

Expanding the partnership between Elektromotive, which makes charging stations, and Daimler, the makers of the all-electric smart ed, the charging company is now the proud guardian of its very own fortwo EV. Elektromotive will use its new highly-decorated smart ed for four years and give Daimler all sorts of testing data regarding the car's battery performance, reliability and range. For its part, Elektromotive will use the test data to make its own charging stations better and bring them to market sooner.

Earlier this year, Smart announced it had received £2.5 million from the UK's Technology Strategy Board for it's electric car trials, including the Elektromotive partnership. We'll see if zero-emission versions of the smart fortwo makes The Office's Michael Scott like them any more (see video after the jump).

[Source: Elektromotive]

Continue reading Elektromotive and Smart get serious with electric vehicle test

Elektromotive and Smart get serious with electric vehicle test originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Elektromotivesmartsmart carsmart edsmart fortwoSmartCarSmartEdSmartFortwoMon, 12 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Daimler picks France for full-scale all-electric smart ed prodution in 2012]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/daimler-picks-france-for-full-scale-all-electric-smart-ed-produt/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/daimler-picks-france-for-full-scale-all-electric-smart-ed-produt/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/daimler-picks-france-for-full-scale-all-electric-smart-ed-produt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


smart ed - Click above for high-res image gallery

Full-scale production of the all-electric smart ed will kick off in Hambach, France in 2012, the same place where small series production will start next month. Daimler announced today that it would invest "a double-digit million euro amount" into the Hambach plant so that the smart ed can "be offered to customers through the smart sales network." The announcement came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy paid the plant an official visit today and said that the French government will chip in about 15 percent of the cost of upgrading the plant. The Hambach plant built aroundn 140,000 Smart ForTwo vehicles last year.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars who believes that hybrids and pure EVs are a short-term solution on the way to hydrogen, said in a statement that "Emission-free driving in an urban environment is already feasible today." Especially if he means 2012.

Gallery: Second generation smart ed

728796_1321766_4724_3185_09c778_54728795_1321763_4724_3138_09c778_31728688_1321593_4724_3138_09c778_01728689_1321596_4724_3138_09c778_03728792_1321754_4724_3138_09c778_20

[Source: Daimler, Automotive News (subs req'd)]

Continue reading Daimler picks France for full-scale all-electric smart ed prodution in 2012

Daimler picks France for full-scale all-electric smart ed prodution in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdaimler evdaimler smartDaimlerEvDaimlerSmartelectric smartelectric Smart carelectric smart fortwoElectricSmartElectricSmartCarElectricSmartFortwofrancehambachsmart edsmart evsmart fortwoSmartEdSmartEvSmartFortwoThu, 08 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Frankfurt 2009: Tesla plus Brabus equals Ultimate High Voltage]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-tesla-plus-brabus-equals-ultimate-high-voltage/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-tesla-plus-brabus-equals-ultimate-high-voltage/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-tesla-plus-brabus-equals-ultimate-high-voltage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brabus High Voltage - Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to the Tailor Made concepts that Brabus trotted out for the Frankfurt Motor Show, the German tuning firm also showed off a new version of its electric Smart Fortwo called the Unlimited High Voltage. This new model is an updated version of the company's electric Smart ED concept and it features a lithium ion battery pack supplied by Tesla Motors, Daimler's electric vehicle partner.

A rear-mounted electric motor was also developed by Tesla and offers up 82 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, which is sufficient to push the little electric runabout to 60 mph in under 10 seconds. Interesting touches include aerodynamic wheels with clear plexiglass covers and wider side skirts to improve airflow. Inside, white leather seats with yellow stitching join a console-mounted monitor that displays the remaining state of charge.

The single most intriguing bit of tech, though, would have to be the sound generator. This little unit will reportedly allow the diminutive electric machine to sound like a honkin' V8-powered racecar... should the owner feel so inclined, naturally. Check out the high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: Brabus Smart High Voltage


Frankfurt 2009: Tesla plus Brabus equals Ultimate High Voltage originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brabusbrabus high voltagebrabus smartBrabusHighVoltageBrabusSmartfortwofrankfurtfrankfurt 2009frankfurt motor showFrankfurt2009FrankfurtMotorShowhigh voltageHighVoltagesmartsmart edsmart fortwoSmartEdSmartFortwoteslatesla brabustesla fortwotesla motorstesla smartTeslaBrabusTeslaFortwoTeslaMotorsTeslaSmartMon, 21 Sep 2009 18:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Frankfurt 2009: smart BRABUS tailor made concept goes rainbow-tastic]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-smart-brabus-tailor-made-concept-goes-rainbow-ta/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-smart-brabus-tailor-made-concept-goes-rainbow-ta/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/21/frankfurt-2009-smart-brabus-tailor-made-concept-goes-rainbow-ta/#commentsFiled under:

smart BRABUS tailor made concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

If the aftermarket custom options for your smart fortwo are not enough, the tuners at BRABUS launched a new tailor made concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The smart BRABUS tailor made concept offers almost countless combinations of special exterior colors and bespoke interiors. See a few examples in the gallery below; we're particularly fond of the black and orange unit. There are 18 exterior colors, including something called Campbell Blue which is intended to hint at the Mercedes-Benz' Bluebird land speed record cars, and six six tri-top roof colors. Add in nine different leather/Alcantara upholstery options and you can see that, if nothing else, there's a lot of room to play around with these options. The smart BRABUS tailor made will be available this winter.

The smart BRABUS tailor made concept joins other special editions like the maple leaf version and the edit10n.

Gallery: smart BRABUS tailor made concept


[Source: smart]

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: smart BRABUS tailor made concept goes rainbow-tastic

Frankfurt 2009: smart BRABUS tailor made concept goes rainbow-tastic originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brabusbrabus smartBrabusSmartsmart fortwosmart fortwo brabussmart fortwo cdiSmartFortwoSmartFortwoBrabusSmartFortwoCditailor madeTailorMadeMon, 21 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[smartUSA names Coulomb preferred charging station supplier]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/17/smartusa-names-coulomb-preferred-charging-station-supplier/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/17/smartusa-names-coulomb-preferred-charging-station-supplier/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/17/smartusa-names-coulomb-preferred-charging-station-supplier/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It may not have a starring role alongside the latest electrics from Renault at the Frankfort Motor Show this week like its bigger Better Place competitor, but Coulomb Technologies with its ChargePoint Network is happy to inform the world it's getting a good dose of Teutonic love itself, thank you very much. The company, which has taken to calling itself "the leader in networked charging station infrastructure," has just be named by smartUSA as its preferred supplier of charging stations for its Mercedes-made minicar and will be distributing the equipment through the smart dealer network. It seems as if the original decision to name the charging post a "smartlet" is paying off.

In practical terms, it's hard to say when this affair will really bloom. Although the smart ed (electric drive) is heading for production next month, American arrivals won't likely begin for certain leasing customers until next year and only become widely available for sale in 2012. Still, it's probably never too early to start forming strategic alliances in the emerging electric segment. Look past the break for the official press release.


Gallery: smart ed


[Source: Coulomb Technologies]

Continue reading smartUSA names Coulomb preferred charging station supplier

smartUSA names Coulomb preferred charging station supplier originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChargePoint NetworkChargepointNetworkCoulomb TechnologiesCoulombTechnologiessmart edSmartEdsmartletssmartUSAThu, 17 Sep 2009 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Daimler and Renault collaborating on four-door Smart]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/09/report-daimler-and-renault-collaborating-on-four-door-smart/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/09/report-daimler-and-renault-collaborating-on-four-door-smart/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/09/report-daimler-and-renault-collaborating-on-four-door-smart/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Reports of a collaboration between Daimler and Renault on a new four-door model to join the Fortwo in Smart dealerships just won't die, leading us to believe there may be a ring of truth behind the rumors. The last time Daimler set out to partner up on a more mainstream Smart, the resulting Forfour - which was based on borrowed underpinnings from Mitsubishi - never met sales expectations and was canceled after a few short years on the market.

Collaborating with Renault on the development of a four-door Smart should help shield Daimler from the high cost of developing a model-specific platform that's unlikely to sell in particularly high volumes. Further, the rumored new model would offer Smart buyers a new option to compete with the new Toyota iQ, which seats up to four occupants despite its diminutive dimensions.

[Source: Detroit News]

REPORT: Daimler and Renault collaborating on four-door Smart originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daimlerdaimler smartDaimlerSmartfour door smartfour-door smartFour-doorSmartFourDoorSmartrenaultrenault daimlerrenault smartRenaultDaimlerRenaultSmartsmartsmart forfourSmartForfourWed, 09 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Visionaire 57: Smart's new plug-in... magazine?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/visionaire-57-smarts-new-plug-in-magazine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/visionaire-57-smarts-new-plug-in-magazine/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/visionaire-57-smarts-new-plug-in-magazine/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Daimler certainly likes to apply the smart brand to all sorts of non-vehicle products, from art books to jewelry. The latest effort is a partnership with Visionaire (warning: bird songs will begin to play if you click), a publication that prides itself on unusual presentations in its annual release (think McSweeny's with a bigger budget). Visionaire 56 for example, is a book with a white cover that turns all sorts of colors when placed in the sunlight and is now available for $250.

For the smart partner issue, Visionaire is going electric. The artwork features a calendar with 365 works of art selected by 52 curators and art collectors that plugs into the wall using a smart fortwo-shaped plug. Daimler, of course, wants to emphasize the plug on the upcoming smart ED with the Visionaire work. 4,000 copies of the calendar will be produced and made available in October for $295.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Visionaire 57: Smart's new plug-in... magazine?

Visionaire 57: Smart's new plug-in... magazine? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>falsesmartsmart carsmart edsmart fortwosmart visionaireSmartCarSmartEdSmartFortwoSmartVisionairevisionairevisionaire 2010visionaire 57Visionaire2010Visionaire57Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Smart ED on view in Paris soon, but driving one will have to wait]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/smart-ed-on-view-in-paris-soon-but-driving-one-will-have-to-wai/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/smart-ed-on-view-in-paris-soon-but-driving-one-will-have-to-wai/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/08/smart-ed-on-view-in-paris-soon-but-driving-one-will-have-to-wai/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Smart ED - Click above for high-res image gallery

Parisians will be able to meet the smart ED in person from September 11-16 at the city Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). Despite persistent rumors of the car becoming part of a public car sharing service in Paris (a project that seems to be frozen now), the truth is that France will get only about 200 units of the model. While it'll be easy to see one of these electric cars on display, it'll be more difficult to actually get behind the wheel. When the smart EDs arrive, they will be allocated to selected fleets, and they won't be arriving until March 2010. The average motorist will have to wait until the car goes on sale for French motorists sometime in 2012.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: smart ed

Smart ED

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

Smart ED on view in Paris soon, but driving one will have to wait originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>franceparissmart edsmart ed francesmart franceSmartEdSmartEdFranceSmartFranceTue, 08 Sep 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[smart fortwo edition highstyle shows brown can start/stop with the best of 'em]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/26/smart-fortwo-edition-highstyle-shows-brown-can-start-stop-with-t/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/26/smart-fortwo-edition-highstyle-shows-brown-can-start-stop-with-t/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/26/smart-fortwo-edition-highstyle-shows-brown-can-start-stop-with-t/#commentsFiled under:


smart fortwo edition highstyle - Click above for high-res image gallery

A new and limited smart fortwo called the edition highstyle (see also the edit10n and the one with the maple leaf) is about to go on sale in Germany. Based on the coupé passion, the highstyle comes in two gasoline engine flavors (with 52 kW/71 hp or 62 kW/84 hp), a "trendy chocolate brown metallic" paint job and 15 inch alloy wheels. The smaller of the two engines also gets smart's mhd (micro-hybrid, aka stop-start) system. mhd causes the engine to shut down automatically when the brake is applied and the car is going slower than 8 km/h and then jump to life as soon as the driver steps on the gas. Drive one of these cars only in city traffic and you could see fuel saves of "almost 20 percent," smart says.

The highstyle's interior uses brown metallic leather to cover the seats and in the doors, and there's leather on the steering wheel gearshift and gear knob, as well. Interested? The mhd version will start at €15,695 while the 84 hp model will cost €500 more, €16,195, in Germany.

Gallery: smart fortwo edition highstyle

729066_1322362_5331_3464_09729298_1322807_4954_3303_09729296_1322801_5184_3258_09729297_1322804_5306_3417_09729299_1322810_5359_3541_09

[Source: smart]

Continue reading smart fortwo edition highstyle shows brown can start/stop with the best of 'em

smart fortwo edition highstyle shows brown can start/stop with the best of 'em originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 fortwo2010 smart fortwo2010Fortwo2010SmartFortwofalsefortwo edition highstyleFortwoEditionHighstylesmart for twosmart fortwosmart fortwo editionsmart fortwo edition highstyleSmartFortwoSmartFortwoEditionSmartFortwoEditionHighstyleWed, 26 Aug 2009 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Pics Aplenty: second-gen smart ed goes extra green]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/21/pics-aplenty-second-gen-smart-ed-goes-extra-green/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/21/pics-aplenty-second-gen-smart-ed-goes-extra-green/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/21/pics-aplenty-second-gen-smart-ed-goes-extra-green/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Second generation smart ed - click above for high-res image gallery

To go along with yesterday's announcement that the second-generation smart ed will go into production in November, Daimler has released a bunch of new pics of the all-electric city car. Of particular interest are the reworked center-mounted dials, one of which now shows the battery state of charge in analog fashion and the other which shows the battery amps and the coiled charging cord. Everything else looks pretty much as it does in a standard fortwo.

The smart ed should have a range of just over 70 using its 14 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 30 kW electric. For more details on the smart ed and how it'll make it into customer hands, check out this post.

Gallery: Second generation smart ed

728796_1321766_4724_3185_09c778_54728795_1321763_4724_3138_09c778_31728688_1321593_4724_3138_09c778_01728689_1321596_4724_3138_09c778_03728792_1321754_4724_3138_09c778_20

[Source: Daimler]

Pics Aplenty: second-gen smart ed goes extra green originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2nd gen smart ed2ndGenSmartEddaimlerelectric smartElectricSmartfalsesecond generation smart edSecondGenerationSmartEdsmart edsmart electric carsmart electric drivesmart electric vehiclesmart evSmartEdSmartElectricCarSmartElectricDriveSmartElectricVehicleSmartEvFri, 21 Aug 2009 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Second edition smart ed will go into series production in November]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/20/second-edition-smart-ed-will-go-into-series-production-in-novemb/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/20/second-edition-smart-ed-will-go-into-series-production-in-novemb/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/20/second-edition-smart-ed-will-go-into-series-production-in-novemb/#commentsFiled under: ,

smart ed - Click above for high res image gallery

Daimler announced back in June that the smart ed was "ready for small series production," but the only date given was that the cars would come to the UK in "early 2010." Today, we learn that the first production second-generation smart eds will roll off the company's Hambach, France production line in "mid November 2009." The first batch of 2nd edition smart eds will be used in the on-going tests taking place in major European cities (coming soon to the U.S.) with the "available to anyone interested" starting in 2012. Berliners will get first crack at leasing the smart eds later this year (leases will be for four years and 60,000 kilometers), with residents of Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Milan, Pisa and Madrid on the short list for the near future.

The smart ed has a range of 71 miles from the Tesla-sourced 14 kWh lithium-ion battery. The car's 30 kW electric motor produces 120 Newton metres of torque and can accelerate the tiny thing from 0 to 60 km/h in 6.5 seconds.

In related news, the American spec 2009 smart fortwo today achieved the "strongest roof" rating among competing micro and mini cars in tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Gallery: smart ed


[Source: Daimler, Smart USA]

Continue reading Second edition smart ed will go into series production in November

Second edition smart ed will go into series production in November originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric smartElectricSmartfalseiihsinsurance institute for highway safetyInsuranceInstituteForHighwaySafetysmart edsmart for twosmart fortwosmart fortwo edsmart fortwo electricsmart fortwo evSmartEdSmartFortwoSmartFortwoEdSmartFortwoElectricSmartFortwoEvThu, 20 Aug 2009 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Woodward 2009: Invasion of the Smarts]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/18/woodward-2009-invasion-of-the-smarts/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/18/woodward-2009-invasion-of-the-smarts/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/18/woodward-2009-invasion-of-the-smarts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Woodward 2009: Invasion of the Smarts - Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically, the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Michigan, is a gathering ground for classic American cars, trucks and motorcycles. As you can see from our coverage of this year's festivities, the 2009 edition was little different from past years... mostly.

We noted some sort of concerted effort from the Smart Fortwo crowd to add a German flair to the proceedings, and we saw license plates represented from at least four states. Although we didn't get a good count on just how many of the diminutive little city cars made the pilgrimage to The Motor City, there were at least a few dozen in a row at one point traveling down Woodward Avenue, and we had our digital SLRs locked and loaded with fresh memory cards at the ready to capture the event. See for yourself in our gallery below.


Gallery: Woodward 2009: Invasion of the Smarts


Woodward 2009: Invasion of the Smarts originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smartsmart carsmart fortwoSmartCarSmartFortwowoodwardwoodward 2009woodward dream cruisewoodward smartwoodward smart fortwoWoodward2009WoodwardDreamCruiseWoodwardSmartWoodwardSmartFortwoTue, 18 Aug 2009 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: From fortwo to forfour; now a smart forthree roadster? ]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/03/rumormill-from-fortwo-to-forfour-now-a-smart-forthree-roadster/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/03/rumormill-from-fortwo-to-forfour-now-a-smart-forthree-roadster/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/08/03/rumormill-from-fortwo-to-forfour-now-a-smart-forthree-roadster/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

smart used to have a model called the Roadster (and the Roadster coupé), which wasn't too much of a commercial success. The model wasn't ugly and had decent enough performance with its small 3-cyl engine thanks to its low weight. Still, smart only sold a little more than 43,000 units in the two years (2003-2005) that it was available.

What does this have to do with today's green car news? Well, according to British car magazine Autocar, smart has filed patents for a new roadster model, which would be called the forthree, fitting nicely between the fortwo and the future forfour. Yes, the name forthree means that this car would seat three people but, unlike the Toyota IQ, this new model would seat the driver at the middle front position and two passengers behind and to the sides. This reconfigures the marque's signature structure into something resembling a wishbone. Autocar says the model would hit the showrooms in 2014 together with the next generation of 3-cyl engines, both diesel and gasoline, in the smart cars.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: From fortwo to forfour; now a smart forthree roadster? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>for3forthreeprototyperumorsmart forthreesmart roadsterSmartForthreeSmartRoadsterMon, 03 Aug 2009 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Smart Tipping: Amsterdam villains reportedly pushing fortwos into canals for fun]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-tipping-amsterdam-villains-reportedly-pushing-fortwos-int/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-tipping-amsterdam-villains-reportedly-pushing-fortwos-int/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-tipping-amsterdam-villains-reportedly-pushing-fortwos-int/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Note to Smart Fortwo owners: Don't park your itty-bitty city cars near easily-accessible bodies of water. If you thought the car's errant transmission and its rough-and-tumble shifts were your biggest concern, you've likely never heard of the latest craze sweeping Amsterdam: "Smart Smijten." That's 'Smart Tipping' in American, and the reality of the situation is just about as distasteful as it sounds to owners of affected Fortwos.

Since drivers of the diminutive little urban runabouts often choose to back in to parking spots side-by-side in order to save on congestion - not to mention the fact that all the weight of the car's drivetrain is in the rear - it's reportedly quite easy for drunken revelers to lift the front of the Fortwo and tip it tail-first right into a canal. As you'd expect, any car that spends the night sleeping with the fishes at the bottom of a canal is very likely a total loss. Police in Amsterdam are working to crack the case, though the main concern at this point is reportedly stopping copycat criminals.

[Source: De Telegraaf via Gadling]

Smart Tipping: Amsterdam villains reportedly pushing fortwos into canals for fun originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdamamsterdam smart tippingAmsterdamSmartTippingsmartsmart fortwosmart smijtensmart tippingsmart tipping amsterdamsmartcarSmartFortwoSmartSmijtenSmartTippingSmartTippingAmsterdamMon, 27 Jul 2009 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[smart USA president Dave Schembri on clunkers, upcoming electric smarts]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-usa-president-dave-schembri-on-clunkers-upcoming-electric/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-usa-president-dave-schembri-on-clunkers-upcoming-electric/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/27/smart-usa-president-dave-schembri-on-clunkers-upcoming-electric/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2009 Smart ForTwo - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the first year that smart fortwo's were available in the U.S., the company sold about 30,000 units. After that first heady period, though, sales dropped off dramatically. In June 2009, the company sold just 1,116 fortwos and in May the number was 1,169, for an annual rate of just over 13,000. This is below the company's earlier predictions of 25,000 sales in 2009. smart USA president Dave Schembri told AutoblogGreen that his company's new $99/month financing deal might be just the thing to turn the numbers around. smart USA is offering the deal as part of the new Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS, aka "cash for clunkers"), which officially started today. Read on after the jump to see what Shembri thinks about why fortwos are the right car right now, when the first all-electric smarts will come to the U.S. and why you should be able to trade in your dad's clunker.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.


Continue reading smart USA president Dave Schembri on clunkers, upcoming electric smarts

smart USA president Dave Schembri on clunkers, upcoming electric smarts originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash for clunkerscash for clunkers billcash for clunkers fortwocash for clunkers smartCashForClunkersCashForClunkersBillCashForClunkersFortwoCashForClunkersSmartfeaturedfortwosmart 99smart clunkersmart edsmart fortwosmart fortwo clunkersmart usaSmart99SmartClunkerSmartEdSmartFortwoSmartFortwoClunkerSmartUsaMon, 27 Jul 2009 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: second wave of elecric smart fortwos will be cheaper, available in 2010]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/25/report-second-wave-of-elecric-smart-fortwos-will-be-cheaper/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/25/report-second-wave-of-elecric-smart-fortwos-will-be-cheaper/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/25/report-second-wave-of-elecric-smart-fortwos-will-be-cheaper/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


smart ed - Click above for high res image gallery

Currently, fleets in the UK that are testing the all-electric smart ed have to pay Daimler £380 per month per car for the privilege. When the next-generation test vehicles arrive in 2010, Daimler hopes to get the per-month lease cost down to under £200, according to a new report in BusinessCar. Over 100 second-gen smart eds will be tested next year, and some of the cost reduction will come from government incentives in London and West Midlands. These test fleets - along with a similar program coming to the U.S. next year - are building up to the smart ed's general availability in the UK in 2012. Daimler announced in June that small series production vehicles will be available in early 2010. Mercedes-Benz UK's Dermot Kelly told BusinessCar that electric vehicles are the future, thanks to government support. "With the encouragement of Government going forward," he said, "there is a very high probability that in the future a high percentage of cars will be electric and we need to be at the forefront of that."

Gallery: smart ed


[Source: BusinessCar]

REPORT: second wave of elecric smart fortwos will be cheaper, available in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fortwo electricFortwoElectricsmart edsmart electric carsmart electric drivesmart electric vehiclesmart fortwo edsmart fortwo electricsmart fortwo evSmartEdSmartElectricCarSmartElectricDriveSmartElectricVehicleSmartFortwoEdSmartFortwoElectricSmartFortwoEvSat, 25 Jul 2009 18:39:00 EST