Showing posts with label Smart Fortwo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smart Fortwo. Show all posts

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Vilner Custom Studio Takes on the Smart ForTwo


You may or may not like Vilner's aesthetic proposals, but you’ll have to agree that Bulgarian studio is a very good example of what a company from a relatively small country with no background in its niche can achieve with some hard work and smart yet efficient marketing tactics. You see, instead of focusing on the local market and waiting for someone to discover the firm’s products, over the past year or so Vilner has been aggressively promoting every tune it has worked on. We don’t know if this strategy has translated into an overseas income, but it has put the company on the map, and that’s something worth noting.

In this latest tune, Vilner crafted a bespoke Smart ForTwo for one of its local customers. The Lilliputian two-door model received extensive styling modifications built around a square motive that is visible inside and out. On the outside, the ForTwo gains a colorful wrap that includes a chrome finish at the back and orange wheels, while the interior has been completely reworked featuring new and more luxurious materials throughout. Follow the jump for more pictures as well as a video from the build.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

So this is Music Nowadays: Apparatjik and Smart Collaborate with a Disco Ball Smart ForTwo [with Video]


When I say, “Apparatjik,” you say, “Gesundheit”. Why? Because no doubt you, like me, had not even heard of these guys until today. Apparatjik are an electro band from Europe that describes their music as, no joke, “combat-disco”. Oh how I wish I was making this up. Anyways, for the band’s latest art-exhibition-cum-live-show Smart – yes, the same one that makes those piddling little city cars – took one of their ForTwo EV’s and covered it with a mosaic of mirrors.

I guess it must be artsy or something. As Michael Fischer, a spokesperson for Smart and someone who probably understands Appartjik about as well as you or I, explains:

“It’s not their approach to deliver a perfect piece of art or a perfect piece of music. It’s a very conceptual project. It’s not like a regular band. They play in a cube.”

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Friday, February 18, 2011

Smart Roadster Concept Heading to 2011 Geneva Motor Show


Remember the patent designs of a topless, two-seat Smart model that we first showed you back in December, 2010? Well, according to Carscoop sources, the drawings are of a concept speedster model that will make its world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 1.

We also learned the concept is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, and that while Smart's parent company Mercedes-Benz has no plans to create a production version of the speedster-like model, key styling cues such as the headlamp and grille designs will pass on to the next generation Smart cars like the new Fortwo and the upcoming 5-door variant.

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Mercedes-Benz USA to Take Over Smart Distribution from Penske, Ditches Plans for Nissan Micra-Based Car

Daimler is planning to end an agreement with Penske Automotive Group regarding the distribution rights of Smart cars in the United States and transfer all activities to Mercedes-Benz USA, starting from the end of the second quarter of 2011. Read more »

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Smart Four-Seater Prototype Scale Model Scooped at R&D Facility


It's no secret that Mercedes-Benz plans to give its Smart brand one more chance to extend its vehicle range after the not so-successful Mitsubishi Colt-based Forfour and the Roadster series. Last April, the German automaker signed a deal with the Renault-Nissan Group, with the two parties announcing the development of a new rear-wheel drive platform to be used on the successor of the current Smart Fortwo, a new four-seater Smart and the next-generation Renault Twingo.

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Smart Brings Some Color to Fortwo with New Nightorange Limited Edition


Over the years, Daimler's Smart unit has introduced many limited edition models of its Fortwo micro car such as the 'Three', 'Hello Kitty' and 'GB-10'. This time around, Smart has presented a more sporty looking special edition of the Fortwo called the Nightorange.

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Friday, December 31, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Patents Designs of Smart Roadster Model


Back in 2001 at the Geneva Motor Show, Smart introduced a quirky roadster concept with no doors, no roof and no windscreen called the Crossblade. The Fortwo Cabrio-based concept eventually went into a limited series production the following year with Smart offering a total of 2,000 cars.

Fast-forward to today, and Smart appears to be readying a spiritual successor to the Crossblade as the firm's parent company Mercedes-Benz has trademarked these designs drawings of a two-seater roadster model.

Unlike the original Crossblade, which came without doors featuring instead steel safety bars at passenger shoulder height that swing upwards with the help of a gas-operated struts, the roadster model seen in these pictures gets a conventional set of doors. It also features a larger wind deflector surrounding the driver and passenger as well as Smart's trademark Tridion Safety Cell - albeit redesigned to look like separate safety bars.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

All-Electric Smart Fortwo Joins Hertz Fleet


Mainstream American consumers may not be willing to cough up tens of thousands of dollars to buy new electric vehicles just yet, but they may be tempted to rent one. The Hertz Corp. and Smart USA today announced a joint partnership to bring the all-electric version of the Fortwo mini to Connect by Hertz car sharing and Hertz Rent A Car locations in New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco.

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Car Spotting: Ferrari Fortwo makes Aston's iQ look like a Work of Art


If anything else, you can't blame Smart Fortwo owners for not having a sense of humor. Snagged on the streets of London by Carscoop reader Rob J., the Smart-tuned-into-Ferrari Fortwo comes with all the latest advancements in aerodynamic technology such as the individual, F1 style front and rear spoilers that keep the car firmly on the ground, even when people pass by and sneeze. Intrigued? Run through the jump for more tantalizing pics.

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

How Cute: Smart Fortwo Says Hello Kitty to U.S. Buyers with Special Wraps


Hopefully, most of our readers will agree that a Smart Fortwo is a far more suitable candidate for a 'Hello Kitty' makeover than a Ferrari 360 Modena [weep here]. Furthermore, unlike the custom Modena, the Fortwo Hello Kitty is an officially licensed product as Smart's US distributor, Penske Automotive and Sanrio, the owner of the 'Hello Kitty' brand, signed an agreement to add a series of car wrap designs featuring the popular feline to the carmaker's vehicle customization program.

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Smart Sales Collapsing, Brand Learns Importance of Marketing


Numbers for Smart's Lilliputian Fortwo are dismal here in the States: from 24,600 units in 2008, sales dipped to 14,600 cars in 2009 and are 60% down to date this year. Furthermore, only 8.1% of metro New York buyers would return to the brand, while San Francisco is marginally better at 19.8%. With virtually no marketing (that I can see), a transmission with quirks that have to be explained, and a $14,000 price tag, something clearly has to be done to rectify the misperceived city car brand.Read more »

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Smart Commemorates 10 Years of UK Sales with Special Edition Fortwo


In celebration of 10 years of sales in the UK, Smart is launching a new exclusive model called the Fortwo "gb-10" edition, of which only 100 will be produced for the local market. The mix of models consists of 50 gasoline engine coupes, 10 gasoline cabrios, 30 diesel coupes and 10 diesel cabrios.

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

For-Two-Play: Smart Tank Ready for Combat


For those that find the standard Smart ForTwo too cute and feminine for their tastes, there's this awesome creation; a tanked-out version of Mercedes-Benz's Lilliputian sub3compact. Add a rotating turret with a built in projectile launcher and are you all set for combat. Too bad we don't have the 'Full Monty' on the car and its creator.

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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

2011 Smart Fortwo Receives Minor Upgrades


The Smart Fortwo is entering the 2011 model year with an almost invisible change here and there complemented by the introduction of more economical engines.

In addition to the new range of available exterior colors that now include a matt finish and the availability of a red or blue colored soft-top for the cabrio models, the updated Fortwo gets fresh fabric and color options for the interior while the tridion safety cell is now optionally available in white.

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Monday, June 28, 2010

Gordon Murray's T.25 Oddball City Car Officially Revealed


Renowned Formula One race car and supercar designer Gordon Murray who gained fame for his involvement in the iconic McLaren F1 project, has finally taken the wraps off his latest creation [after more than two years of teasing], the T.25 city car.

Measuring 2.4 meters or 94.5-inches in length, 1.3 meters or 51.2-inches in width and 1.5 meters or 59-inches in height, the T.25 is smaller than Smart's minuscule Fortwo, yet Murray has managed to fit in three seats in a McLaren F1-style 1+2 layout with the driver sitting in the center of the car. The two passenger seats can be folded down allowing a luggage capacity of 720 liters.

Instead of using traditional doors, Murray opted to utilize the entire front section of the T.25 that pivots forward to allow entry into the car.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Smart Launches New Styling Accessories for Fortwo


Mercedes-Benz's Smart brand is expanding its line of accessories for the Fortwo mini with a new series of adhesive foil stickers that are applied to the car's tridion safety cell as well as with new BRABUS interior components and LED daytime driving lights.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Smart Launches Special Edition Fortwo Greystyle


Merc's Smart brand is continuing its series of special edition versions of the Fortwo microcar with the presentation of the Greystyle edition that stands out thanks to its unique color combinations inside and out.

Available as a coupe or a cabrio with a 71HP petrol engine with micro hybrid drive technology (a.k.a. start and stop technology) or a 84HP petrol engine, the Greystyle Fortwo comes in an exclusive matt dark grey finish with matching 15-inch alloy wheels and contrasting yellow mirror caps.

The same color theme is found in the interior that combines dark colored fabric and high-quality nappa leather upholstery with yellow accents and trim parts.

Standard features include unique floor mats with the edition logo and the MP3-compatible CD radio smart radio 9. Electric power steering, heated seats, a lockable glove compartment and the smart sound system with MP3 interface are optionally available.

The special edition Fortwo Greystyle is on sale now with prices in Germany starting from €16,135 or about US$22,200 (including VAT).






Friday, October 2, 2009

New Smart Fortwo Edition HighStyle Added to UK Lineup

Smart has announced UK pricing for its recently launched Fortwo Edition HighStyle. The latest addition to the Fortwo range costs from £10,900 on the road and is available solely as a coupe. Only 215 of the edition HighStyle are making their way to the UK with 180 of these featuring the 71 bhp engine and 33 with a turbocharged 84 bhp unit. The special edition model is finished in a chocolate brown metallic and features 12-spoke, 15-inch alloy wheels, a silver tridion safety cell and aluminium-look 'highstyle' logos.

The model's interior benefits from heated, leather metallic-silver seats together with leather optic door inserts and upper and lower dashboards, matt-silver detailing throughout the cabin, a leather three-spoke steering wheel with gearshift buttons and leather-trimmed gearknob.

The vehicle's stand equipment also includes an integrated audio and navigation system from Pioneer with Bluetooth, iPod and USB connectivity.




Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Smart and Brabus Launch Special Individual Programme for Fortwo in Frankfurt

In conjunction with performance and styling specialists Brabus, Smart has developed a new individualization programme for its Fortwo micro car. The German firm claims that "anything is possible" with this service as customers can choose from thousands of different finishes for the exterior, numerous types of leather in around 100 colors , six cabrio soft top colors as well as the whole Smart and Smart-Brabus range of accessories.

As part of the new customization service, buyers will also be able to specify their car's body panels and tridion safety cell from a palette of 18 vivid colors, each with a supercar or heritage theme including a vibrant Campbell Blue that pays homage to the iconic Bluebird land speed record.

The Smart-Brabus tailor made concept, which is being officially launched at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show, will be available this winter.