smart News
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Yesterday we brought you the first details about a new initiative taking place in Germany where a number of firms, including major automakers, are working to develop a common standard for future car-to-car and car-to-object communication technology. Called “Safe Intelligent Mobility - Testfield Germany” (simTD), the initiative calls for a four-year practical field test of the potential of such communication systems to improve traffic safety and mobility. The field test will consist of 120 vehicles, some of which will include models from Daimler brands Mercedes-Benz and Smart...
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Daimler’s Car2Go Car Sharing Scheme Spreading Across North America
Daimler’s Car2Go car sharing scheme is expanding in North America after trials in Austin and San Diego, among other locations, proved quite successful. The next locations for the scheme are Miami, Florida, and Calgary and Toronto up in Canada. Car2Go is essentially a car sharing program that...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Remember, A Car Is Only As Smart As The Driver: Video
As the video shows, you can score this motorized bollard 1, Smart car driver 0.
Kurt Ernst -
2012 Rinspeed Dock+Go Concept Revealed In Full
It wouldn’t be the Geneva Motor Show without some weird and whacky concept from Rinspeed, and thankfully 2012 won’t disappoint on the weird factor as this preview look at Rinspeed’s new Dock+Go concept confirms. Best known for its construction of oddball but impressive concepts...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2013 Smart ForTwo Preview
For 2013, the Smart ForTwo gets revised exterior styling and a new interior color choice.
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Smart ForTwo Facelift Spy Shots
The current Smart ForTwo, the second-generation of Mercedes’ quirky minicar, is starting to get a little long in the tooth, having been on the market for almost five years now. With no successor planned for at least two more years, a facelift is scheduled to be introduced later this year and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fresh from its win in last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, Smart has unveiled a funky electric urban pickup concept at this week’s 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Yes, this tiny concept car is an open-top pickup complete with a sturdy tray, which Smart claims is ideal for holding a pair of bikes or whatever else the vehicle’s two passengers may wish to carry--along as it’s small. The electric drive of the For-Us Concept is based on the electric drivetrain that will feature in the latest-generation Smart ForTwo Electric Drive due this spring. It consists of an...
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X Factor Judge Simon Cowell Swaps Bugatti Veyron For Smart
We know he has a Bugatti Veyron. And he’s also been spotted in a Rolls-Royce Ghost and probably a dozen or so Range Rovers over the years. But X Factor judge and former American Idol personality Simon Cowell’s latest ride is probably his most remarkable yet. The 52-year-old Brit was...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Rinspeed Dock+Go: Making The Smart Smarter, Due At Geneva
If you wanted a great deal more space in your car we're not sure why you'd buy a Smart. That's not to say the little Smart isn't great at what it does - nipping around city streets and looking chic outside the local coffee house - but if you buy one expecting any more space than for two people and...
Antony Ingram -
Smart 341 Parkour Concept Wins 2011 L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge
Annie and her Smart 341 Parkour Concept have taken top honors at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, which this year focused on the theme of “Hollywood’s Hottest New Movie Car”. Penned at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Sindelfingen, Germany, the 341...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Smart 341 Parkour Wins Los Angeles Design Challenge 2011
Whatever you think of the Smart brand and its diminutive two-seater city cars you have to commend its bold, fresh take on modern motoring. It's easy to get the impression that, after years of posting huge losses, the brand is riding out the market until tiny, fuel-efficient cars become genuinely...
Antony Ingram -
GreenSight City: Daimler's Green Sim City Coming To Facebook
Urban planning games are nothing new - the seminal Sim City title has been around since 1989 and we've probably been playing it all that time. Facebook games are a more recent phenomenon and you've probably heard of Car Town, the best of the bunch for gearheads. "GreenSight City" looks like...
Antony Ingram -
All the attention on Smart at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show might have been directed at the Forvision electric drive concept and the latest, third-generation 2012 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, but Smart still had a use for the previous version. Nestled next to a Ford driving experience was "Smart Ball". If you've ever played the world's first-ever computer game "Pong" then you'll be very familiar with Smart Ball. A large display screen showed two "bats" in the shape of Smarts, and a ball bouncing between the two like a primitive game of tennis. No arcade-style joysticks here though. That is...
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2011 Smart Forvision Concept: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
Smart is about to embark on an ambitious new marketing campaign to promote its ForTwo minicar in the U.S., and hopefully get the brand into mainstream after the failed attempt by former distributor Penske. Unfortunately, a new generation Smart ForTwo isn’t due until 2014 but the brand is keen...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Daimler Works To Relaunch Smart In The U.S. Market
Daimler, who took back distribution of Smart in the U.S. from Penske last month, is poised to launch a new media campaign to bring the Smart brand back into the spotlight.
Kurt Ernst -
2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Preview
More power and a longer driving range are key attributes of the 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
General Motors Picks U.K. For EN-V City Car Euro Manufacture
Small cars are becoming big business. The smart fortwo, Scion iQ, Gordon Murray's upcoming T.25, the Renault Twizy... more and more carmakers are developing tiny vehicles to provide our city transportation of the future. General Motors has jumped on the bandwagon too. GM showed the cleverly named...
Antony Ingram -
Three's A Trend: Volkswagen Enters The Ride-Sharing Game
Today, roughly 50% of the world's population lives in urban environments, and by 2030, the figure is expected to hit 60%. This presents an interesting challenge for automakers: given the hassle of car ownership in cities -- not to mention subways, buses, and other transportation methods available...
Richard Read -
Glass roof panels are becoming a popular option in modern cars. Taking the old sunroof and moonroof a step further, you can enjoy all the view you'd get in a convertible with none of the gusts of wind. The glass roof isn't without its problems though. If you live in a hot and sunny climate you'll already be familiar with the delights of intense heat shining down through a sunroof and cooking you from above. Take that effect and multiply it if the whole roof is clear. Glare can also be a problem. Research Frontiers has a solution. The company has recently joined with Daimler AG, owners of...
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McCAR With Free Happy Wheels: Geely Car And Scooter Combo
If your idea of a vehicle with another attatched to the back is a Winnebago with a Smart ForTwo strapped behind it, you need to start thinking about downsizing. Chinese automaker Geely (owners of Volvo) has just the combo for you. It's known as the McCAR, and although its appearance might make you...
Antony Ingram -
BMW Reveals Downsized 3 Cylinder Engine, U.S-Bound?
Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine and bringer of Joy to drivers, BMW has revealed its latest powerplant and to the casual observer or diehard enthusiast neither corporate phrase sits very easily with the new engine. The reason? It's a 3-cylinder, and it's low capacity. Buyers in Europe are used...
Antony Ingram -
Going Bananas: Bio-Plastics Could Mean Fruity Future Cars
Plastic is one of mankind's great inventions. It's more or less impossible to get by in the modern world without owning or using something made from one type of plastic or another - from the computer you're reading this on to food packaging and beyond. Cars, too. Have a quick think about the car...
Antony Ingram -
Packing For SXSW? Grab These Two Apps For Motoring Around Town
Back in the late-mid-80s, South By Southwest was a humble music festival. Then someone -- possibly Al Gore -- invented the internet, Austin became a second Silicon Valley, and today, SXSW (as it's now known) is a jumble of music, film, and interactive technology. For the traveler, SXSW is also a...
Richard Read -
2011 Geneva Motor Show: Technology And Design At Swiss Show
The Geneva Motor Show is one of the top auto shows each year for new cars, concepts and car technology, and 2011 was no exception. Under the shining lights and amongst the glamorous girls were some pretty hot ideas and cool technology, so here we've chosen our favorite gadgets, details and tech...
Antony Ingram