smart News

Tiny, economical, yet stylish and trendy, the Smart ForTwo has proved a mammoth success in the U.S., with actual demand far outstripping projections. Toyota's iQ, Audi's A1 and BMW's upcoming Project 'i' minicar are both on the table for U.S. sale as well - though none are confirmed yet - so Smart...

No one anticipated the smashing success the Smart ForTwo would have in the U.S., despite its warm reception in Europe, making the car one of parent company Daimler's biggest hits, at least in terms of popular opinion. Even the aftermarket has taken after the ForTwo with gusto. Now Smart is...

In July last year Smart unveiled three new concept versions of its second-generation ForTwo minicar, all based around an ultra-efficient electric drivetrain. The trio included a regular petrol-electric hybrid, a diesel-electric hybrid and a zero-emissions electric vehicle. This third concept, the...

For more than a year now, Mercedes' parent company Daimler has pursued a copyright infringement case against Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan for its Bubble, a blatant knock-off of the Smart ForTwo minicar. A recent holding in a Milanese court has put the German company on the back foot, however, and...

Daimler commenced trials of a new mobility concept called the ‘car2go project’ in Ulm, Germany, on October 24 in an attempt to provide a solution for increasing traffic volume in urban areas. The company is now expanding the program to 200 cars from an initial 50, and opening the fleet...

The Smart ForTwo has proven to be a runaway success for Mercedes-Benz in the United States, with the official distributor Penske Automotive Group forced to boost sales forecasts for the diminutive hatch earlier this year. The company now plans to capitalize on the soaring demand by expanding the...

Using your car key as a payment method may not be something you've always wanted, but BMW and technological partner NXP are betting it will become a must-have feature once people are aware of it. The system combines a high-tech microchip system with a vehicle's key fob to produce a secure...

The once financially stricken Smart brand is now struggling to keep up with demand for its iconic ForTwo minicar, with managers considering building a second plant and adding more models. German media is reporting that a second production facility in either the U.S. or Asia could be on the cards as...

Starting in October, smart's fortwo will get an update that includes a new micro hybrid drive (MHD) system to aid a pair of petrol engine variants. The micro hybrid system consists of start-stop technology, which the company says is good for an 8% reduction in emissions. Around the same time, the...

Following the results of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash testing of the Smart ForTwo last month, which showed the tiny two-seater only achieved average results, comes a new round of test results, this time from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In the...

Earlier this month the NHTSA revealed concerns about the safety of the new Smart ForTwo minicar after conducting a number of safety tests on it. The results showed that the ForTwo only had marginal passenger safety, and this was if the car was to be hit by a similar size vehicle – a near...

The speed of growth in the Chinese auto market is difficult to comprehend because the scale of it is beyond anything known in Europe or North America, especially coupled with China's record economic growth. To capitalize on the growing automobile craze in China, Daimler is sending its smart fortwo...

Incredible demand has created a waiting list for buyers trying to get their hands on a Smart ForTwo in its first year of official U.S. sales. Strong fuel efficiency, easy urban maneuverability and a very positive image have all contributed to the sales success, but now that the NHTSA's first round...

Smart has unveiled its 'limited two' model at the Geneva Motor Show. The limited two is a special edition version of the Smart fortwo and will only be produced as a limited series of 2,000 units. The limited two will get a number of high quality upgrades to the exterior and interior, including...

The Smart brand has just been launched in the U.S. and with preorder sales already beating expectations Mercedes officials think it’s time to bring back the ForFour. The original model was quickly dropped from the Smart lineup following lackluster sales but with carmakers around the world...

Despite its diminutive size the Smart Fortwo supermini has achieved a four out of five star rating in the latest Euro NCAP’s Adult Occupant crash tests, putting it in par with some large sedans and SUVs in terms of occupant safety. The same can’t be said for pedestrian safety, where the...

The man originally behind the concept of Smart cars, Swatch chairman Nicolas G. Hayek, has said he’s planning to build a new, greener car. Hayek's previous auto project, the Smart Fortwo, was originally designed as an all-electric vehicle. However, such technology was either not feasible or...

DaimlerChrysler’s tiny Smart car is a popular model for tackling Europe’s tight inner-city streets and exorbitant fuel prices, but in the US, where it’s common to see 4,500 pound SUVs, fears are rising that the minicar won’t stand much of chance in a serious accident with...

Daimler will be testing the waters with its own automatic stop-start fuel-saving technology when it introduces an updated Fortwo minicar later this year. Already introduced in several BMW models, the system works by automatically shutting down the engine when the car stands still in traffic and...

Popular Mercedes Benz tuner BRABUS will be displaying two new modified versions of the second-generation smart fortwo at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The German tuner managed to squeeze 98bhp (72kW) and 140Nm of torque from the fortwo’s three-cylinder turbo engine, delivering 30%...