Smart SUV идва през 2016-та

Изглежда, че компанията Mercedes-Benz съживява плановете си да въведе SUV в продукцията на Smart.

През 2005 г. от Mercedes бяха потвърдили идеята си за нов SUV. Известния от годни модел никога не е виждал дневна светлина, но това може да се промени през следващите няколко години. Последната информация показват, че Smart през 2016-та г. ще се сдобие с нов член.

За сега е известно, че колата ще бъде по-висока от сегашните модели, а задвижването ще се предава  към четирите колела (вероятно като опция). Той ще бъде базиран на второто поколение ForTwo, който ще се появи на пазара през 2014-та. 

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Smart For-us concept на автомобилното изложение в Детройт

Smart официално представи набор от скици, които показват новия си концептуален автомобил For-us,

един модел, чиято официална премиера ще се проведе следващия месец в Detroit Motor Show.

Това е автомобил малък пикап с електрическо задвижване, който също така представя насоки за бъдещето развитие на моделите на Smartovih (новите ForTwo и ForFour).

Този двуместен автомобил се задвижва от електричество с 55 кВт/75 к.с. и 130 Нм, батериите са литиево-йонни (17,6 кВтч), максималната скорост е 120 км / ч, а размерите са както следва: дължина 3547 мм, широчина 1506 мм, височина1701 мм, колесна база 2480 мм, предни и задни колела 1335 мм, 1435 мм.

Smart заяви, че в момента няма планове за масово производство на концепцията  For-us

READ MORE - Smart For-us concept на автомобилното изложение в Детройт

Smart For-us concept на автомобилното изложение в Детройт

Smart официално представи набор от скици, които показват новия си концептуален автомобил For-us,

един модел, чиято официална премиера ще се проведе следващия месец в Detroit Motor Show.

Това е автомобил малък пикап с електрическо задвижване, който също така представя насоки за бъдещето развитие на моделите на Smartovih (новите ForTwo и ForFour).

Този двуместен автомобил се задвижва от електричество с 55 кВт/75 к.с. и 130 Нм, батериите са литиево-йонни (17,6 кВтч), максималната скорост е 120 км / ч, а размерите са както следва: дължина 3547 мм, широчина 1506 мм, височина1701 мм, колесна база 2480 мм, предни и задни колела 1335 мм, 1435 мм.

Smart заяви, че в момента няма планове за масово производство на концепцията  For-us

READ MORE - Smart For-us concept на автомобилното изложение в Детройт

Smart Forvision concept на автосалона във Франкфурт

Smart на автомобилното изложение във Франкфурт дебюта с новата си концепция на превозно средство с електрическо задвижване.

Това е Smart Forvision, който дава насока за развитие на дизайна за новия модел от поколение ForTwo, и бъдещето на електрическата мобилност.

Тази концепция е разработена в сътрудничество с BASF (чийто соларни клетки се намират на покрива на колата), а акцентът е върху намаленото тегло.

Новината, обаче, не включва информация за тежестта, силата на електрическите двигатели, капацитета на батериите и времето на автономия при движение, а по конкретни подробности се очакват на автомобилното изложение във Франкфурт.

Така че тук напомняне за електрическия Smart Forspeed  concept от изложението в Женева тази година. Той разполага с електромотор с 30 кВт, който е разположен в задната част на автомобила, а задвижването се предава към задните колела. Ускорението от 0 до 60 км / ч отнема 5.5 сенди, а максималната скорост е 120 км / ч, с едно зареждане на батерията (16,5 кВтч) автономията е около 135 км.

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Smart Forvision concept на автосалона във Франкфурт

Smart на автомобилното изложение във Франкфурт дебюта с новата си концепция на превозно средство с електрическо задвижване.

Това е Smart Forvision, който дава насока за развитие на дизайна за новия модел от поколение ForTwo, и бъдещето на електрическата мобилност.

Тази концепция е разработена в сътрудничество с BASF (чийто соларни клетки се намират на покрива на колата), а акцентът е върху намаленото тегло.

Новината, обаче, не включва информация за тежестта, силата на електрическите двигатели, капацитета на батериите и времето на автономия при движение, а по конкретни подробности се очакват на автомобилното изложение във Франкфурт.

Така че тук напомняне за електрическия Smart Forspeed  concept от изложението в Женева тази година. Той разполага с електромотор с 30 кВт, който е разположен в задната част на автомобила, а задвижването се предава към задните колела. Ускорението от 0 до 60 км / ч отнема 5.5 сенди, а максималната скорост е 120 км / ч, с едно зареждане на батерията (16,5 кВтч) автономията е около 135 км.

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Smart подготвя Roadster и 4х4

Британското списание Auto Express сподели, че се разработват нови модели на Smart,

чийто обхват, през следващата година следва да бъде разширен до Roadster, а малко по-късно и модел 4x4.

Като вдъхновение за новия Smart Roadster служи концепцията Smar ForSpeed, която бе представена на автомобилното изложение в Женева тази година, а 4х4 модела ще се конкурира с Countryman на Mini.

Smart 4x4 ще има четири врати и място за четири пътници, който може да бъде построен върху платформата на новия Mercedes B-клас. А що се отнася до новия Roadster в момента само се спекулира, че би могло да използва нова обща платформа на Daimler и Renault-Nissan със задно задвижване .

READ MORE - Smart подготвя Roadster и 4х4

Smart подготвя Roadster и 4х4

Британското списание Auto Express сподели, че се разработват нови модели на Smart,

чийто обхват, през следващата година следва да бъде разширен до Roadster, а малко по-късно и модел 4x4.

Като вдъхновение за новия Smart Roadster служи концепцията Smar ForSpeed, която бе представена на автомобилното изложение в Женева тази година, а 4х4 модела ще се конкурира с Countryman на Mini.

Smart 4x4 ще има четири врати и място за четири пътници, който може да бъде построен върху платформата на новия Mercedes B-клас. А що се отнася до новия Roadster в момента само се спекулира, че би могло да използва нова обща платформа на Daimler и Renault-Nissan със задно задвижване .

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Smart Announces First All-Electric Carsharing Fleet in the US

Daimler’s Car2go subsidiary has announced the introduction of the first all-electric carsharing fleet in North America. According to company, the plan calls for 300 zero-emission Smart ForTwo electric cars to arrive in the city of San Diego by the end of the year.

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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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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.

"We are very excited about working toward integration of Smart into the MBUSA organization, and look forward to working with our dealer partners to exceed customer expectations for this unique vehicle," said Mercedes-Benz President and CEO, Ernst Lieb. "The addition of smart, combined with our Autohaus dealer initiative, will help us build upon the tremendous momentum the Mercedes-Benz brand has achieved here in the U.S."

Penske began selling the Lilliputian Smart Fortwo in the USA as an independent distributor in January 2008, and partially thanks to sky rocketing gasoline prices at the time as well as the initial shock factor, the company managed to sell close to 25,000 units that year. However, sales plummeted the next two years dipping to 14,600 cars in 2009 and to less than 6,000 units in 2010.

"Introducing the smart brand to the U.S. has been a unique opportunity for us," said Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske. "Over the last three years I've experienced the passion consumers express for the brand as we delivered over 45,000 vehicles. Aligning smart distribution with Daimler, as it is worldwide, is the logical next step for the smart brand in the U.S. This alignment will enable the smart brand to grow through the Mercedes-Benz dealership network and lead the way in conservation and meeting future fuel economy standards."

The decision to break up with Penske also marks the end of the firm's plans to add a Nissan Micra-based model to Smart's U.S. lineup in late 2011.

The company is readying its own five-door model (see our most recent scoop story here) using a new rear-wheel drive platform that is being currently developed in cooperation with the Renault-Nissan Group, but the four seat hatchback isn't expected for another two to three years.

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

Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

Smart ForTwo Electric Drive cars will be scooting around the streets of a few select United States cities by October of this year. If this sounds like a band wagon you would like to jump on, don't get your hopes up. Only 250 of the 1,500 Smart EDs that Daimler AG put into production in November of last year will find their way to the U.S. market. And those will be sold exclusively in a handful of cities such as Portland, Ore., Orlando and Washington, D.C. This initial launch will be followed by a much broader roll out in 2012.

From first blush, the Smart ForTwo would seem the ideal platform for pure electric propulsion. Measuring about three feet shorter than a Mini Cooper, it is small and light. Even with the Tesla Motors-supplied lithium-ion battery pack on board, the electric version only adds about 300 pounds to the gasoline-powered car's base 1,800 pounds. Moreover the battery array doesn't rob any interior room because the transformation to electric was anticipated during the Smart ForTwo's design phase. Designers included space for the batteries under the floor of the original car.

Range and recharging remain the boogie men of electric transportation. Although Smart hasn't made giant leaps in either of these areas, at least in terms of range, its electric car appears capable of fulfilling the demands of most city commuters. Because a number of factors influence power use, such as temperature, topography, driving habits, accessory use, and so forth, a manufacturer can't accurately predict an electric vehicle's range; however, Derek Kaufman, the vice president of Smart USA, explained that owners should see an average range of 83 miles from a fully charged battery pack.

Recharging can be accomplished using a 220V source, like a clothes dryer uses, or a standard 110V source like typical outlets in your home. Using a 220V connection, a complete charge (0-100 percent) requires less than eight hours; while charging from 20 to 80 percent capacity takes roughly 3.5 hours. Using a 110V source will take substantially longer.

Despite the fact that common sources can be used to charge the batteries, it may not be as easy as it sounds for everyone. Residents of apartment complexes, highrises and condos may find charging at home a challenge. Likewise most businesses probably won't be prepared initially to provide charging stations for employees. Eventually many communities will provide pay-to-charge stations (something akin to parking meters) in public-parking venues.

Smart USA recently provided journalists with the opportunity to hustle the Smart ED around the streets of Brooklyn. Exactly the type of congested urban situation electric vehicles are to conquer, it was the ideal venue for getting a real feel for EV driving.

Other than special "electric drive" graphics, a few green-colored panels and green wheels, the Smart ED looks pretty much like the gasoline-powered version from the sidewalk. This holds true inside the car as well. On closer inspection you will realize that the two upright pods in the center of the dashboard are no longer a clock and tachometer, as in the regular Smart, but a battery meter and ammeter. Every other aspect is about the same.

Anyone who has driven an electric golf cart already has a sense of what it is like to power the electric Smart around city streets. Other than a low-volume, high-pitched whine, the electric motor operates in anonymity. It usually produces about 27 horsepower when cruising, but can punch out up to 40 horsepower in short bursts. Running the speedometer up to 37 miles per hour from a standstill requires 6.5 seconds, according to Smart's stopwatch. Because this is a city car, the top speed is electronically limited to 62 miles per hour.

The transmission has but one gear. Shifting it into reverse simply reverses the rotation of the electric motor.

In short, the Smart ED does exactly what it is engineered to do. It breezes along city streets effortlessly and unobtrusively. It has no problem keeping up with traffic, and is even fun to drive. Its diminutive size makes parking a snap. It won't leave enthusiasts breathless, but the commuters it targets should not only be satisfied, but elated.

Smart USA hasn't announced a suggested retail price as yet. A 48-month lease will be the only way to acquire one of the first 250 units. Whether you choose the coupe or cabriolet, the monthly payment will be $599 and the warranty will cover the entire 48 months. This works out to a total cost of $28,752 and you must turn the car in at the end of the lease.

When pressed about the MSRP, Kaufman said you had to arrive at it by working backward from the monthly lease payment. He suggested that would make it about $43,000. Even when figuring in the federal government's $7,500 EV tax subsidy, that's a hefty $35,500.

As with the entire electric-car movement, you have to be very committed to "greening" the environment to justify the upfront expense required to minimize or eliminate gasoline purchases. If you are so committed, however, the Smart ED will not only make you feel good about yourself, but will provide a bit of fun in the process.

READ MORE - Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

Smart Brabus - Spicy collegiate Timbit

Two of my favorite places to visit in New Haven, CT are Claire’s Corner Copia at Yale and Canadian-import, Tim Hortons doughnut shop. I love Claire’s vegan salad with soy chipotle chicken, avocado, organic egg, and balsamic vinaigrette. Afterwards, there’s nothing better than a half-dozen cherry Timbit doughnut holes. If I could combine the spicy no-guilt flavor of Claire’s with moist cherry Timbits, and set it to wheels, it would look something like the Smart ForTwo BRABUS.

If not a chipotle Timbit, then the Smart BRABUS is at least one coated with little colored sprinkles. It keeps the classic cute Smart design, replete with integrated safety cage, but adds a little German tuner kit to keep one’s man card in circulation. Sported out facias, ground affects, 15” front/17” rear alloy wheels, low-profile tires, and center-exiting twin chrome exhausts flaunt the promise of a fun ride. A lowered ride height and meatier rubber noticeably improve BRABUS handling over base Smarts, making them almost agile on curvy backroads.

Handling is definitely improved, although the car is still a pawn in Mother Nature’s game of wind and blow at Interstate speeds. As with other Smarts, the BRABUS runs with a 70-HP 1-litre 3-cylinder engine that helps the car achieve 33/41-MPG city/highway – same as less exotic Smarts. German burble from the exhaust sounds yummy, but the car waddles from 0-60 mph in 12.8 seconds on the way to an electronically-limited 90 mph top speed.

Smarts cruise happily at 80 mph, although a turbo – available in Europe, but denied to us Yanks – would give the car better breathing through long inclines and mountain passes. European Smart BRABUS models not only have classier interiors with fancy leather and chrome, but also add significantly more power. Turbos gain 28 HP, for 98 HP total. That lowers the 0-60 mph run to 9.2 seconds. As it is, the normally-aspirated Mitsubishi-built engine gives its all to wisp the Smart down the highway, but that additional 28 HP would make the 1,800-lb. car a spicy little ‘bit without cutting up its green cred.

Engineers obviously worked on the five-speed sequential-shifting transmission’s auto mode, working in a level of smoothness that makes it almost livable. Thinking of the transmission, with paddle shifters on the steering column, as more manual and less automated helps the mind get over its occasional herks and jerks.
All but the very base Smarts come standard with speed-sensitive power steering, which feels heavy on the highway. Available heated leather seats, rain sensing wipers, six-disc changer, iPOD input jack, and subwoofer keep the joy coming. Safety is enhanced by dual front airbags, side airbags, electronic stability control, four-wheel ABS, brake force distribution, cornering control, traction control, and hill start assist (holds the car on hills when lifting from the brake to accelerator).

People always ask if the ForTwo is safe. Besides four airbags, substantial headrests, and a Mercedes-load of electronic stability controls, the car is essentially a crash shell with everything else attached to it. The black or silver outlines you see around the passenger compartment are actually exposed sides of the crash cell. The car was tested against Mercedes’ E-Class large sedan and sports an array of high-star crash ratings. Nothing is indestructible, but the ForTwo is one stoutly-built mini-mite that can’t be beat for finding a tight parking space on the Yale campus.

I’ve already driven 10,000 miles in my personal ForTwo Passion from Indianapolis to beyond. It took me to the Smokey Mountains Memphis, Asheville, NC, and Myrtle Beach for vacations. I drove it to snowy Detroit for the auto show in January. It has enough power to flat-foot it through mountains, though I would love a BRABUS with the Euro turbo. It handles well, but some low-profile sport rubber wouldn’t be turned away. I love its style, but some ground affects and twin exhaust pipes would pump some sexy. I love my car, but could go positively weepy over a BRABUS convertible.

One of the best parts of eating at Claire’s is the student-professor get-togethers that stimulate profound thought and a new perspective on the world. Driving a Smart ForTwo BRABUS will definitely open your horizons – both for the economy it provides and endless conversation you’ll encounter at every gas pump, restaurant, and stoplight. I’ve heard the jokes, ridden the roller skate, and counted the clowns. Dressed in Brabus attire, it would be welcome at Yale, Claire’s, or Tim Hortons hauling home the ‘Bits.
To sample a Smart before plunking down at least $17,990 for a BRABUS Coupe or $20,990 for a convertible, check out a Hertz rental to see if eating fiery dumplings fits your stomach.

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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.

Naturally, the most eye-catching part of this limited edition model is the paint-job which combines an exclusive orange metallic finish combined with a black Tridion safety cell and black 3-double-spoke alloy wheels fitted with tires in size 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear. The car also features black painted headlamp trims, black mirror caps and nightorange logos in the mirror triangles.

The same color theme is continued in the interior with the black seats in a mix of leather and fabric sporting an orange stripe in the center, as does the knee pad in leather look. Contrast components such as the instrument trims are painted in pearl black, while the 3-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles and the gear knob are covered with black nappa leather.

Standard features include an audio system with AUX/USB interfaces and two loudspeakers, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and a transparent panoramic roof with sunblind (coupe).

Customers can choose between three engine variants -two petrol versions with 71HP and 84HP and a more frugal diesel model producing 54HP- and two body styles -coupe or convertible.

In Europe, the two seater limited edition model can be ordered now with first deliveries to customers beginning on February 22. In Germany, prices range from €13,995 to €18,345 [US$18,750 to$24,600].

READ MORE - Smart Brings Some Color to Fortwo with New Nightorange Limited Edition