FiestaST
Honorary Master
Too early to say. No doubt MBSA needs to "run the numbers" first.
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New Smart fortwo & forfour
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Lol
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
The One Simple Rule Change That Would Have Saved Smart Cars
The Year 2019 has taken a great many beloved things from us. Caroll Spinney, Deadspin, Patrick George. It also took Smart from North America, both in direct sales and via carsharing, which matters more to some people than others.
But I, for one, am bummed about this. Small cars are good. They’re generally cheaper, more fuel-efficient, and more fun to drive than their behemoth counterparts of the SUV/truck variety. And they’re far more practical than they get credit for. Sure, lots of people need two rows of passenger seats, but lots of people don’t, especially younger urban dwellers Smart was targeting. We have a weird set up in the automotive landscape where there are too many cars that try to be all things to all people. All the damn crossovers and SUVs that are basically identical to 99 percent of the population.
So it was a welcome, if all too rare, occurrence that Daimler actually tried to target a specific market with a car that fit their specific need, a need no one else was really going after. I was 100 percent here for it.
In particular, Smart had one strong selling point. Because of their diminutive stature—a 2008 New York Times article presumably written by a journalist just prior to lunch described one parked between two much larger cars as “a nub of jam between two slabs of cake”—they were easy to park simply because they were small.
But Smart cars were specifically designed to be not just easy to park, but amazingly easy to park, a unique feature no other American vehicle could match. If we were being glib with modern parlance, we’d call it a “killer app,” but that would just make me want to die so we’re not going to do that.
Point is, the Smart car was specifically designed to be shorter than most cars are wide, so it could pull right into curbside spaces nose-to-curb.
jalopnik.com
The Year 2019 has taken a great many beloved things from us. Caroll Spinney, Deadspin, Patrick George. It also took Smart from North America, both in direct sales and via carsharing, which matters more to some people than others.
But I, for one, am bummed about this. Small cars are good. They’re generally cheaper, more fuel-efficient, and more fun to drive than their behemoth counterparts of the SUV/truck variety. And they’re far more practical than they get credit for. Sure, lots of people need two rows of passenger seats, but lots of people don’t, especially younger urban dwellers Smart was targeting. We have a weird set up in the automotive landscape where there are too many cars that try to be all things to all people. All the damn crossovers and SUVs that are basically identical to 99 percent of the population.
So it was a welcome, if all too rare, occurrence that Daimler actually tried to target a specific market with a car that fit their specific need, a need no one else was really going after. I was 100 percent here for it.
In particular, Smart had one strong selling point. Because of their diminutive stature—a 2008 New York Times article presumably written by a journalist just prior to lunch described one parked between two much larger cars as “a nub of jam between two slabs of cake”—they were easy to park simply because they were small.
But Smart cars were specifically designed to be not just easy to park, but amazingly easy to park, a unique feature no other American vehicle could match. If we were being glib with modern parlance, we’d call it a “killer app,” but that would just make me want to die so we’re not going to do that.
Point is, the Smart car was specifically designed to be shorter than most cars are wide, so it could pull right into curbside spaces nose-to-curb.
The One Simple Rule Change That Would Have Saved Smart Cars - Jalopnik
The Year 2019 has taken a great many beloved things from us. Caroll Spinney, Deadspin, Patrick George. It also took Smart from North America, both in direct sales and via carsharing, which matters more to some people than others.
jalopnik.com
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Correct.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Geely and Mercedes complete Smart joint venture in China
50:50 venture has received regulatory approval, reports say, with £594 million jointly invested to build "premium and intelligent" electric cars in China
Chinese giant Geely and Mercedes-Benz have completed a 50:50 joint venture that will see Smart models built in China, Reuters reports.
Said to have now received regulatory approval from Chinese authorities, the deal will see both companies invest a total of $780m (£594m) in the joint venture.
It will be based in the Chinese coastal city of Ningbo, where manufacturing will take place, Sales operations will jointly commence in China and Germany.
Under the deal, production of Smart cars will move to China, with new electric-only models arriving from 2022 onwards. Mercedes-Benz will lead the design and styling of those future models, with Geely - which already owns brands such as Volvo and Lotus - leading the engineering.
As part of the new product plan – precise details of which have not been disclosed – Smart will expand into the B-segment. The deal is intended to further develop Smart as “a leader in premium and intelligent electrified vehicles”, according to a joint statement from Geely and Daimler. Smart has recently become an electric-only brand.
www.autocar.co.uk
50:50 venture has received regulatory approval, reports say, with £594 million jointly invested to build "premium and intelligent" electric cars in China
Chinese giant Geely and Mercedes-Benz have completed a 50:50 joint venture that will see Smart models built in China, Reuters reports.
Said to have now received regulatory approval from Chinese authorities, the deal will see both companies invest a total of $780m (£594m) in the joint venture.
It will be based in the Chinese coastal city of Ningbo, where manufacturing will take place, Sales operations will jointly commence in China and Germany.
Under the deal, production of Smart cars will move to China, with new electric-only models arriving from 2022 onwards. Mercedes-Benz will lead the design and styling of those future models, with Geely - which already owns brands such as Volvo and Lotus - leading the engineering.
As part of the new product plan – precise details of which have not been disclosed – Smart will expand into the B-segment. The deal is intended to further develop Smart as “a leader in premium and intelligent electrified vehicles”, according to a joint statement from Geely and Daimler. Smart has recently become an electric-only brand.
Geely and Mercedes complete Smart joint venture in China | Autocar
50:50 venture has received regulatory approval, reports say, with £594 million jointly invested to build "premium and intelligent" electric cars in China
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
New Smart EQ Fortwo and Forfour priced from £16,850
Electric-only two and four-seat city cars arrive in UK as brand transitions to mobility service provider
The new Smart EQ Fortwo, Fortwo Cabrio and Forfour electric city cars have gone on sale in the UK, priced from £16,850.
The revised line-up opens with the two-seat Fortwo, with prices rising to £17,285 for the larger Forfour and topping out at £20,420 for the open-top Cabrio. All prices include the government's £3500 electric vehicle incentive.
www.autocar.co.uk
Electric-only two and four-seat city cars arrive in UK as brand transitions to mobility service provider
The new Smart EQ Fortwo, Fortwo Cabrio and Forfour electric city cars have gone on sale in the UK, priced from £16,850.
The revised line-up opens with the two-seat Fortwo, with prices rising to £17,285 for the larger Forfour and topping out at £20,420 for the open-top Cabrio. All prices include the government's £3500 electric vehicle incentive.
New Smart Fortwo EQ and Forfour EQ priced from £16,850 | Autocar
Electric-only two and four-seat city cars arrive in UK as brand transitions to mobility service provider
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
MB SA should actually make a case to HQ to bring in some units. "Decent" pricing & it could be a hit.New Smart EQ Fortwo and Forfour priced from £16,850
Electric-only two and four-seat city cars arrive in UK as brand transitions to mobility service provider
The new Smart EQ Fortwo, Fortwo Cabrio and Forfour electric city cars have gone on sale in the UK, priced from £16,850.
The revised line-up opens with the two-seat Fortwo, with prices rising to £17,285 for the larger Forfour and topping out at £20,420 for the open-top Cabrio. All prices include the government's £3500 electric vehicle incentive.
New Smart Fortwo EQ and Forfour EQ priced from £16,850 | Autocar
Electric-only two and four-seat city cars arrive in UK as brand transitions to mobility service provider
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Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
We'll never get nice electrics out here.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Smart EQ ForTwo 2020 review
Should I buy one?
Ultimately, personality and usefully small dimensions aren't enough to save the Fortwo. Smart's decision to devote its energy to medium-term strategy and the development of prescient mobility technologies (car-pooling, etc.) could well pay off, but its existing product is flirting with relic status.
Smart EQ Fortwo specification
Where Valencia, Spain Price £16,850 (after govt. grant) On sale Now Engine Synchronous electric motor Power 80bhp Torque 118lb ft Gearbox Single-speed Kerb weight xxxkg Top speed 81mph 0-62mph 11.6sec Range 91-98 miles (NEDC) CO2 0g/km Rivals Skoda Citigo-e iV, Volkswagen e-up!
www.autocar.co.uk
Should I buy one?
Ultimately, personality and usefully small dimensions aren't enough to save the Fortwo. Smart's decision to devote its energy to medium-term strategy and the development of prescient mobility technologies (car-pooling, etc.) could well pay off, but its existing product is flirting with relic status.
Smart EQ Fortwo specification
Where Valencia, Spain Price £16,850 (after govt. grant) On sale Now Engine Synchronous electric motor Power 80bhp Torque 118lb ft Gearbox Single-speed Kerb weight xxxkg Top speed 81mph 0-62mph 11.6sec Range 91-98 miles (NEDC) CO2 0g/km Rivals Skoda Citigo-e iV, Volkswagen e-up!
Smart EQ Fortwo review | Autocar
Lightly revised city-car can still charm, but without hardware upgrades now looks well off the EV pace
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Gone too soon? 14 vehicles discontinued in South Africa in 2019
Smart ForTwo/ForFour
Head over to Smart South Africa’s website and you’ll notice a distinct lack of vehicles listed. Yes, the Mercedes-backed firm stopped bringing in both the ForTwo and the ForFour – which together accounted for as many as 11 derivatives locally – in 2019.
www.carmag.co.za
Smart ForTwo/ForFour
Head over to Smart South Africa’s website and you’ll notice a distinct lack of vehicles listed. Yes, the Mercedes-backed firm stopped bringing in both the ForTwo and the ForFour – which together accounted for as many as 11 derivatives locally – in 2019.
Gone too soon? 14 vehicles discontinued in South Africa in 2019... - CAR Magazine
The year 2019 saw a number of well-known nameplates exit the South African automotive market. We look back and pick out 14 vehicles discontinued locally […]
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Autogefuhl full review of the Smart EQ fortwo
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Brabus gives Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio extra oomph and flared arches!
Brabus is supporting the Smart brand’s journey into the world of electro-mobility with this revised Ultimate E package.
Using Smart’s recently updated EQ ForTwo Cabriolet as a base, the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist has added more power to the electric motor and given the tiny hatch an aggressive design.
Sourcing energy from the 17,6 kW battery, the Ultimate E’s peak outputs have been increased slightly, from 60 kW and 160 N.m of torque to 68 kW and 180 N.m. THe tuner revised the three-phase synchronous motor with a PowerXtra performance upgrade. This gives it a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 10,9 seconds, some seven-tenths quicker than the standard model. The top speed remains limited to 130 km/h.
www.carmag.co.za
Brabus is supporting the Smart brand’s journey into the world of electro-mobility with this revised Ultimate E package.
Using Smart’s recently updated EQ ForTwo Cabriolet as a base, the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist has added more power to the electric motor and given the tiny hatch an aggressive design.
Sourcing energy from the 17,6 kW battery, the Ultimate E’s peak outputs have been increased slightly, from 60 kW and 160 N.m of torque to 68 kW and 180 N.m. THe tuner revised the three-phase synchronous motor with a PowerXtra performance upgrade. This gives it a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 10,9 seconds, some seven-tenths quicker than the standard model. The top speed remains limited to 130 km/h.
Brabus gives Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio extra oomph and flared arches! - CAR Magazine
Brabus is supporting the Smart brand’s journey into the world of electro-mobility with this revised Ultimate E package. Using Smart’s recently updated EQ ForTwo Cabriolet […]
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Mercedes-Benz to sell Smart factory in France
Firm plans a global 'realignment of capacity' but says Smart models will still be produced at the site
Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to close its factory in Hambach, France, where vehicles for the Smart brand are currently produced, as part of measures to cut costs and streamline its production network - and in a move that represents a major shift in its electric production strategy.
The plant in the Moselle province of France, originally known as ‘Smartville’, opened in 1997 to build cars for the Mercedes city car brand. It currently produces the electric Smart EQ Fortwo and EQ Fortwo Cabriolet. Around 1600 staff currently work at the site.
www.autocar.co.uk
Firm plans a global 'realignment of capacity' but says Smart models will still be produced at the site
Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to close its factory in Hambach, France, where vehicles for the Smart brand are currently produced, as part of measures to cut costs and streamline its production network - and in a move that represents a major shift in its electric production strategy.
The plant in the Moselle province of France, originally known as ‘Smartville’, opened in 1997 to build cars for the Mercedes city car brand. It currently produces the electric Smart EQ Fortwo and EQ Fortwo Cabriolet. Around 1600 staff currently work at the site.
Mercedes-Benz to sell Smart factory in France | Autocar
Firm plans a global 'realignment of capacity' but says Smart models will still be produced at the site
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Yes, this is a Smart ForTwo with a detachable caboose
Ever wanted a six-wheeled, series-hybrid Smart car with a clip-on butt?
www.topgear.com
Ever wanted a six-wheeled, series-hybrid Smart car with a clip-on butt?
Yes, this is a Smart ForTwo with a detachable caboose
Ever wanted a six-wheeled, series-hybrid Smart car with a clip-on butt?