The 2011 Smart fortwo. Image: Smart

We Americans may not think much of the diminutive Smart fortwo urban commuter car, but the rest of the world loves it. In fact, the second generation Smart fortwo has just crossed the 500,000 sales mark, despite just hitting the market in 2008. Dr. Annette Winkler, head of Smart, called the car an “icon, which is indispensable in the cities of the world.”

That would be cities outside of the United States, of course. Worldwide sales are up 6.6 percent in 2011, but sales in the United States remain dismal. In 2010, the last full year under former distributor Roger Penske, the brand moved less than 6,000 units in the U.S. market. Mercedes-Benz, the new distributor for Smart in the United States, is launching a major ad campaign, focused on urban markets, to revitalize the brand.

For U.S. customers, that will be an uphill battle. The Smart’s price is higher than more practical offerings from competitors, and its fuel economy isn’t remarkable, especially given the fortwo’s size. Mercedes’ job wont get any easier with the launch of minicar competitors from Scion (the iQ) and Chevy (the Spark). Unless Mercedes can find a way to make the Smart relevant to U.S. buyers, the brand is living on borrowed time in America.

Source: Autoevolution

Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

Lancia Scorpion

Matte black Volvo V70R

Opel GT and Opel Kadett Coupe

Volvo P1800S

Saab 9-3 Viggens

Ferrari 360 Modena and 328GTS

Citroën 2CV and Smart Roadster Coupe

Gorgeous Audi Quattro

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Twin-charged Audi A1

Volvo S60Rs

Saab 99 Turbo

Badass Volvos: PV544 and 142

DKW Junior de Luxe - DKW/Dampf-Kraft-Wagen became one of the four companies that comprised the "Audi NSU Auto Union AG" (now known as Audi AG).

Triumph TR8 and TR6s

Saab 96 V4 convertible - must have been a custom job.

Bimmer Beauties

Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition

Citroën H Van and DS

Audi A7

Honda Z600 / 600 Coupe

Saab Sonetts

Datsun SPL311 Roadster

Opel GT

Jay Leno, aside from being one of the most well respected car collectors out there, does not discriminate when it comes to automobiles. He likes fast cars, slow cars, steam powered cars and now, electric cars. What’s great about Jay is that he is first and foremost an automobile enthusiast, which means that he appreciates cars from all time periods and genres. The Smart Electric is powered by a 16.5 kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack that sits in the same place where the Smarts traditional 3-cylinder gas mill sat. This battery power means a range of about 60 to 70 miles and a top speed of about 65 mph, and that’s with the throttle pinned wide open. My advise, don’t even bother with this little bugger, just go out and buy a Chevrolet Volt and be happy. Trust me on this one…

Maybe we’ve been unduly harsh on Smart through the years. Sure, Mike and I would rather stuff a live weasel down out pants than drive a Smart, but that doesn’t mean their cars are wrong for everyone, or in every situation. Take this ad, filmed for Smart in China, which shows how useful a Brabus edition Smart Fortwo can be if you’re a pro basketball player trying to track down an art thief. There’s no way Bryant could have hunted the guy down in a Bentley or Maybach, which goes to show that Smart Fortwos do have value for urban dwelling, crime fighting, basketball superstars. Video below.

Is it just me, or would the ad have been more believable if the Smart were rolling on 22” wheels, with a subwoofer cranking out threshold-of-pain level bass? I’d like to know how much they had to pay Bryant for this sub-minute ad, but more than that I’d like to know how they got the six foot, six inch star to fit in a Smart Fortwo.

Source: Autoblog Green

In 2010, Daimler sold some 100,000 Smart cars worldwide, but managed to push only 5,927 units through Smart USA. That wasn’t enough to keep Roger Penske interested, so his company is turning over sales, marketing, distribution, service and support of Smart cars in the U.S. to Mercedes Benz USA. Smart has already sent letters to owners advising them that all warranties will still be honored, and that the transition is expected to be complete by the end of the second quarter of 2011.

Smart sales have been hampered in the U.S. by relatively low gas prices and an automotive culture that equates size with safety. Designed for urban driving in the EU, Smart cars don’t necessarily adapt well to the American landscape, where drivers often commute longer distances at higher speeds. I’ll admit to not disliking the Smart as much as Mike does, but their 70 horsepower, three cylinder engine and “Smart-Shift” transmission leave much to be desired. Smart cars aren’t inexpensive, either, and you can buy a base Hyundai Elantra (which gets 40 MPG highway) for the same money as a well equipped Smart Fortwo Passion (which gets 41 MPG). I know which one I’d rather drive, so there isn’t much mystery as to why sales are lagging. Cut the price, up the horsepower (and the fuel economy) and update the transmission; maybe then Smart will have a product that appeals to more than a handful of American buyers.

Source: Autoblog

I suppose it should come as no surprise that Smart, maker of the little ForTwo micro car, ,as finally launched their first electric vehicle in the United States. It’s based on the mini Fortwo, but ditches its regular 1.0-liter, 70 HP, 3-cylinder gas engine for a 30 kilowatt electric motor and lithium-ion battery. The electric motor is said to make the equivalent of about 40 hp with the battery taking about 3.5 hours to return an 85% fill rate. Smart recently delivered its first electric ForTwo to one Mindy Kimball of Silver Spring, Maryland. The car is one of a fleet of 250 vehicles that Smart is leasing to select individuals and municipal / corporate fleets in an attempt to work on the cars technology while in the field. Right now it’s said that the little Smart EV is good for about 98 miles on a full charge. It also has a claimed top speed of about 62 mph, which is just fast enough to get you rear-ended on the Long Island Expressway when a tractor trailer comes barreling down on you. Hmm… for some reason I think I’ll be waiting awhile before I put in my order.

Source: Wired.com

If you’re a regular reader, you probably already know that Mike (Mr. Angry) hates the Smart car, probably even more than I hate the continuously variable transmission. I like to think of myself as more open minded, and believe that there’s nothing at all wrong with the diminutive commuter car from across the pond. Nothing, that is, that an engine and transmission swap would fail to address, and I’ve seen some pretty insane Smart cars powered by Suzuki Hyabusa engines. Want a 200 horsepower, turbocharged-‘Busa-powered Smart with a five speed gearbox? There are companies out there who’ll build you one if you’ve got the vision. And, of course, the cash.

In the mean time, while you’re waiting for your Smartbusa to be built, here’s one suggested use for your Smart car. In case you were wondering “how many Pakistani cricket-playing girls can fit into a Smart car”, wonder no longer. As the above video demonstrates, the answer is 18, but I clearly saw breathing room in there. If anyone is up to the challenge, I’m reasonably sure you could fit 19 in a Smart car to break the record. Friends and I once crammed seven of us into a VW Karman Ghia, so I can tell you from personal experience that anything is possible if you have a dream, and a high threshold of pain.

Source: Neatorama

Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t bicycles invented as a human powered mode of transportation with the added benefit of keeping your fat ass in shape? Over the past year I’ve been seeing battery powered bicycles buzzing all over NYC and for the life of me I can’t understand why. Ok fine, for the Chinese Food delivery guys I can see the applications, but for everyone else who owns one I’m just taking it to mean that they’re just flippin’ lazy. Apparently Smart, maker of the crappy ForTwo micro car has now decided to jump on the electric bike bandwagon as well by developing their own electric two wheeler dubbed the eBike and debuting it at the Paris Motor Show. After watching the video you can see that the eBike is extremely well made and packed with some nifty technology like a hub-mounted electric motor as well as iPod integration. Let’s face it though, this is supposed to be a bicycle, not a scooter so what the hell is Smart doing building one of these? The way I see it, this bike will appeal to the same hipster urban-ites who purchased the original Smart Car. Sure it’s cool, but at the end of the day it’s not going to help you lose those saddlebags you’ve been carting around on that big ass of yours. My opinion… save the money, go buy a Schwinn and do some real exercise. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Source: Youtube.com

Now this is something that makes sense. Smart, the maker of the itty bitty ForTwo micro-car is now said to be delving into the world of two wheels with the upcoming E-Scooter concept. The E-Scooter is said to be powered by a lithium-ion battery that will give the little scoot a range of up to 62 zero-emission miles, while at the same time providing its riders with some new innovative safety features. The E-Scooter was developed with some help from Mercedes-Benz, and with an electric motor integrated into the rear wheel and zero emissions, the E-Scooter (if made into a production ride) will most likely become a favorite amongst those in urban environments.

A senior Mercedes-Benz official stated that: “Smart was originally established to tackle the need for improved mobility, especially in congested city environments. Up to now we have concentrated our efforts on four-wheel solutions. The next stage is to look at how to expand beyond this with other environmentally friendly vehicles,”

Keep in mind that this in no way means that Smart will cease production of the ForTwo, but since Smart’s sales figures are currently in a major slump it may not be such a bad idea for the company to branch out and find new ways of generating some revenue.

Source: AutoWeek.com

Two years ago I was given a Smart Fortwo to road test for a week and to say that I thought it was a monumental pile of crap would be an understatement. Yes it’s small, and yes you can park it just about anyplace, the problem is that after parking it, too many of its owners simply walk away from it without setting them ablaze. When Smart first entered the U.S. car market they brought with them a great ad campaign, the promise of amazing fuel economy and a fun little car that would make you feel happy when you drove it. The ad campaign worked because in 2008 Smart sold 25,000 of these little buggers to people who bought into the hype before ever having driven one.

Then 2009 came along and Smart sales in the U.S. began to drop as people realized that these cars actually weren’t very good. We’re now 7 months into 2010 and according to Automotive News, Smart has only sold a dismal 4,000 cars to U.S. consumers. So what happened here? Well, I’ll tell you, in theory the Smart Fortwo is a great little car. It’s small, somewhat economical and makes for a good urban runabout. The problem is that it’s not a car that was designed for American roads and or the 70-80 mph sustained speeds that Americans are accustom to driving at on U.S. highways and interstates.

Maintaining these speeds in the Smart means you are never going to take your foot off the floor. Also, cruising at these speeds is also a bit unnerving as the Smart does not welcome speeds in excess of 70 mph. The short wheel base and ultra tiny wheels mean you feel every bump in the road. Combine that with scary emergency handling and you have the makings of a none-to-happy scene if something goes array. My test car averaged a combined mileage of around 41 mpg. Yes, it’s good, but you have to realize that the fuel capacity is only 5.8 gallons, which means you’re filling up every 210 miles or so. The Smart’s transmission is another story entirely… simply put, it stinks.

In all honesty I can’t see Smart regaining any ground here in the U.S. unless it implements some drastic changes to its model line in the form of enhanced performance, fuel range and price. Today’s mini-car market simply has too many good cars for a poor performer like the Smart to have any type of competitive edge.