SmartCar - Owners and Enthusiasts of Smart Cars

Smart car rolls into Roanoke, USA

2008-02-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

It’s five feet wide, five feet tall and eight feet two inches long,” says Wayne Wise as he shows off his new, micro mini car.

He says, when it comes to the smart car, technically the “Smart for Two,” good things really do come in small packages. “This is the most fuel efficient non hybrid car in the United States,” he said.

It’s why he didn’t mind waiting two years to get off the wait list and pick up three for himself. A red convertible will roll in any day.

“We got 60 miles to the gallon on the interstate.” It’s a cheaper ride than the 12-miles-per-gallon he got out of the SUV he replaced.

Wayne says he gets a lot of looks driving the car around town, as did I when he let me take it for a spin around Roanoke. “Everybody waves, snapping a picture with their camera phone.”

There are only two other smart cars in the commonwealth. Wayne says despite the size, cars are safe. “It is really safe. The car is built in a roll case. The material the roll cage is made of is the strongest material known to man,” he said. He says the engine is outside the shell so there’s no worry about it being forced in in a crash.

There’s even room for a weekend bag for your next road trip.

The Smart for Two car meets all U.S. crash and emissions standards. The mid range model has a base price of 13,500 dollars, 15,000 with all the options.

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Smart Car makes energy sense in U.S.

2007-12-02T11:16:00.001-08:00

was only a matter of time before the Smart Car was introduced to the U.S. Several different models of similar size from different manufacturers have been available in Europe for years.

I was in Italy several years ago and was immediately struck by the size difference in motor vehicles. Even Ford and General Motors have made scaled-down versions of full-sized vans, which I saw in Europe. Apparently they are not available here, and I cannot fathom for what reason that is so.

When I was in Halifax two years ago, Smart cars lined up by the hundreds in the port and were being shipped for sale throughout the near provinces. It is past time that U.S. consumers have the opportunity to buy cars whose mileage per gallon makes sense.

There are those who predict such cars won't be popular or have an impact. I predict that the dealers won't be able to keep the cars in stock and by the end of 2008, there will be a six-month waiting list for a wildly popular new-look car. As with everything else that makes energy sense, the U.S. is far behind the rest of the world. Perhaps this will help.

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Smart car will be on display in KC area

2007-10-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

If you still find a Segway scooter moving on a downtown sidewalk a peculiar sight, wait till you see the Smart car.
What will soon be the smallest car sold in the U.S. will be on display for consumers to check out and test-drive at Oak Park Mall on Sunday and Monday.
The Kansas City area is the latest stop for Smart USA, a Penske Automotive Group subsidiary, in a 50-city road show to generate interest in the two-seater.
Nearly 800,000 of the vehicles have been sold worldwide, but the Smart car will be launched in the U.S. for the first time in January. With fuel prices remaining high and urban traffic congestion unabating, the U.S. distributor of the car built by Mercedes believes the time is right for its American debut.
The car has a rear-mounted, three-cylinder, 1-liter gasoline engine that produces a top speed of 90 mph. It reportedly will get more than 40 miles to the gallon. Prices for its three models start at $11,590, $13,590 and $16,590.
The Smart car is unique, said Ken Kettenbeil, Smart USA’s director of communications.
“Because of this car’s size, price and gas mileage, it’s somewhat in a segment by itself,” he said at Penske’s headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “People are always curious about the car’s dimensions and safety. So we thought the best way to address those questions is to bring the car to the customers.”
In fact, that’s basically Smart USA’s marketing strategy. The company has no plans to advertise in print or on television. The company will rely on word-of-mouth buzz, online and in person.
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Utahns Test Drive Smart Cars

2007-08-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

It's not often that a new car comes along that's different from everything else on the road. But we spotted one today in Utah County.

You can't buy one yet in the United States, but thousands of people are putting down deposits to get on a waiting list for when they finally do arrive here!

OK, they do look a little weird. But people were lining up at Mercedes Benz of Lindon to test drive the Smart Car. Yes, Smart Car is a division of Mercedes. And these cars have been around for a while.

Steve Weisenberger is a Smart Car spokesman. "It's been around almost 10 years now," he said. "It's being sold in 36 different countries. The U.S. will be the 37th country."

There are three models with three price tags -- $12,000, $14,000 and $17,000.

Other than the options, the cars have identical one-litre, three-cylinder engines, and 71 horsepower under the rear hatch!

"It's held in there by eight bolts, a few harnesses. You can get two guys to actually lift the engine out, set it on a workbench and work on it," Weisenberger said.

Smart Car weighs only 1,650 pounds. Its top speed is 90 miles per hour, and it gets more than 40 miles per gallon! Small, yes. But plenty of leg room.

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Concerns over safety in the Smart Car

2007-07-12T16:31:00.001-07:00

The Smart Car is supposed to hit the U.S. next year and there are concerns about its safety.
It's fuel efficient, with the American version expected to get about 40 miles a gallon.
The 1700 pound vehicle is one of the smallest cars on the market and has not undergone crash testing here in America.
But the manufacturer, Daimler Chrysler says there are safety features like a stiff frame, antilock brakes, and side and knee air bags that make it a safe car to drive.
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Get Smart With A Smart Car

2007-05-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Surprising, the name is just so right for this little car. It was originally started by the auto maker Daimler-Chrysler, the people who make the Mercedes Benz and the watchmaker Swatch. So ‘Smart’ is actually an acronym that stood for ‘Swatch Mercedes ART’. The joint venture was set up in a place called Smartville in France. However, Swatch, inexperienced in the field of auto manufacturing and faced with the prospect of impending losses, pulled out. The company that manufactured ‘smart’, a division of Daimler-Chrysler was called ‘MCC’ or Micro Compact Car GmbH but its name was changed to Smart GmbH. It is based in Böblingen, Germany.The Smart Car was an idea so that city drivers would have a car that could very easily be parked, preferably ‘nose-in’ into a tiny space. It was to be a hybrid, taking environmental issues into consideration, it needed to seat only two and it needed to be reasonably priced so the young could afford it too.The car was launched in the 90's and it has over 750,000 customers in 36 countries today. At a time when gasoline prices seem to be soaring and pollution issues are growing in importance, it’s probably time to go smart and the car with its new logo has an arrow incorporated to show forward thinking as well as a C standing for ‘compact’.The cars, according to Daimler-Chrysler, will be launched in the U.S. in 2008 and will be sold by Hybrid Technologies as an electric version for about $30,000. Though it has been labeled a hybrid, in reality, it is be a totally electric car.

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Start your engines for a greener tomorrow

2007-04-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

Ottawa’s new green transport initiative could mean a lot more nifty little energy-efficient cars on the roads and a whopping passel of Hummers and the like clogging up the lots of new car dealers. In his 2007 budget this week, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced several new measures designed to encourage consumers to purchase or lease fuel-efficient vehicles and to get their old clunkers off the road. These initiatives include adding an additional $2,000 to $4,000 to the price tag of fuel- inefficient models and offering rebates of up to $2,000 for buying green. Some type of incentive will also be offered to get people to scrap their old heaps, but Flaherty said the details on that are still being worked out. The 2007 models eligible for rebates so far include, at the $2,000 level, the Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape HEV and the Toyota Prius. A $1,500 rebate will apply to the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Ford Escape HEV 4x4. Buyers will get $1,000 back on the purchase of a Mini Cooper, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla, Saturn VUE Hybrid, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, Lexus RX400H, Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4x4, Chevy Impala FFV, Chevy Monte Carlo FFV and the Chrysler Sebring FFV. David Daughton of Charlottetown can talk about just how cool it is to cruise around in one of these environmentally-conscious cars. For the last two years he’s been driving the Mercedes SmartCar. This car has the highest fuel economy rating so far, yet oddly enough has been left off the minister’s eligibility list. But officials from Transport Canada say that’s because there is not yet a 2007 model. Tags: smartcar

Smart car comes with interior innovations in plastics

2007-03-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

Flax/plastic composite and tailored LFT are used in the 2007 model design.

14 March 2007 – Plastics interior innovations have been applied with the latest 2007 design Smart Fortwo vehicle, involving natural fibre reinforced plastic and the use of long fibre reinforced thermoplastics (LFT).
The previous S-shape asymmetric instrument panel has been redesigned in the interest of occupant safety as a straight design and is now made in a “flax/plastic composite material”.
The structure and cover for a new storage area inside the lower part of the tailgate is made in selectively reinforced or “tailored” LFT plastic, developed by the Swiss company Esoro.
The E-LFT application is produced since January 2007 at a rate of 400 parts/day at Weber Fibertech at its new plant in Markdorf, which is in the area of Lake Constance in Southern Germany.
The new application for the 2007 Smart is the first industrial application for Esoro’s E-LFT technology and Esoro managing director Diego Jaggi told PRW.com that rear seat frames are under developemnt for other automotive OEMs.
With E-LFT parts typically weighing 30-50 per cent less than comparable steel ones and with cycle time below 60 seconds, Esoro says that the technique “makes large scale production of high-strength and lightweight composite parts affordable”.Tags: smartcar

Smart Fortwo EV versus BMW Hydrogen 7

2007-02-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

What sort of car will you be driving in 2020? Electric and hydrogen cars are both regularly put forward as the panacea to climate change, but which one’s likely to win out? To find out, we’ve taken a closer look at the two technologies’ poster cars: the electric Smart Fortwo EV and self-explanatory BMW Hydrogen 7.Smart Fortwo EV, £375 a monthThe Smart Fortwo EV is a radical foray into the world of electric vehicles. It’s radical in that it’s not ugly, you can go further than to the shops without running out of charge and it’s from a car maker you’ve heard of.
Pros and consUp to 200 of the electric microcars will be built and delivered to the UK, so it’s nothing more than a trial green vehicle. Even if you're not put off by the limited supply, you have to be pretty damned special to get you hands on one since it will only be leased to selected corporate customers who will pay £375 a month for the privilege.
It is a nice idea. The Fortwo EV has a range of 72 miles and a top speed of 70mph. It’s a no-thrills package: the traditional 0-60mph statistic has been dropped in favour of 0-30mph, which the EV can achieve in 6.5 seconds - quicker than the petrol version. The real ace up the EV’s exhaust pipe, though, is that it’s cheap to run and nice to the planet. It's exempt from the Congestion Charge and road tax because it emits zero carbon dioxide.
Ultimately, though, it’s nothing more than a worthy experiment. You might be smiling at the thought of the equivalent 300mpg, but you will be grimacing at the rather laborious charging time, which typically takes around five hours.

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Small Car Competition Heating Up Among Automakers

2007-01-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

Tiny and affordable, subcompact vehicles have come a long way from their "econobox" past.
The small, entry-level vehicles used to offer few frills and raised concerns over safety. But a combination of factors -- elevated gas prices, a focus on slick designs and technology marketed to young drivers -- have helped give the "B-cars" more visibility in the crowded auto marketplace.
Japanese automakers brought three new models to showrooms last year, the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, driving interest in the segment. The newcomers joined the Chevrolet Aveo, which General Motors Corp. builds through its relationship with South Korea-based Daewoo, Kia Motors America's Spectra and Rio models and the Hyundai Accent.

Car enthusiasts are not expected to see any major splashes in the segment at this month's North American International Auto Show, which begins media previews on Sunday. Two niche small vehicles will be shown -- BMW AG will raise the curtain on the new 2007 Mini Cooper while DaimlerChrysler AG is showing its two-seater Smart fortwo, which is expected to appeal to congestion-pressed city drivers.
But the segment is expected to grow. Sales of seven vehicles in the category were up nearly 50 percent in 2006, to more than 290,000 units, according to figures released by Autodata Inc. It represents only a small slice of the U.S. car market, but analysts said the new models and $3 a gallon gas prices last summer created some buzz.
"There was so much activity in those segments in the last few years -- almost everything is new," said Rebecca Lindland, an auto analyst at Global Insight, an economic research and consulting company.
Subcompacts have made strides in recent years, following a less-than-stellar launch of the Toyota Echo a few years ago. The new models range in price from about $10,000 to $16,000 and come with designs that make the vehicle feel roomier and have safety improvements.
The vehicles typically present safety challenges when struck by larger vehicles. But many of the new subcompacts offer standard side air bags and several have received solid ratings in crash tests by the government and the insurance industry.
"What's fascinating is that while the vehicles are smaller, they're so much better, so much safer," said Jim Sanfilippo, a senior industry analyst for the Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Automotive Marketing Consultants Inc.
What they lack in size, the vehicles overcome in technology, perks craved by young drivers. Several provide jacks for iPods and other MP3 players and powerful stereo systems. The Versa, for example, offers the Bluetooth hands-free phone system while the Aveo has options such as heated outside mirrors and controls for the stereo system on the steering wheel.
The strong showing could lead to increased subcompact production. Honda Motor Co. sold about 28,000 versions of the Fit amid high demand. Honda has not released any production volumes for 2007 but spokesman Chris Martin noted the company generally starts conservatively with any new product.
"It's proven itself in this market -- it's been received very well," Martin said.
Other automakers have expressed interest.
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group recently agreed in principle with China-based Chery Automobile Co. to build a subcompact vehicle some time after 2007. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda told reporters last week that it would help them act quickly to bring a new product to vehicle showrooms.
At last year's Geneva Auto Show, the automaker displayed the Dodge Hornet concept, a stylish B-car designed to attract young buyers. Chrysler has not announced any production plans.
Ford Motor Co. has shown interest in developing a B-car for North America while Mazda Motor Corp. offers a Mazda2 subcompact in Europe -- called the Demio in Japan -- leading some analysts to predict that the automaker will soon offer one in the U.S.

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Not Smart Car

2006-12-26T14:11:00.000-08:00

Tiny Smart cars are all over Europe and Canada, too. They can fit in just about any parking space. Mercedes is planning to sell a redesigned version in the U.S. starting in 2008.
Smart for Two is one of the most unusual-looking cars Consumer Reports has ever tested. The tiny two-seater can park just about anywhere. At just over eight feet long, it's not much longer than some vehicles are wide!
The smart for-two makes a Mini look like a maxi, and a VW Bug look like an elephant.
As for fuel efficiency, Consumer Reports finds it gets around 43 miles per gallon. So how is the smart car to drive? David Champion is the director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.
"We've pushed it to the limits and it does grip reasonably well, but it doesn't inspire confidence to drive it at any speed," Champion said.
The 40 horsepower, three-cylinder diesel engine is noisy and acceleration is abysmal. Going from 0 to 60 takes 23 seconds. Compare that with the Mini that does it in less than ten.
"When you're on the highway when you want to pull out to overtake somebody, you really have to give yourself a lot of distance to do that because it's not very powerful," said Champion.
Although you can switch between automatic and manual transmission, in either mode, shifting is slow and jerky. All in all, Consumer Reports says the Smart for Two is one of the worst cars it's ever tested.
You may be impressed that the Smart for Two gets around 43 miles per gallon. However, Consumer Reports points out that's about the same as the Prius, and the Prius seats five people instead of two.

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Driving the smartcar way

2006-11-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

Since Sept. 22, when Marilyn Egans brought home her smart car, she's become accustomed to such reactions. The tiny cars are common in Europe, but hers is the only one in Washington County
Smart" is the brand name of this line of ultra-efficient passenger cars manufactured in France for the German firm DaimlerChrysler. Egans' model is unambiguously called "fortwo."
Egans christened hers "Viola," for the paint she chose for its pop-out fiberglass panels. The color accents the car's silver structural frame, one of its primary safety features. This spherical, steel-reinforced shell protects passengers as a roll cage does in professional race cars.
The car also has anti-lock brakes and widely spaced wheels for stability, but its stand-out feature is fuel economy: Egans said so far she has recorded 35 to 40 miles-per-gallon in local driving and, on a recent 208-mile road trip, averaged 57 mpg.
The car's efficiency may vary depending on driving technique: It has a clutch-less standard transmission with six gears for those who prefer to shift manually. A single button-push switches to automatic.
Saving gasoline - and the environment - appealed to Egans. She first saw smart cars in 2002 during a trip to Paris with her husband, Michael. "They were very popular," she said and recalled how the eight-foot-long cars were often parked on sidewalks.
Egans didn't start actively looking for her own smart car until about a year ago. Finding a reasonably close dealer was difficult.
DaimlerChrysler does not market them in the United States. Zap, a company based in Santa Rosa, Calif., is the only licensed importer and they specially modify the cars to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards.
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Smart ForTwo - Similar Looks, But a Brand New Car

2006-11-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

After missing the Paris show by the skin of its teeth and taunting us with a sandcastle modeled in its likeness, DaimlerChrysler’s smart has officially unveiled the second-generation fortwo city car. Due to financial difficulties, smart has been under immense pressure to ensure the success of the new car; in fact, the brand is hedging its bets on this model, after canceling the subcompact-sized (Yaris, Fit) forfour, and axing the mid-engined Roadster. Smart therefore took the time to iron out every last detail, as this is the car that will finally be used to launch the brand in the United States, as was announced earlier this week. But enough of that; let’s have a look at the new city car.
It’s going to take a close-up look to tell the new fortwo apart from the old one. With virtually nonexistent overhangs, fenders that double as bumpers, and that bright, highly contrasting Tridion safety cell, the smart looks about the same as it’s always looked. Pull out the measuring tape and you’ll find that the fortwo has grown in all directions; it’s now 2,695 mm (106.1 in) in length and 1,559 mm (61.4 in) in width, mostly to help the vehicle comply with vehicle and pedestrian crash testing regulations. The L-shaped headlamps, double-bubble tail lamps, and door panels are the most visible of the changes. It’s a restyling effort as thorough as any, granted the miniscule proportions.

Under the skin, mind you, the new fortwo is a completely redesigned from the tires up. The chassis rides on a longer wheelbase with wider tracks, and a front suspension system that gives the fortwo extra stability in corners. The extra room between the wheels allowed for a quicker steering rack, making the fortwo easier and more fun to drive.
The interior is cute and funky with a variety of different fabric trims. The dashboard is slightly more conventional in appearance in order to comply with U.S. crash regulations. Standard safety features include ABS, ESP and a full count of airbags.

The brunt of the fortwo engine range is a brand new inline-three gasoline engine developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi. At 1.0 litre in displacement, it’s larger than before, and is available in three different outputs of 61, 71, and 84 horsepower. The CDI diesel model, currently the only version sold in Canada, will return bearing 10 percent more power (45 hp). The fortwo will continue to feature a clutchless five-speed manual gearbox, but the system has been heavily reworked for improved performance and less delay. On certain models the fortwo will be available with a "Stop & Go" system that turns the engine off when the vehicle would otherwise be at idle, much like a hybrid, reportedly improving fuel consumption in the city by 13 percent.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed, we expect gasoline power to make a debut for the fortwo in North America. In its initial press release, smart proudly claims that the new fortwo won’t cost any more than the current model, which is good news for value conscious greenies

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Deal reached to bring 2-seat Smart car to U.S.

2006-11-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

FRANKFURT, Germany - Smart GmbH and United Auto Group Inc. said Thursday they will bring the two-seat smart ForTwo to the U.S. in early 2008.
Boeblingen-based Smart, part of DaimlerChrysler AG’s Mercedes Car Group, said its President Ulrich Walker had signed a general distributor agreement with United Auto Chairman Roger Penske on Wednesday.
“This is absolutely the right car in the right place at the right time. It embodies the unique combination of a lifestyle and design-oriented vehicle that is ecologically appealing,” Walker said. “Smart is uniquely designed, offers the lowest cost of ownership and is very fun to drive.”
The agreement outlines all aspects of the model’s sale in the United States, including sales, service and the initial launch.
The first dealerships to carry the car are expected to be announced in the second half of 2007, with the car available to buyers during the first quarter of 2008.
United Auto will be responsible for picking potential dealers and developing and maintaining the vehicle dealership network throughout the U.S. It will focus mainly on highly populated areas and have 30 to 50 dealerships.
Smart launched the ForTwo in Canada in 2004, and last year it sold about 4,000 models there, or twice what it had initially forecast.
Last year, Smart sold 143,000 cars worldwide, a small increase from the 139,000 it sold in 2004. It produced 124,300 cars in the same period, down from 152,100 the previous year.
Earlier this year, DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said that high gas prices, congested roadways and the constant search for parking made the fortwo an ideal car for U.S. buyers, particularly in urban areas.
The ForTwo's three-cylinder, 700cc engine has significantly lower emissions than other cars and gets an average of 40 miles per gallon in combined city-highway driving and will sell for less than $15,000.

Tags: smartcar

SmartCar for $1000

2006-11-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Stern Report has focussed minds and despite the UK’s almost complete lack of small car culture the future of motoring must have a role for the micro car. The singularly most successful vehicle in the micro car class is the Smart Car. These normally retail at around £7,000 from your local Smart franchised dealer, but they are now available for as little as £1000.There is just one little catch; that is, to get a brand new Smart for £1,000 you need to buy a couple of limousines at around £165,000 a pair, from Mercedes-Benz authorised coachbuilders Binz. Now, that might sound more than a little incongruous but for a 5-star hotel there is a lot more to business than shuttling A-list celebrities and their entourage from airport to gig venue and back again. There are administrative errands to be run, and considerable behind the scenes movements that require a transport solution. If those transport costs can be reduced then it is a benefit for the business. A Smart Car is generally cheaper to insure and operate than a larger vehicle. It has a certain appeal and it is easier to park. It also is a visible indicator of a business’s environmental credentials, something that is becoming increasingly important as green taxes loom large.Binz is the authorised coachbuilder for Mercedes Benz with limousines and hearses as the core business for the UK distributor, Binz UK Ltd. However, across in Germany, The relationship between Binz and Mercedes Benz runs much deeper, and amongst other vehicles, Binz also carry out coach building exercises on the Smart Car. So the link between the longest and shortest Mercedes originated vehicles in the UK market is not as odd as it first appears.

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Monster Smart Car

2006-10-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

A Smart Car with monster tyres and four wheel drive has been developed for hardcore offroad use.
The 'Forfun' has the body of a normal Smart Fortwo mounted on an all-terrain Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406 series.
Greek 4x4 Rally Champion, Stefan Attart, joined forces with Mercedes-Benz Greece, to design and develop the one-off vehicle.
It has a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 5,675 cc delivering 84 bhp - more than twice as powerful as the standard model.
The Forfun also features ground clearance of more than 2ft, eye popping tyres on 26 inch rims, and a towering 12ft height.
Attart also added oversized wheels, an aluminium safety cage, and special shock absorbers with manually controlled air suspension.

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Smart Selects BBDO for U.S. Launch

2006-07-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK After postponing the U.S. launch of the Smart car and scuttling a review in the middle of last year, DaimlerChrysler has selected BBDO to handle the brand in the U.S. without a review and is in final contract negotiations with the agency, sources said. The Smart nameplate is on schedule to hit the domestic market in 2008, according to its Web site, www.usa.smart.com.
During last year's review in which shops such as DeVito/Verdi and StrawberryFrog, both New York, and San Francisco-based Venables, Bell & Partners made it to the finals, the client had a projected media spend of $20 million to introduce the brand [Adweek, April 4, 2005]. The Smart brand win expands the Omnicom Group agency's relationship with DaimlerChrysler. Its Detroit office handles the Dodge brand and last month, its Paris office, CLM/BBDO, was awarded global creative duties on the introduction of the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, sources said. Estimated media spending on that brand is $40-50 million, per sources. BBDO West also handles the estimated $235 million Mitsubishi U.S. account, which it won in March 2005 after a review. At the time, DaimlerChrysler owned a 12 percent stake in Mitsubishi, and Dave Schembri was evp of sales and marketing of Mitsubishi North America. Before that, he was at Mercedes-Benz, where he worked on laying the groundwork for the U.S. introduction of Smart. But when Mercedes postponed that debut, Schembri joined Mitsubishi, and a month later it hired BBDO. Five months ago, Schembri left Mitsubishi and rejoined the Mercedes as president of Smart USA in Auburn Hills, Mich.A BBDO representative declined to comment, as did a Mercedes-Benz official.

Tags: smartcar

ZAP ships their first "Smart Car" to the United States

2006-04-07T23:01:00.000-07:00

Humphrey Cheung

March 31, 2006 21:56
It was once thought that a sub-compact car, or "micro cars" could never be successful in the United States. The phenomenal success of the Mini Cooper shattered that perception and now ZAP, based in Santa Rosa California, is offering their "Smart Car" to the United States. ZAP is already doing a brisk business in Europe, but will Americans go for a two seat car that looks like a golf cart?

The European car market is obviously very different from the one in the United States. Gasoline, while growing increasingly more expensive, is still relatively cheap in the USA. Prices in many European countries are at least twice as much per gallon and in some cases, like in Norway, are almost triple. In addition, space is at a premium in Europe and as a result parking is extremely expensive. The Smart Car has been certified by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency for 40 miles per gallon. Its small size means it can squeeze into empty spaces that bigger cars cannot use.
A school teacher in Wellington Florida took delivery of the first car. ZAP is selling the cars for around $25,000 and is also planning on shipping their all-electric XEBRA car later this year. Zap's Smarts are based on the Smart "fortwo coupe," which is available for around $12,000 in Europe.

Tags: smartcar

Daimler to Halt 4-Seat Smart Car

2006-04-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

From Reuters
March, 31 2006

FRANKFURT, Germany — DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board Thursday approved a plan to scrap the four-seat Smart car model in yet another costly overhaul of the loss-making mini-car unit, it said. The world's fifth-biggest automaker had said Saturday that it planned to halt output of the Smart ForFour and focus on the two-seat model in a reorganization that would cost around 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) and 300 Smart jobs in Germany.

That remains the plan, a spokesman said. It will book about 80% of the expected costs in the first quarter of 2006. German-American DaimlerChrysler, which is based in Stuttgart, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Mich., has said pruning Smart's model line-up once again would ensure that Smart swings to profit for the first time next year, when a new version comes out of the snub-nosed two-seater with which Smart debuted in October 1998. Smart has lost money ever since it was launched.The governing bodies of DaimlerChrysler "have approved measures related to the company's focus on the Smart ForTwo, including the intention to cancel production of the Smart ForFour," a statement said. Now it has to negotiate compensation for suppliers and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp., which makes the ForFour model at a plant in the Netherlands. Mitsubishi Motors "will continue building its Colt B-segment car at its NedCar plant in the Netherlands," Mitsubishi said, noting the model was its top seller in Europe. Sales of the four-seat Smart fell by a quarter last year to 43,700 units. DaimlerChrysler hopes that dropping the ForFour model will help its premium Mercedes-Benz division hit its target of a 7% operating margin next year. DaimlerChrysler shares rose 67 cents to $57.65. Tags: smartcar

Smart-Automobile LLC Announces Technology License for Smart Car Americanized by ZAP(R), Final U.S. Clearance for Smart Cars In-Hand

2006-04-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

LONG BEACH, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart-Automobile LLCannounced today its proprietary technology has been successfully appliedin the modification of the Smart For Two Coupe / Convertible for directimportation to the United States. Smart-Automobile is part of a venture to independently bring the fuel-efficient Smart Car to the U.S., where the popular car has not been availablesince its introduction in 1998. Smart-Automobile has contracted for theexclusive distribution of the Smart Cars to publicly owned automotive companyZAP of Santa Rosa, California, to be marketed to consumers through a ZAPauthorized dealer network. Registered import company G&K AutomotiveConversions of Santa Ana, California, has been contracted for the conversionof the cars to meet U.S. standards. Smart-Automobile President Thomas Heidemann announced that he is pleasedto reach this milestone, having invested significant capital and several yearsin bringing the fuel-efficient car from Europe to the United States where gasprices are reaching record levels. "There has been a great deal of excitement about the Smart Car coming tothe United States, and I want to congratulate our partners and futurecustomers for their hard work and patience in reaching this point," saidHeidemann. "With such a unique new car in the U.S. market and so much demand, we wantto reassure the public that we strive for excellence in providing the highestlevel of service and support," said the German-born entrepreneur. "Such demandhas concerned the government with the possibility of illegal Smart Carsentering the country, and we want to assure everyone that Smart-Automobilewill do everything in its power to make sure the cars are sold in a propermanner through an authorized dealer network, with certified technical trainingand legally imported cars." Under its contract, Smart-Automobile is supporting the venture in hostingexclusive training programs for ZAP Authorized Dealers as well as thelicensing of the proprietary Smart diagnostic systems used in maintaining thecars and ensuring they operate to U.S. standards of safety and emissions.Smart-Automobile owns the OBD II technology as well as the tool molds,software and factory inventory housed at G&K. Heidemann added: "I want to clarify this business venture with the public,because it has been quite unique in the today's auto industry. We have,independently of the manufacturer, obtained full U.S. safety and emissionscompliance with the Smart Cars. Usually imported cars are brought into theU.S. through exemptions. In this situation, ZAP owns the exclusivedistribution rights regarding our contracts to sell the Smart Car convertedthrough SA and G&K in the USA." Heidemann said that they will continue to obtain non-compliant carsthrough wholesalers, brokers and other entities worldwide to supply vehiclesfor the U.S. market. Smart-Automobile will only service cars with VIN numbersprovided through ZAP and will give notice to EPA and DOT on every car itdelivers. These VIN numbers will be kept on file by ZAP Authorized Dealers toensure that all Smart Cars driven in the country meet government regulations. Contact: Smart-Automobile LLC Thomas Heidemann (562) 252 1644 ext. 212This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,visit http://www.ereleases.com/.Tags: smartcar

Europe's Smart Car Coming To America

2006-04-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

By Nathan Edwards
Good news for the "smaller is better" crowd: The fuel-efficient Smart Car is (finally) on its way to our shores. Smart-Automobile LLC announced today that its Smart coupe and convertible, available in Europe since 1998, are ready to be imported to the United States.

Much of the delay involved learning how to modify the cars and tooling the proprietary Smart diagnostic system to ensure the cars meet U.S. safety and emissions standards.
"There has been a great deal of excitement about the Smart Car coming to the United States, and I want to congratulate our partners and future customers for their hard work and patience in reaching this point," said Smart-Automobile President Thomas Heidemann.
All Smart Cars imported through this arrangement will be registered with ZAP and the Department of Transportation to ensure that they meet government standards. The Smart Car gets 60 mpg and can reach speeds of 85 miles per hour, according to the ZAP Web site, and will range in price from $15,000 to $25,000 fully loaded.
The Smart Cars will be Americanized by G&K Automotive Conversions of Santa Ana, California, and distributed by Santa Rosa-based ZAP, a leader in fuel-efficient and eco-conscious cars.
Tags: smartcar

Mitsubishi Motors to stop making DaimlerChrysler's Smart minivehicles - report

2006-04-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

TOKYO (AFX) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp has decided to end production of DaimlerChrysler AG's Smart minivehicles in Europe, following the German partner's move to restructure that business, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported without citing sources. The cancellation may also prompt Mitsubishi Motors to overhaul its European operations, the business daily said. The Japanese carmaker still plans to supply DaimlerChrysler with engines for the next-generation Smart two-seater. Mitsubishi Motors now makes about 40,000 four-seater Smarts a year at wholly owned subsidiary Netherlands Car BV under an original equipment manufacturer contract that is effective through 2010. The newspaper said Mitsubishi Motors will seek financial compensation from the German firm, and both companies still need to determine when to halt production. kiyori.ueno@xfn.com

Tags: smartcar

Mitsubishi to seek compensation from DCX for SMART ForFour cancellation

2006-04-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Following DaimlerChrysler's announcement that it will be stopping production of the SMART ForFour sedan, partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has stated it will end production at the company's Netherlands plant as well. The Japanese automaker still plans to manufacturer engines for DCX's SMART two-seaters.Both companies have not yet determined when will be the last day of production. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun states, though, that Mitsubishi will be seeking financial compensation for DCX's abrupt termination of their partnership in the ForFour.[Source: Nihon Keizai Shimbun via AFX News Limited via Forbes]
Posted Mar 30th 2006 5:34PM by Joel Arellano
Tags: smartcar

smart Gets Smart Navigation With Garmin GPS

2006-03-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Garmin International today announced that smart, the iconic automotive brand of DaimlerChrysler, will begin offering the smart portable navigator — a Garmin GPS designed for the cockpit of smart's fortwo and forfour models. The smart portable navigator is a derivative of Garmin's newly announced StreetPilot c500 series. "smart cars and Garmin units are a great match because both companies strive to offer customers products with innovative designs, advanced technologies and powerful performance," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's vice president of marketing. "We are delighted to work with smart, and are certain that our in-car navigation system will make driving even more fun for smart owners." Mounted in a custom cradle that complements smart's sleek and innovative cockpit design, the smart portable navigator provides in-car navigation with automatic route calculation to any destination. The directions may be viewed with a three-dimensional navigation view or a "bird's eye" overhead view. The unit offers voice-prompted directions so that drivers are able to keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic. If a driver misses their turn, the smart portable navigator will automatically calculate a new route and get the driver back on track. The smart portable navigator includes a large preloaded points of interest (POIs) database that makes it easy for users to find and route to destinations such as hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, and attractions. Custom POIs may also be loaded on the unit. It is equipped with a new high-sensitivity GPS receiver, which acquires a GPS signal quickly and is capable of maintaining a signal in heavy foliage or "urban canyons" created by city skyscrapers. It also features a brighter, sunlight readable touchscreen display. The smart portable navigator will be available on smart models fortwo and forfour beginning in the summer of 2006.
Tags: smartcar

The Wheel Deal: Smaller is better ... kind of

2006-03-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

Great news! According to at least one analyst, sales of subcompact cars in the U.S. are supposed to double in the next five years!
If this gives you visions of nation-wide FUH2 dancing in your head, you may also be one of those folks who believed your friends when they said the word "gullible" wasn't in the dictionary. (Hint: it is.) A doubling of the U.S. subcompact car market would bring small cars' share of the new-vehicle market to a whopping 3 percent. Actually less than 3 percent. Sigh. Why, why would this be? Says another analyst:
I don't think [the subcompact is] a car for the U.S. market ... Those cars look great in Europe, but put them on road here next to a big SUV and they don't look so good anymore.
I'm assuming by "good" he means "pridefully wasteful to compensate for small-manhood syndrome." That being the case, I suppose he has a point.

Considering the above, small-car manufacturers are hesitant to market their wares in the States. DaimlerChrysler, maker of the Smart car, is "currently evaluating the brand's chances of success" here.

Tags: smartcar