Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe--D&M Motorsports Video Test Drive 2012 Chris Moran
Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe Review with Chris Moran. Presented by D&M Motorsports.
The Smart Fortwo is an all-new brand and model in the United States for 2008, sold at a select number of United Auto Group and Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country.
Introduction
Revolution, dud or something in between? The 2008 Smart Fortwo could be any of these, but which one depends on how Americans respond to this long-awaited city car as it starts to trickle into dealerships around the country. The previous generation has sold more than 770,000 units in other parts of the world since 1998, appealing to urban customers who gravitated to its sky-high fuel economy and park-anywhere size. While most Americans have probably seen a Smart car, only time will tell how many pick one as their daily commuting partner.
Not that it comes as a news flash, but the Mercedes-built Smart is small. Really small. It's more than 3 feet shorter than a Mini Cooper and only a foot longer than an E-Z-GO golf cart. It seats only two people, with a fair-sized trunk above the rear-mounted engine. Yet that silver or black strip that loops around the Fortwo's side is what differentiates this minicar from the E-Z-GO.
Known as the Tridion safety cell, this cage of high-strength steel allows the Smart car to withstand impacts as well as or better than much larger cars. An impressive array of other safety systems -- side airbags, antilock brakes, brake assist, stability control and traction control -- add to its ability to thwart occupant injury. Plus, axles placed close to the passenger compartment provide additional protection in side impacts.
Other markets get diesel and turbocharged gasoline engines, but the America-bound Fortwo will only come with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine. Saddled with 71 horsepower, this powertrain will be able to motivate the 1,804-pound Smart from zero to 60 mph in 14.1 seconds. The wonky five-speed automanual transmission found in the last Smart car has been replaced by an allegedly improved one, which makes us wonder how awful the predecessor was, considering the new car's herky-jerky motions and extreme shift lag. After a quick drive, it will leave you wondering how it's in any way superior to a traditional automatic or clutch-pedal manual.
In total, the Smart has just enough pep around town, but it feels woefully lackluster (and a little worrisome) on the highway. But that's a pretty good way to sum up the entire Smart Fortwo experience. For those who spend 90 percent of their driving time by themselves in traffic or meandering through congested city streets, the Fortwo makes sense (as long as they can put up with the wonky transmission). Its tiny dimensions make finding a parallel parking spot a relatively simple exercise -- although the new model is now too long to be parked perpendicularly on the street. Also, speeds in the city should rarely get so high that the mere sight of a Navigator makes you pack the dashboard with statues of St. Christopher.
But for those who routinely drive on the highway, the Fortwo just doesn't make sense -- even if it gets excellent gas mileage. A similarly priced subcompact will handle high speeds better; ditto the more expensive but greener Prius. The 2008 Smart Fortwo isn't a good choice for most consumers, but for certain urban-based drivers, it's most definitely worth consideration.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2008 Smart Fortwo is a two-seat, subcompact city car available in two body styles. The hatchback Coupe is offered in Pure and Passion trim levels, while the convertible Cabrio only comes in Passion. The base Pure comes with 15-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, leather steering wheel and electric rear window defroster. Power steering, air-conditioning, radio, power windows and alloy wheels are optional on the Pure. The Passion gets all those basic features, plus a panorama glass roof, sport steering wheel with shift paddles, power heated side mirrors and a CD player. The Passion Cabrio adds an upgraded stereo with MP3-compatible in-dash six-CD changer, along with a manually operated canvas roof. Passion options include partial leather upholstery and additional gauges.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2008 Smart Fortwo is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 71 hp and 68 pound-feet of torque. Surprisingly, it requires premium fuel. The maximum speed is 90 mph, with a 0-60-mph time of 14.1 seconds. A five-speed automanual transmission drives the Fortwo's rear wheels and is shifted without a clutch pedal via a simple console-mounted stick (and column-mounted paddles on Passion models), and there is a fully automatic mode as well. With its 8.7-gallon tank, the Fortwo will return 33 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined.
2012 smart fortwo electric drive Production plant Hambach
smart fortwo electric drive - Zero-emission driving pleasure for everyone: the new smart fortwo electric drive will soon be available worldwide.
Zero-emission motoring with even more driving fun -- the third generation smart fortwo electric drive will be available from the spring of 2012. In total a five-figure number of vehicles will roll off the production line in Hambach, France. Following the huge success of the second generation, electric mobility will then become accessible to anyone interested in more than 30 markets worldwide. In the development of the new generation smart benefited from extensive experience and customer feedback gathered worldwide over the past years. Driven by a battery supplied by Deutsche Accumotive for the first time the 55 kW electric motor passes the 120 km/h mark. From 0 to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds - even driving on urban motorways becomes enjoyable. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the lively city car to travel around 140 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions.
"The smart fortwo has exceeded itself. It has always been a pioneer of urban mobility and with the new electric drive it is once again setting standards with even more driving fun and environmental compatibility," says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "With the new generation the frequently cited "electric era" has finally arrived." For the further development of the smart fortwo electric drive the company was able to bring in extensive experience and customer feedback from various electric mobility projects. For example, this is reflected in clearly improved performance data. Driven for the first time by energy from a battery supplied by Deutsche Accumotive the 55 kW electric motor effortlessly passes the 120 km/h mark. The smart developers were also able to realise the more powerful acceleration requested by customers. From 0 to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds - even filtering into traffic on urban motorways is a pleasure. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the lively city car to travel considerably more than 140 kilometres without producing any local emissions.
Ever since 1998 the smart has been revolutionising urban mobility like no vehicle before it. Compact, agile, environmentally friendly and stylish -- it has evolved from a practical small car to a lifestyle product and has long become a familiar sight on the roads of cities around the world.
With the start of the first electrically driven test fleet in 2007 in London smart also took on a pioneering role in the area of electric mobility when 100 smart fortwo electric drives took to the roads of the British capital -- with great success. Today the vehicle is a trendsetter and a synonym for forward-looking battery-electric-driven urban mobility of the future.
One of the largest electric fleets worldwide
With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive was ready to take to the roads. The electrically driven avant-gardiste from Stuttgart was introduced in 18 markets. The objective of the second generation was to gather as much experience as possible about how customers use and charge electric vehicles. The huge demand exceeded all expectations. Instead of the planned 1000 vehicles more than 2000 smart fortwo electric drives are being produced in Hambach. This means that smart has one of the largest fleets of electrically driven vehicles on the roads worldwide and a trove of customer experience and wishes that have been input in the third generation smart fortwo electric drive.
Crash test smart vs Fiat 600
http://www.sicurauto.it - Crash test compatibilità smart vs Fiat 600
Approfondisci: http://www.sicurauto.it/crash-test-video/test-speciali/speciale-citycars-sono-davvero-sicure-come-pensiamo.htm
Smart Fortwo review - CarBuyer
Full review: http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/smart/fortwo/micro-car/review
If you're strictly a city driver, then the Smart ForTwo could be the perfect choice. The unusual looks make it a head-turner, while its minuscule dimensions mean it's incredibly easy to park. It's as wide as it is long, so you can even leave it parked at right angles to the kerb!
smart fortwo Transmission Shifting Extended Version
Video of a smart fortwo showing acceleration runs, skip gear changes, and a stop and go simulation to demonstrate how the transmission shifts in various situations.
The liquid container on the dash is a quart jar half filled with tap water and green food coloring added for contrast. The "slosh markers" are rubber bands.
Smart BRABUS tailor by WeSC
See more details at: http://www.autoblog.gr/
smart WeSC cooperation
Talk is silver, driving is golden
smart and the street fashion brand WeSC have joined forces in a partnership and will be presenting what are quite literally the golden results of their work from 13 September at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt: the "smart BRABUS tailor made by WeSC" and the "headphones for the smart by WeSC".
WeSC have selected classic elements with elegant colour contrasting from the countless individualisation options in the smart BRABUS tailor-made range: the smart fortwo cabrio is painted in gold shades all over, partly matt, partly high-gloss, and all the colours have been created for the Swedish label by the car tuner BRABUS. The jet black wheels and the leather seats with crossways quilting bear the unmistakeable signature of the streetstyle experts. Meanwhile smart took care of the design of the 32-ohm headphones from WeSC, giving a nod to the car's look, as can be seen in the perforated black ear pads and high-gloss golden highlights.
The headphones will be available from spring 2012 via http://shop.wesc.com/ and in WeSC shops and Concept Stores all over the world. The golden city runabout will also be seen on the streets then, and advance orders can be placed via BRABUS with immediate effect. The equipment of the "smart BRABUS tailor made by WeSC" includes air conditioning, the leather BRABUS sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift, the 75 kW engine with turbocharging and lots of other features. The gold-plated horse-head knob, which adorns the shift lever of the WeSC original, is a one-off and not for order.
Orders to: info@brabus.com, subject: WeSC tailor made.
2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive
Peter Bleakney goes for a drive in the least expensive electric car you can buy in Canada, the 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive.
With expert reviews, road tests, listings, automotive and motorsports news, http://www.wheels.ca/ is the first stop for
Smart Fortwo Tuning & Styling
Smart Fortwo Performance Tuning, Moding and Styling. Giving and Xclusive Street look. www.sw-x.de
World's Most Fuel Efficient All Gas Car - Smart Car Review FAQ
I get a lot of questions about my Smart Car so I decided to make a video answering the most frequently asked questions / FAQ. At the time of purchase this was the most fuel efficient all gas car offered in the USA. Answered here are questions like:
How many miles per pallon / MPG the smart car get?
Can a smart car go on the highway?
How fast can a smart car go? / Top Speed / Terminal Velocity
I also talk about the RPCS often associated with buying a small car small shoes. This part is a funny hilarious comedy. I end the video with the best joke I've heard made about the car and a quick review. I bought the car to save money on gas / gasoline and for financial reasons although it feels good to go green. To take the video out I do a gangster / gansta roll by / drive by in the convertible drop top passion cabriolet.
Smart Car Fortwo Passion Cabrio Overview
George O'Neill provides an overview of his 2008 Smart Car Fortwo Passion Cabriolet. He uses this car daily in his business O'Neill Real Estate, in the Toronto Beach and Toronto downtown areas mostly. He says this is the perfect city car.
