http://www.wsj.com/articles/daimler-to-reboot-its-smart-car-1441302587 Daimler to Reboot Its Smart Car By John D. Stoll Sept. 3, 2015
[image / Michael Nagle/Bloomberg News http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-KD106_SMARTj_P_20150902152517.jpg Daimler’s new ultracompact emerged from an alliance with Renault ] Coming ultra-compact shows off collaboration with Renault-Nissan Alliance PORTLAND— Daimler AG is taking another crack at the market for ultra compacts with a retooled ForTwo Smart car built under a collaboration that could become a benchmark for other auto makers ... Mr. Zetsche, whose company derives much of its profit from its Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, recently said Daimler “couldn’t have done this on our own.” About 70% of the vehicle is identical to Renault’s Twingo, a small car not sold in the U.S. Renault engineers, more experienced at the low-cost vehicles, led the bulk of the new Smart car’s development. A four-seat version of Renault’s Twingo and Smart will be sold in China and Europe; an electric version, with a Daimler-sourced battery and Renault-built electric drivetrain, will hit the U.S. next year ... [© 2015 Dow Jones] http://www.auto123.com/en/car-reviews/2016-smart-fortwo-review/61161/ It’s all grown up 2016 smart fortwo coupe First Impression By Mathieu St-Pierre 04 September 2015 [image / Mathieu St-Pierre http://picolio.auto123.com/auto123-media/articles/2015/9/61161/2016-smart-fortwoen.jpg 2016 smart fortwo ] ... The 2016 looks like Insectosaurus (fun movie btw) thanks to its new larger headlights (and taillights) and newfound outer dimensions. I’m possibly exaggerating ever so slightly as the smart car remains at 2.69 metres long however, and most importantly, its width and track have gained 10 cm ... The fortwo’s redesign, now based on a Renault/smart platform includes more than just aesthetics such as a black front lower grille, body color bumpers, a new honeycomb rad grille, 15" and 16" wheels, 30 different color combos, roof spoiler integrated with rear stop light and more. No, I’m saying that what you see in the gallery is a new smart that’s built with materials that are conceived for safety, stiffness and refinement. The famous Tridion safety cell is the main element in the fortwo’s safety plan but it’s not alone. Much of the car is now composed of ultra-high strength hot-formed steels and maximum-strength multiphase steel. In fact, 72% of the steel on the car is of the high strength kind, far more than the previous car. Here’s a nice nugget of knowledge: the cell is made by Magna, near the Hambach, France plant where the fortwo is built. Interior for adults The outer shell is an evolution however the cabin is a revolution over the old smart. The dashboard’s layout is a departure in the right direction; think flying to Hawaii vs. Siberia. smart’s unique flavour still flows but it’s far more sophisticated. The gauge cluster now holds a 3.5” screen and the tachometer is off to the left-hand of the cluster. The HVAC vents protrude out the top of the dash and material covers most of what should be plastic. The climate controls include a cool magnified slider that looks as though it should be in a late ’50s Edsel and not a 2016 smart fortwo. Getting aboard the smart car is very easy thanks to the large doors and the seats are welcoming and comfortable. Elbowroom is improved, a direct result from the wider track. The steering wheel is not height adjustable or telescoping but I managed a good driving position nevertheless. The trunk is still snug but with the front passenger seat down, will accommodate up to 350 liters of stuff, 10 more than the old car. The smart audio system has smartphone integration capability. Optionally, you can get a 7” touchscreen package that will satisfy all tablet users ... Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ The combination of the new chassis, revised suspension and wider track are immediately evident in the drive. The new smart car is quieter, sure, but feels far more stable and planted. The suspension’s tuning is a wise mix between comfort and handling. Of the many standard safety features, crosswind assist is a nice touch however I can’t tell if I experienced it or not. I passed a number of semis on the road, crossed a bunch of bridges and on day two, we got lots of rain and some wind. Perhaps it’s that good… Of the many fun driving aspects of the car, we have the responsive variable ratio power steering that allows for a very short 6.95 meter turning radius. On the topic of turning, the fortwo tends to understeer a fair amount especially if you accelerate when the wheels are not straight. The weight transfer to the rear is noticeable, thus unloading the front wheels, hampering steering. The smart’s smart yet non-deactivatable ESP system keeps everyone in check though. And lastly, the brakes are quite nice; pedal feel is good, a leap from the smart cars of yore. Big fan here! I truly enjoyed the new 2016 smart fortwo. Many efforts were made towards design, both inside and outside and to make it more appealing as a product and not a lesser (cheaper) car. Mercedes have done a great job but there is a cost. Base pricing has climbed to $17,300 (about $2,500 more expensive than the W451). The new smart car is loaded with new technology, amenities (cruise control, for example) and a more powerful engine. The true comparison would be with the $1,400 twinamic thrown in for a total of $18,700. The price jump may scare off some buyers but most fortwos sold were mid-range versions so it shouldn’t be much of an issue. One thing is certain and that this is a better car than the outgoing one ... A few final points: there are three trims: Pure/Passion/Prime trims. Passion will account for 50-75% of all sales. The gender split is 50/50. We know a convertible is coming and Mercedes people have confirmed that an EV is also on the way. The new smart car will be on sale as of September 18th in Canada. [© auto123.com] http://www.gazettedubai.com/smart-for-two-ed-electric-vehicle-banned-from-us-shores/10081/ Smart For Two ED: Electric Vehicle Banned From US Shores Aug 28, 2015 Smart is said to be broadening their line-up globally and they recently showed off two new styles of body, along with two new transmissions and two new engines, plus a multitude of colours. This is all well and good unless you happen to reside in the USA. That’s due to the fact that for the time being there isn’t going to be a new electric version on the US shores. Smart recently announced that they would not be launching the electric drive version of the Smart ForTwo until 2017. Of course there is the ForTwo heading to the US in November but this is the standard [ice] version ... The electric version of the Smart ForTwo was offered by way of three iterations and it began with a pilot lease of 100 vehicles in London. These have a 41 horsepower electric motor along with 13.2kWh battery and this should be able to take you 68 miles before you have to plug it in. The second iteration arrived by way of 2,000 units in 2009 over 18 different markets and the third lot was revealed in 2011. The Smart ForTwo electric is going to bring with it lots of improvements but until it arrives in the US the model currently out there is going to be offered. [© gazettedubai.com] ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Daimler-stopped-production-of-Smart-Fortwo-ED-EV-tp4677285.html EVLN: Daimler stopped production of Smart Fortwo-ED EV Aug 24 2015 For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/29/baby-we-wont-drive-our-cars-the-future-of-automotive-transportation/ Uber will eventually build a centrally-controlled, autonomous EV fleet http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/business/on-topic-no-really-you-can-trust-me-20150829 Like a Big Foot sighting> an auton-nEV @Buenos-Aires.ar presentation http://www.thegazette.com/storyimage/GA/20150829/ARTICLE/150829623/AR/0/AR-150829623.jpg http://www.thepostathens.com/news/electric-vehicle-charging-stations-now-available-on-ohio-university-s/article_7074e4fc-4cf1-11e5-9d6f-8fd1c1fe9de1.html Ten $0.75/hr ClipperCreek C40 L2 EVSE @ohio.edu Morton Hall Athens-OH + EVLN: Evans' Smart-EV provides low-power during blackout.ca {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-No-Smart-ForTwo-ED-EV-until-2017-current-production-stopped-tp4677521.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
