Smart cars

Brabus Ultimate R

The german tuning firm Brabus unveiled the Ultimate R, a tuning package based on the Smart Fortwo at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week. With the help of a few Brabus modifications, the engine now delivers 112 HP and 111 lb-ft of torque and can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 9.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 106 MPH. The Ultimate R sets itself apart from lesser Smart cars with a set of bold fender flares, unique rims as well as some additional exterior accessories.

Press release after the jump.

Smart Brabus tailor made

The smallest of Mercedes Benz’s offerings has stepped up its game at the Frankfurt Motor Show when the high end tuning house Brabus unveiled their tailor made special edition Smart car. The package offers new car shoppers the choice of over thousands of exterior color choices as well as taillor made leather interiors and convertible soft top. The Smart Brabus tailor mades are made to measure in the truest sense of the word.

Press release aftr the jump.

If Mika Hakkinen drove a Smart car

It is amazing what you will find on the Internet. Just the other day we came across this outlandish city car dressed up to look like a McLaren Formula 1 car on the online media sharing site, Flickr. There are times when tuners go a bit too far; this particular Smart car is one such example. Obviously this Smart owner is a fan of McLaren’s F1 efforts from the turn of the century painting his compact city car in the traditional silver and black livery of the car that took Finish Formula One racing legend to back to back world championships, noted by the very exceptional number 1 on the bonnet. Aside from the paintwork, the Smart car is mostly stock, except for the massive aerofoil found at the nose of the car and the blistered fenders in the back.

However, there are a few similarities between the Smart and the McLaren Formula 1 car. They are both powered by an engine that came from Mercedes Benz that is mounted in the mid ship position somewhere in between the front and rear wheels and it is rear wheel drive, albeit a lot less powerful. Come to think of it, the F1 car didn’t have that nice of an interior.

Smart will bring three-seated model

Mercedes and Renault will unveil plans for a future collaboration at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. This plans include to expand the Smart line-up by middle of the next decade, including a radical three-seater sports car, but also the revival of the four-seat Smart ForFour.

The last generation Smart ForFour was based on the Mitsubishi Colt and produced at Mitsubishi’s NedCar plant in Born, Netherlands. But the next one will be a premium subcompact "different than others" and most probably offered as a plug-in electric version.

The Mercedes-Renault collaboration includes plans to build small-capacity gasoline and diesel units, including possibly a new generation of highly efficient three-cylinder engines already under development at Mercedes-Benz.

All new more powerful Smart Fortwo cdi

The less polluting Mercedes Benz offering, Smart has just unveiled a special edition of their popular Smart ForTwo. The new Cdi version gives the car a much needed increase in power, but at the same time keeps the lightweight vehicle just as efficient and environmentally friendly as before.

The new Smart ForTwo cdi is powered by a three cylinder diesel burning engine that delivers makes an impressive 54 HP for that added top end and peak potential of 95 lb-ft of torque to launch the two passenger low emissions vehicle off the line. The increase in output is good for a 0 to 50 MPH time of 16.8 seconds, despite the double digit numbers, that is good for a Smart car especialy when you remember that it is getting almost 70 MPG.

Press release after the jump.

Brabus goes electric with a "green" Smart ForTwo

Mercedes Benz tuners Brabus are out to prove that just because someone is looking for a fun driving experience does not mean that they cannot be environmentally friendly. This green Electric Drive Smart ForTwo boasts a white soft top that when lowered creates a pleasant open air motoring experience, while the interior has been upholstered with an attractive two tone green and white combination. The vehicle sits on a set of the company’s signature Monoblock VII double five spoke wheels.

Smart Fortwo Edition Limited Three

Spring is coming (at least for some of us!), so what can be better than driving in the warm breeze with hair in the wind? And how there’s a crisis in the world, fuel economy is one big problem. Smart has the solution for us: the limited edition Fortwo Edition Limited Three. It will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show and will go on sale in Europe at a price of €15,470 as a coupe and €18,510 as a cabrio.

The Fortwo Edition Limited Three comes with melon green metallic paintwork and extensive equipment: 15 inch alloy wheels in a sporty six-spoke design fitted with tyres measuring 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear are a further eye-catching feature. The exterior look is rounded off by aluminium-effect "limited three" logos in the mirror triangle.

The special series of the new smart fortwo also places a focus on "green" when it comes to the environment thanks to micro hybrid drive (mhd) technology as standard with an intelligent and user-friendly automatic start/stop system. The control electronics shut down the 71 hp engine as soon as the driver brakes and the vehicle’s speed falls below 8 km/h - for example when approaching traffic lights. The engine starts again in the fraction of a second when the driver releases the brake pedal.

Press release after the jump.

Smart ForTwo by Hermes

French designer Hermes must have exhausted itself working on the Bugatti Veyron, because it seem like the company wanted to tackle something small for its next project. What better place to go than the smallest car on the market, the Smart ForTwo.

The Hermes Smart ForTwo was created to celebrate the decade anniversary of the micro car. It comes with new interior, entirely covered in leather and canvas, while several pockets are made in Hermès’ style as well as umbrella which clips to the back of the seats. The special edition Hermès Smart ForTwo is available in a number of exterior colors, ten interior leather colors and in both hard top and convertible variants.

So the car may not be faster, but a least you look cooler as you back up traffic.

Green Car Journal’s top 5 for 2009

Green Car Journal editors have chosen 5 cars from the 2009 new car line-up. The rules for eligibility are simple. "Vehicles using all types of technologies, fuels, and powerplants are eligible for the Green Car of the Year program. To qualify for consideration as a nominee, a vehicle must exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year."

The cars chosen where the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, Smart ForTwo, and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. One of these models will be named the 2009 green car of the year at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20th.

Tesla working on electric Smart?

One way for Tesla to rebound from tough economic times is to sell its services on the street. While hookers may charge for a service, it seems Tesla’s service is a charge. Spy photographers have caught electric Smart prototypes recharging at the Tesla’s San Carlos facility.

Has Tesla entered an agreement with Daimler to work on the Smart EV? We do know that there are electric Smart cars currently being tested in London, and Tesla is gaining a reputation for being a pioneer in electric vehicles. So if the partnership is true, let’s all hope Tesla can add some speed to the Smart’s ride.