New Smart Fortwo Special Edition - Limited Two

The aptly named Smart Fortwo Special Edition – Limited Two continues in the footsteps of the first generation model offering an array of extras along with a unique blue metallic paint finish, which varies between different shades according to the light. Based on the 71 HP Fortwo passion, the special edition model comes equipped with cognac brown leather heated seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gearshift, leather gear knob and velour floor mats also in leather trim, a rev counter and clock, limited two badging and 15-inch six-spoke alloy wheels. -Continued

But just because Smart calls it a “limited edition version”, don’t think you’re gonna get everything for free as buyers will still have to pay extra for electric power steering, a lockable glove compartment and the audio system. The special edition will be available in coupe and cabrio body styles when it goes on sale on 1st September 2008. Prices in the UK are set at £9,575 for the coupe and £11,525 for the cabrio.

Shaquille O'Neal Gets.. Smart and Buys ForTwo

At seven feet and one inches or 2.16m tall, the last car that you’d think Shaquille O'Neal would consider buying is the miniscule Smart ForTwo. Even though Shaq managed somehow to fit in the miniscule Smart–thanks to the fact that’s it’s the convertible version- we fail to see how he could possibly drive it like a normal human being. But then again, when you have money laying around just about everywhere, logic has no place when it comes to spending…

Via: Autoblog.com , Pic: TheDirty

Smart ForTwo Celebrates 10th Birthday

The miniscule Smart ForTwo is celebrating its 10th birthday this month as the first model rolled off Daimler’s assembly line in Hambach, France on July 2, 1998. The Smart ForTwo began as the brainchild of Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek who joined forces with Mercedes-Benz in 1994 creating the Micro Compact Car AG. However, the joint venture experienced heavy losses and dispute which caused Swatch to pull out.

In 2007, Smart introduced the second generation ForTwo that like its predecessor is offered in Coupe and Cabriolet forms. Since the beginning of 2008, the ForTwo is available for the first time in the U.S. and starting from mid 2009 it will also be sold in China. Over 150,000 customers have purchased a second-generation Fortwo since the model was introduced in March 2007. All in all, more than 900,000 ForTwos have been sold since the two-seater mini car was launched in 1998. Smart’s future plans for the ForTwo include the introduction of an electric drive version equipped with lithium-ion batteries in 2010.

How Many People Can Fit in a Smart ForTwo?

And you thought that the Smart ForTwo was good enough for only two passengers –driver included. Well, if there’s no need to drive, and the way gas prices are raising this may be a reality in a few years, the ForTwo can actually fit 13 people. This was proven during the annual Smart Destination Brooklands event held at Mercedes-Benz World at Weybridge in the UK.

With more than 1,200 Smarts attending the event, there was no shortage of participants but the winning team was the ‘smart car-tortionists’, a group of body-bending specialists chosen for their gymnastic feats. The flexible ‘smart car-tortionists’ managed to squeeze 13 people. Just for the record, there were more women than men in the team. -One more pic after the jump

Smart ForTwo Wide Bodykit from Konigseder

Even though the Smart Fortwo gets all the attention for its miniscule size, a slightly wider body wouldn’t harm anyone. Austrian tuner Konigseder has developed a wide bodykit for the new Smart ForTwo that adds an extra 30mm on each side of the car along with some fancy pancy flower graphics -don't ask why.

This allows the placement of larger 5-spoke 17-inch alloys (7,5 x17 front and 9,5x17 rear). To make the car look more aggressive and to better its road handling credentials, Konigseder also added a set of Eibach sport springs that bring the ForTwo closer to the ground –now you can fit right under your neighbor’s Explorer with the 26’’ rims. -More pics after the jump

Smart Fortwo Gets Hit by Two Trucks, Makes It Out Alive

This previous generation Smart Fortwo (it’s not the one coming to the U.S.) was involved in a “double whammy” accident somewhere in the States when a large delivery truck decided to play a little snooker with the German mini hitting it from behind and serving it onto a bypassing GMC van.

The pictures, courtesy of Jalopnik and their reader “Polar” whose friend was behind the Smart’s wheel, show that the Fortwo received quite a battering. However, the driver managed to walk away from the accident with minor abrasions from the airbags. Having said that, the first-gen Fortwo did its job by protecting its passengers. We’re not aware of the extent of damages, but bear in mind that the Fortwo’s exterior body panels are made from (interchangeable) plastic. -More images after the jump

Via: Jalopnik

Smart Gets Aggressive with Fortwo’s Safety Credentials

Having had enough -or so to say- with people constantly questioning the safety credentials of its Fortwo minicar, Smart is launching a new aggressive television advertising campaign that will be supported by a direct mail campaign and an interactive online advertising.

The "Wrecking Ball" advert, that will air in the UK on Sunday, May 4, challenges people’s preconceptions by showing a one-tonne wrecking ball hitting on the front-end of a Smart Fortwo at 25mph (40 km/h). Smart says that an actual stuntman was sitting in the car and that, after seeing how well the car performed under testing, he declined to wear a safety helmet and harness. After filming he was able to open both doors and the car could be driven away. -Continued

Along with the “Wrecking Ball” ad, Smart will also air two more adverts called “Space” that concentrates the versatility and practicality of the fortwo as a normal sized tumble dryer is loaded into the back of the car and "Fuel Efficiency" which highlights how economical the car is, travelling 433 miles from London to Edinburgh on just one 33 litre tank (8.7 US gallons or 7.3 Imp gallons) of fuel.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “The ads highlight incredible facts about the car in a uniquely smart way. For example, the "Wrecking Ball" ad shows how well the Fortwo stands up to a collision and proves that, in the case of smart, size is no barrier to occupant protection.”

Kelly continued: “The car used in the filming of the safety advert will be on display at Mercedes-Benz World during the television campaign and the smart Festival, taking place on Saturday 21 June.”

Link: truthaboutsmart

Smart Fortwo: Stretched to the Limits, Hearse Version Coming Soon…

To be precise, UK limo specialist Carbonyte took a Smart Fortwo and stretched its chassis by 106.2 inches (2700mm) to create a 17 feet long vehicle (5100 mm) - about the size of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. According to the UK firm, despite growing twice its normal length (2695mm), the Smart’s new lightweight alloy chassis allows the vehicle to be powered by its original 600cc engine and still reach motorway speeds of 80mph. In all, the build process took 300 man hours over four weeks from the initial chassis cut to the final paintwork.

The prototype model you see in the pictures was designed as a promotional vehicle, featuring a 20:1 scale fibre-glass replica soft drinks can, complete with ring-pull, which serves as van-like storage space for promotional items. The stretched Smart Fortwo can be liveried to any client’s design choice and hired on a daily basis or it can be manufactured outright at a projected cost of around £25,000 or approx $49,400.

We know it’s eerie, but Carbonyte is also looking to take the stretched Fortwo into the funeral industry by using the latest electric technology to produce an individual yet environmentally-friendly hearse. Now that’s something we definitely want to see – from the outside that is … -Click through for more pics

Smart Delivers 100,000th Second Generation Fortwo

Since the introduction of the second generation Fortwo at the end of March 2007, Smart has sold 100,000 units of its minicar. On March 31, 2008, Smart Ulrich Kowalewski, director of the Mercedes-Benz Center Munich handed over the 100,000th second-generation Fortwo to a 36-year-old customer in the recently re-opened smart Center Munich. Following its U.S. sales start in January, Smart has made its cars available in 37 countries worldwide.

Video: 5th Gear’s Tipsy Turvy Double-Decker Smart Fortwo

The guys over at the British motoring TV show 5th Gear had the dazzling idea of bolting two Smart Fortwo models together in order to create a four-seater mini car. They then compared their double-decker Fortwo with Mitsubishi’s four-door “I” minicar. Among other things, they 5th Gear performed a maneuverability test. And yes; the double-decker Smart Fortwo failed miserably… -Video after the jump

Geneva Show: Smart Fotwo “Edition Limited Two”

Celebrating its world premier in Geneva, the Smart Fortwo “edition limited two" will be produced in a limited series of just 2,000 vehicles and is characterised by exclusive colouring and a high quality mix of materials. The new edition is available as a coupé and a cabriolet and is based on the "passion" equipment variant. The "edition limited two’s" interior is dressed in cognac brown leather with a two-tone contrasting seam. Additional matt silver highlights on the speedometer, cockpit clock, rev counter and steering wheel round off the changes. –Continued after the jump

As for the exterior, the Fortwo gets a special "light blue metallic" finish that was created especially for the “edition limited two” along with the 6-spoke alloy wheels with wide tires. Among other things it comes with the automatic softouch gear mode, electric windows, A/C with automatic temperature control, a dust and pollen filter and a panoramic roof with sunblind on the coupé. In addition, the standard equipment of the "edition limited two" includes dashboard instruments and Smart's "radio 9" hi-fi system.

The limited edition two-seater is powered by a 71 bhp petrol engine matted to automated 5-speed transmission which also allows manual gear shifting if desired.