Fortwo

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Having No Back Seats Can Be Smart

While we know firsthand that you can fit more than two people in a Smart ForTwo, there really isn't enough room in the back to sit comfortably... or hide discreetly. Smart acknowledges this, and sees it as a good thing. After absorbing the scare tactics featured in this banned commercial, we sort of agree.
[via LiveLeak] Hat Tip to Dan!

3:30 PM on Thu Jun 26 2008
By Mark Arnold
3,412 views, 40 comments

toyota iq

Toyota iQ Spotted, Gary Sinise Hiding In Back Seat?

With gas prices the way they are, everyone's thinking about getting a car that's smart. But not everyone likes the Smart. So, for those seeking a Japanese alternative to Europe's favorite sub-subcompact, the super number one best awesome automaker from the Land of the Rising Sun has got just the car for you. These latest shots of the upcoming Toyota iQ show several passengers riding in the 3+1 seating configuration, and they actually look fairly comfortable. More »

1:20 PM on Mon Jun 9 2008
By Mark Arnold
3,281 views, 20 comments

question of the day

Is It Smart To Drive A Smart?

Living near the border between predominantly gay and urban-chic neighborhoods we've seen more than our fair share of the 2008 Smart ForTwo. People must have assumed they were safe, and the Smart ForTwo crash test results support these assumptions (as do the unofficial Smart ForTwo crash test results). But just because it's safe doesn't mean we'd want to drive one (well, maybe a Smartuki or an Ultimate 112). Putting aside safety and style, there are a few factors here to give us pause. More »

11:40 AM on Wed May 14 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,695 views, 119 comments

Latest by volksdragon: I'd find an old CRX HF. and strip off the exterior mirrors and stick them inside. rip out everything to make it as light as possible, a little bit of sheet metal on the underside with a little bit of more »

smart fortwo crash test

2008 Smart ForTwo IIHS Crash Test Results In, Little Tyke Did "Good"

Although we've already seen the NHTSA crash tests and the leaked IIHS test video, the official Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results are finally in for the 2008 Smart ForTwo. It turns out the little bugger did pretty well. IIHS awarded the micro-machine its highest rating of "Good" for front and side crash protection, and an "Acceptable" rating for seat and head restraint performance in rear-end crashes. Mounting evidence like yesterday's Smart pinball challenge and this IIHS result is proving that yes, Joe American, the ForTwo is a real car that won't crumple like a tin can in a low-speed or mid-speed crash. Full results and crash images on page two.

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12:01 AM on Wed May 14 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,163 views, 56 comments

Latest by n/a: EPA: Smartfortwo: City - 33mpg Highway - 41mpg Toyota Yaris sedan: City- 34mpg Highway - 39mpg more »

accidents

Smart ForTwo Punted By Delivery Truck, Returned By Van

Commenter and confusion artist extraordinaire Polar has dropped a set of pictures into our lap of the ultimate expression of Smart ForTwo v. US North American roads. While sitting at an intersection, a colleague of his (he actually has a job !?) got a bit of a surprise in the back end — a very large truck was interested in occupying the same space his Smart ForTwo was in at the time. Well, we'll just let you read sir Polar's take on things:

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11:20 AM on Tue May 13 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
9,220 views, 114 comments

Latest by mzs: If a five ton delivery truck weighs as much as a school bus, then from personal observaion, yes that truck wold launch a Volvo 740 as well. more »

custom cars

Smartuki Is Donut Spinning Super ForTwo

Yes, we've seen the Smart ForTwo with the GSXR1000 motor dubbed the Smartuki before, but this is the first time we've seen it doing its thing in truly heroic style. With the engine mounted where the passenger used to be, the low center of gravity and rear wheel drive combine with the 160 HP Suzuki mill to provide impressive tire melting performance. From the looks of things, this baby is only good for unadulterated hoon pleasure, just like a grown up version of a big wheel. Weeee! [Youtube] (Hat tip to kingroyale)

1:20 PM on Thu May 8 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
5,812 views, 35 comments

Latest by LandofMinos, a p' p' piece from here and a p' p' piece from there: The way it could've been if Smart had been smart about where to source their powerplant. more »

2008 smart fortwo

2008 Smart Fortwo IIHS Crash Film Leaks To Web

Thanks to the NYT, we already knew the folks at NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) noted a "safety concern" after the driver's door on the new US-Spec 2008 Smart Fortwo popped open during a side-impact crash test. Although the little Smart got a five star rating for protecting the head and chest of the dummy we just learned a lot from, the door "issue" could potentially "increase the likelihood of occupant ejection." Ouch. Well, now IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has taken a 40 MPH run at an offset barrier in the small-yet-feels-somehow-smaller Smart for the US market. Although the video and ratings haven't yet been made public, somehow the video of the crash has made it out in to the wilds of the web. More »

9:40 AM on Thu May 1 2008
By Ray Wert
5,987 views, 66 comments

Latest by n/a: The last time I saw an SUV that had been involved in an accident it had understeered across a bend on Sepulveda in Los ANgeles, hit an oncoming car, rolled over and was on fire. That's all you need top more »

novelties

Smaaart ForTwo Stretched Into Moving Billboard

The impossible ridiculousness of this car is only matched by its utter brilliance. The nutjobs who brought us the stretched Ferrari limo have plied their craft on a decidedly less high performance automobile. They've dubbed their creation the Smaaart ForTwo (see what they did there?) and are pitching it towards soft drink makers as a moving billboard. Gee, wonder which soft drink they're aiming for. Why did they choose a Smart? Why not? [WorldCarFans]

3:00 PM on Fri Apr 11 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,042 views, 30 comments

news

Smart ForTwo Passes Crash Despite Drivers Door Opening

Reuters is reporting the Smart ForTwo has passed the US Government crash tests with flying colors — despite the drivers side door unlatching in a side impact crash. We're not sure if this means policymakers have determined an increased probability of passenger ejection is a positive performance attribute, or if the ForTwo performed so well in other areas as to make up for the shortcoming. We can't see any door opening action in the above video from the NHTSA crash, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. [Reuters] video from Streetfire

2:40 PM on Fri Apr 4 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,901 views, 39 comments

Latest by n/a: @darex: I've just got to ask...how would driving that thing be fun? Convenient? Yes. Fun? No. Lotus Elise? Fun. Smart car? convenient. more »

geneva motor show

BRABUS SLR McLaren Roadster, Matching Smart ULTIMATE 112: Because Rich People Love Accessories

Like Turner and Hootch, Tango and Cash, Gary Busey and a bottle of scotch, Mercedes-tuner BRABUS has put together a winning pair for the Geneva Motor Show. This time it's a Mercedes SLR McLaren and a Smart Fortwo. The SLR McLaren gets a new white carbon fiber bodykit, 20-inch alloy wheels, special interior and an upgrade to the 5.5 Liter supercharged V8 that boots power to 650 hp and helps propel the roadster to a top speed of 211 mph. The matching Smart becomes the ULTIMATE 112, referring to the increase in power to 112 horsepower at 5,600 rpm. The Smart also gets a matching exterior treatment along with the lipstick-red BRABUS Mastik letaher interior and black Alcantara touches. Though sold separately, we think they're a steal when purchased for the package price of $1,062,000. More pics and press release below.

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10:40 AM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
5,326 views, 23 comments

Latest by n/a: if that is a worldwide price, you save about ten grand by getting it with a smart (i mean you pay 10grand less for the SLR and get a free smart) more »

novelties

Wired's Smart Occupancy Equation

The Smart has been making a considerable splash since its conception way back when. Still, if you hope to travel as anything other than a solitary male or female, the occupancy of this vehicle needs to be taken into consideration before deciding to purchase. Luckily, the folks at Wired put together a nice chart to determine whether or not you're fit for a Smart.

Simply add up the items that apply to you. If your total is less than 15, a Smart car ought to work fine:

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4:45 PM on Fri Feb 29 2008
By Travis Hudson
3,209 views, 46 comments

Latest by nadmonk: My 02 Jetta Wagon can fit adults more comfortably, can hold more stuff in the rear, accelerates faster, handles better, has better ride comfort and noise levels at freeway speeds,and I average 30-35 mpg (depending on how heavy my foot more »

news

Smart Presents New Art Project, American Apparel-esque Marketing Strategy

Because the Smart Fortwo is for the urban buyer, the company has sponsored an art project instead of a NASCAR team. Entitled "sideways. a smart art project," the project will include "work from the fields of photography, illustration, graphic design, painting, sculpture, architecture, styling, hairstyling and make-up... making creative statements about how we can promote greener modes of transportation." The result will be a book that'll debut at the New York International Auto Show next month for around $45.00 a copy. Some of the work we've seen isn't bad, though the above photo of the Japanese school girl birthing a Fortwo next to a phallic hopscotch court just moments before being eaten by a crocodile sort of loses us.

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4:15 PM on Thu Feb 14 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,615 views, 31 comments

Latest by wheels OF satan!: yes but is she WRITING FOR SHAVED ASIANS?? bh bha bh ha more »

feature

The Ten Most Outrageous Car MSRP's

When we asked if you could beat a $38K Accord in terms of ridiculous MSRP's, we didn't think it would be so easy. For one, you actually topped a $37,580 Accord with a $39,122 Accord Coupe. Then you were able to take the base model, entry-level cars and load them up with so many extra options that these once reasonable vehicles skyrocketed into foreign exotic territory. We have to thank our readers for the great ideas, as well as BMW and Porsche in particular for asking outrageous prices for their supposedly "cheap" models. Below are the ten worst domestic offenders. More »

12:30 PM on Mon Feb 11 2008
By Matt Hardigree
73,862 views, 76 comments

Latest by n/a: Pfft.. thats nothing here in canada prices are so high than i went Honda.ca and just for fun optioned out a civic, accord(sedan) and a Pilot. i couldnt belive what i got. the accord was an astonishing $49,000 WTF!!! and more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Smart Fortwo: First U.S. Drive

The 2008 Smart Fortwo is burdened with preconceived notions like no car before it. It's not safe. You can't drive it on the highway. It's too small for super sized Americans. It's Green. It's gay. The car was launched in Europe in 1998, so Americans have had a decade to develop these assumptions. Until now, few have driven it, and never on American soil. Yesterday, we did.

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12:00 PM on Tue Jan 22 2008
By Wes Siler
22,274 views, 150 comments

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Wee Rides that Puff Themselves Up

Small cars—wave of the future or grim throwback to the gaslines of the 1970s, just with cooler exteriors and cupholders? Plenty of lip service was paid to the treehugger obsessions of Generation fortwo at the Detroit Auto Show's Michelin Design Challenge. The brief? Create designs that are rinkydink, don't chug fuel, and won't kill anybody. Legions of dewy young designers (and presumably a few not so dewy ones who have always burned to create a teensy set of wheels) rose to the challenge and submitted to review over two days at Art Center College of Design. A few aspirants were perhaps excessively inspired by Bibendum's spongy girth and—focusing on the always tricky prospect of preventing people from being mangled in small-vehicle collisions with much larger vehicles—added airbags to the outside of their concepts. Heck, if it worked for Russian space capsules hurtling to hard landings, why not micromobiles? Everything returns to normal in 2009, when the shrunk stuff goes away, the airbags go back inside, and patriotism is restored by the theme "Brave and Bold: America's Next Iconic Vehicle." Eff-yeah!!!

12:15 PM on Tue Jan 15 2008
By Matthew DeBord
335 views, 15 comments

Latest by Rust-MyEnemy is stll out there!: @Mike the Dog: Oh, right. Thanks. more »

detroit auto show

Detroit Auto Show: Smart Unveils 58 MPG Stop-Start Hybrid

We don't have many details as Wes, our intrepid road trip warrior, doesn't have internet access on the floor at the moment, but we've just been told Smart has unveiled a micro-hybrid drive with stop-start technology. It cuts the engine below 5mph when braking and it gets 58 MPG. We'll have more from the Detroit Auto Show on this new but not at all startling development when we get more.
Update: Well that's about all there is to report. Smart are calling the system Micro Hybrid Drive, but it's basically just a system that cuts the engine while the vehicle is at a standstill or when it's below 5mph while braking. Smart claim this improves urban fuel economy by 30%. No definitive commitment to selling Smart ForTwo's equipped with Micro Hybrid Drive in the US was made, but was heavily hinted at it.

12:13 PM on Sun Jan 13 2008
By Ray Wert
2,117 views, 18 comments

Latest by SeanKHotay: @Hyman Decent: Careful now....Can you imagine the drive-by shootings Dieter would commit if you scrubbed out his graphics?! more »

car of the year

Playboy Names R8 Car of The Year. Plus: What's The Sexiest Volvo?

What does it really matter what Japanese automotive journalists think is the Japanese Car of the Year, or what the European journalists think is the European Car of the Year? Who even cars what Motor Trend says is their Car of the Year? We want to know what Playboy thinks. LBJ said it best, "So goes Playboy, so goes the nation." The venerable Audi R8 is the lad's mag's pick for this year's top ride, along with some selections in a few other random categories. The full list below the jump:

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9:30 AM on Mon Dec 10 2007
By Matt Hardigree
1,182 views, 22 comments

Latest by clevershark: Nah, the sexiest Volvo is definitely the current C70. more »

industry news

The Germans Won't Out-Smart Us, Demand Too High

Dr. Tobias Zetsche, you blowhard! First you tell us to put down $99 deposits on your little Smart Fortwo. Then you tell us that the 30,000 deposits exceed production capacity. "Down payments are going far beyond the production capacity we have," said Zetsche, who refused to elaborate on what that actually meant. The bargain basement model will come in at $11,590 with the fully loaded versions coming in closer to $20,000. More »

4:15 PM on Tue Dec 4 2007
By Matt Hardigree
1,895 views, 36 comments

Jalopnik

Production 2010 Chevy Camaro Revealed!

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