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Posts Tagged “

Fourtwo

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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 »

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 »

offbeat news

Take A Look Inside A Chinese Smart FourTwo Cloning Factory

We make jokes all the time about the Chinese propensity to clone all manner of automobile, but actually seeing the process makes things a bit more real. You forget there are people behind those cars, working in god-knows-what condition, and exposed to whatever chemicals seem necessary for the job. This is a set of photos published on the Italian site Repubblica chronicling the process of building a Smart FourTwo ripoff. Normally this is where we'd point to the final product and make an amused joke about the new badge engineered Pontiac, but this just seems, kind of sad.

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5:05 PM on Mon Mar 24 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
7,577 views, 78 comments

Latest by MarkB: Actually I commented on that way up top. NOT surprised people don't read comments before they post. more »

smart car

Smart To America: Why Not Drive 18-Wheelers?

OK, not really. But in this Newsweek interview with Smart USA President David C. Schembri, he smartly responds to the timeworn, "isn't bigger safer?" with, "The logical conclusion to that question is that we should all be driving locomotives or 18-wheelers." And good for him. Anyhow, it's a playful interview considering the source and Mr. Schembri even claims the backseatless Smart is perfect for teenagers. Click on over to find out why. [Smart Car: Dumb Idea?]

10:30 AM on Wed Sep 19 2007
By Jonny Lieberman
1,655 views, 57 comments

Latest by stopcrazypp: I think milo makes a valid point. If we all feel we should get larger cars to be safer, then the general trend would migrate to bigger and bigger cars. If we buy smaller cars then not only do we more »

detroit auto show

Iron Chef, Detroit Auto Show Edition: Battle of the Cutaway Displays

Use to be, carmakers would run an early prototype through the largest bandsaw they could find, file down the sharp edges and call it a cutaway. But like anything else, competition for consumers' eyes has forced display creators to be ever more clever, escalating the state of the art. I'm not afraid to say the trend accelerated significantly a couple of years ago, when Ford trotted out a bisected GT for all to walk through. It was quite a crowd-pleaser. Fast forward to now, and you'll see this trend on display at this years Detroit show. My favorites (for different reasons) were the Smart Fourtwo, Buick Enclave and Chevy Volt. The Smart display was really kind of quaint; they just brought in a frame and highlighted the important parts with paint (and apparently ran out of time before they had to hand it in). Also, look how tiny it is! Mid-range scores across the board: it uses the ingredients in traditional ways, is presented cleanly, but offers nothing groundbreaking. More »

10:30 AM on Mon Jan 15 2007
By bwojdyla
434 views, 1 comment

Latest by crashmtb: Did Porsche have any of their cutaways there this year? they are always pretty good.. more »

concept cars

Frankfurt Premiere: Smart Crosstown Concept

DaimlerChrysler's ailing Smart (sorry, oh most clever of marketing flacks, I mean smart) introduced a novel concept in Frankfurt today — the Crosstown, which appears to be a rugged version of the company's Fortwo coupe. As a design study, it aims to build on the Humpty-Dumpty-modern shapes and forms for which the production car is known, while conceptually expanding what we think the tiny car's platform is capable of. The company wants us to know the Smart can hold its own on the mean streets, or at least die trying to look like it can. More »

1:39 PM on Mon Sep 12 2005
By Mike Spinelli
1,089 views