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Smart

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cannonball run europe

Brabus Smart ForTwo Defeats 39 Supercars, Wins Cannonball Run Europe

A Smart ForTwo has defeated a field of 39 supercars to win Cannonball Run Europe. The rally, which distinguishes itself from events like the Gumball 3000 with its relatively cheap entry fee of $10,000 and emphasis on a sensible average speed (in this case 61 MPH) offered the perfect opportunity for a small, fuel efficient car to win. Driver David Ward said,
"The downfall of the bigger cars was that they were forced to stop so often, so while they kept overtaking us, we eventually went past them at the next petrol station when they needed to fill up again...we kept at a decent speed and still averaged around 35 miles per gallon."
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12:20 PM on Fri Aug 8 2008
By Wes Siler
3,434 views, 35 comments

Latest by Collins1: @NovaloadMissesPolar: Yes but bear in mind they were driving it flat out. Did you always drive your Renault flat out? more »

celebrities

Who's In That Smart Car?

Though it's famous for being small, the Smart Fortwo can fit more inside than you may expect. So how big of a person can you squeeze behind the wheel? Well, this best friend of the Aston-jumping Kobe Bryant seems to fit. More »

6:00 PM on Tue Aug 5 2008
By Mark Arnold
5,438 views, 32 comments

Latest by Collins1: I've noticed a pattern. American Jalopnik readers tend to assume they'll hate small cars. Baaaa. more »

ad watch

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
3,479 views, 40 comments

Latest by boost_me: I dont wanna get in my car now..... more »

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 »

Spy Photos

1:20 PM on Mon Jun 9 2008
By Mark Arnold
3,371 views, 20 comments

Latest by n/a: Although the spy shot is very strange, I still think this car is pretty damn good looking. Maybe it's just more »

gadgets

Toshiba Smart Side Mirrors Claim To Gauge Distance; Accuracy Unknown

At the 2008 Automotive Engineering Exposition, Toshiba demonstrated a new technology with the potential to change how drivers view the lowly side mirror. By replacing a vehicle's standard side mirrors with cameras that feed live footage to monitors inside the vehicle, the Toshiba Smart Mirrors can display a yellow, green or red line when another vehicle is getting too close. More »

1:40 PM on Thu Jun 5 2008
By Travis Hudson
517 views, 11 comments

Latest by Piloter: @Ash78: @Ash78: "There isn't a system on a car that is triple redundant" This must not be counting the bolts on any more »

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
3,767 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 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
4,552 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
9,708 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 more »

smart

One Lap of America: Four smarts In One Parking Spot

By Jen Dunnaway 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
5,936 views, 35 comments

Latest by LandofMinos and the exploits of Officer Hatstrap: 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
6,152 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 more »

beijing motor show

Chinese Automotive Ingenuity: Two Clones In One

Chinese Smart clones are nothing new. We even know how awful the Smart cloning working conditions are. But we have to tip our hat to the designers at Shanghuan Auto, who have taken their Noble clone and added the image of a Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide motorcycle to the side of it. At first we thought maybe this was yet another Harley tie-in until we realized that they painted their own logo on the motorcycle. Double steal!

[The Tycho]

12:40 PM on Wed Apr 23 2008
By Matt Hardigree
841 views, 22 comments

Latest by Smells_Homeless: @harumph: Oh baby! My VTX really needs a scorpion tail. Make it about 10ft tall so it snaps 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
2,079 views, 30 comments

Latest by LandofMinos and the exploits of Officer Hatstrap: I bet The Stig could make that drift. more »

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
2,955 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 more »

gadgets

Motorola Brings Back The Car Phone!

It's not often that I get this excited over a new cell phone release, but Motorola has done. it Motorola is bringing back the car phone with the Smart Rider Car Phone. The difference is that this isn't that big bulky briefcase-style phone of the 1990s, but rather a new, small, slim phone that can do a million times more than the car phones of yesteryear. It has a 2.8-inch color display and includes GPS navigation. More »

5:00 PM on Thu Apr 3 2008
By Travis Hudson
2,389 views, 11 comments

Latest by fresnel: seems that i can do all that already.... with a samsung blackjack2... so, trying to figure out why this is so 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
7,697 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 »

geneva motor show

Toyota IQ Is The Smartest Production Car At Geneva

We're not making a statement on the overall intelligence of the latest Toyota microcar, the Toyota IQ, but rather a statement on its similarity to a certain other car. In addition to Toyota design and, hopefully, Toyota value, this smallest of cars has a serious advantage over that other intelligent ride: seating capacity. The IQ has a unique 3+1 seating arrangement which makes it suitable for three adults and one child (or two comfortable adults, one contortionist and a magical elf). Price and power are still a mystery, but they're planing production for late 2008 with 100,000 units sold globally. Press release and more pictures below the jump.

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10:00 AM on Wed Mar 5 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,429 views, 34 comments

Latest by n/a: @BLS: If I had children, which I don't but we will continue with the hypothetical, than I would be very more »

question of the day

What Is Your Ideal Pair Of Vehicles?

BRABUS got us thinking about pairs with their SLR McLaren and Smart package deal. How great would it be to get vehicles custom matched to fill various needs in your life? Even better, what about cars matched to fulfill your various automotive desires? One of our favorite actual pairings has to be the Bluebird RV with matching Mercedes SLK (now that's a bail out vehicle). It's not something automakers or tuners do very often, given the implicit cost. I think our ideal combination would be the Unimog-based Unicat paired with a roof-mounted Rinspeed Bedouin. But that's us. More »

11:40 AM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,320 views, 97 comments

Latest by deus ex wagon: Unicat + sQuba, modified to accept this attachment [jalopnik.com] more »

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