One of the biggest questions to consider with tiny cars like the Smart ForTwo is what happens in a crash? The Smart is only eight and a half feet long. The first generation Smart has been tested numerous times over the years and always done reasonably well especially in comparison to other really small and even some considerably larger cars. When the feds tested it recently for the official test it did fairly well with scores of 4 and 3 stars for driver and passenger frontal protection. There was concern about the driver door opening during the test.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does its own testing on cars and trucks with different tests from the government standard. IIHS does a 40mph offset frontal test as well as a 31mph side impact test and a 20 mph rear impact test. The Smart scored the maximum good rating on both the front and side tests and an acceptable on the rear impact test. Considering the almost complete absence of crush zones on the Smart, it's always amazing to see how well the structure along with the belts and air bags protect the occupants. The full report is available here. The Video is after the jump.

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

click above image for more pics of the smart fortwo

cute [kyoot] (adjective)

1. attractive, especially in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty by means of smallness, prettiness or quaintness
2. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious

Guys: want to drive around in a smart fourtwo, a car which has been called "cute" more times than Katie Couric? That's the question that Mens Vogue set out to answer, and their findings might surprise the overtly-masculine among us. As might be expected, driving a smart in an urban setting, such as in New York, proved to be fun and relaxing, despite the smart's cute and perky demeanor. Perhaps driving a smart in a more rural setting would prove less appropriate, but, that's not what it was designed for.

Still not convinced? The car proved useful for picking up girls ... and nothing's more manly than that.

[Source: Mens Vogue]

Everywhere you go, you are bombarded by advertisements. It's true when you're watching TV, surfing the internet and even while you're driving. We've all gotten used to seeing billboards on the side of the road, and nobody thinks twice about hearing commercials on the radio - some even pay extra to avoid them. So, how would you feel about being behind the wheel of a rolling advertisement? O2 Media is betting that you'll go for the deal since it would end up costing you less than $8 per day, not including gas, to drive a smart fourtwo all around Helsinki, Finland. There are a few conditions, though. You need to drive at least 18 miles in a 24 hour period and you can't pick what you're advertising. The car could be festooned with advertisements for something you don't care for, but the company is currently not accepting political ads. If you're interested, you get up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) per day, so get out and enjoy the scenery.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click for more pictures of the Brabus SLR and Smart 112

Smart has already gotten a little flack considering that their microcar, the ForTwo, doesn't exactly set any records when it comes to fuel mileage. Thus far, the only version in the U.S. is powered by gasoline, not diesel, and doesn't even include any of the "microhybrid" features. Still, it is one of the more eco-friendly cars sold here, so we'll take what we can get. Brabus, though, thinks that they can add some "red" to the "green" image of the ForTwo by upping the power ante and selling it alongside their latest Brabus SLR. The SLR, of course, is not in the least bit green, and adding a "tender" to the supercar for shorter trips doesn't really help. Whatever the case, Brabus does manage to squeeze 112 horsepower from the Smart's 3 cylinder turbocharged engine, enough to accelerate from 0-60 in about 9.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 106 miles per hour. The claim that their new creation is "the ultimate city sports car and thus the ultimate tender to the SLR." For the man in your life who truly has everything... except this, of course.

[Source: Brabus via Autoblog]

David Becker over at Wired's Autopia blog must be very excited about the recent purchase and pick-up of his Smart. His enthusiasm is palpable through the number of posts that the subject has garnered on Autopia, at last count it was six in the last two days. So far, he seems to really like the hill-assist, which keeps the car from rolling backwards when situated on an incline. He notes that there is plenty of room for the driver and passenger, but much less for stowage, so he made up a little formula to help people decide if the Smart will work for them. Lastly, he feels that his Smart "is the opposite of a penis extension/envy sports car." His words, not ours.

[Source: Wired's Autopia]

As a step-up from scooters and motorcycles, microcars were a common sight in Europe shortly after World War II because many inhabitants were not able to afford larger cars and many manufacturers could not afford the research and development costs of large passenger cars. The Iso Isetta is one such microcar, originally coming from Italy. The car was also picked up by BMW and was one reason the struggling German carmaker was able to maintain a little bit of profitability. The Detroit News thinks that the Smart is a bit like those old "bubble cars", as they were known way back when. Similarities include the distinct styling, small size, small engine, two passenger arrangement and even the sliding canvas roof option. What may be more important, though, are the differences. While the old Isetta was known in Germany as a "coffin on wheels", the Smart was designed with safety in mind. Also, although a small engine is used, highway speeds are attainable in the modern microcar. Like the Isetta, the Smart gets pretty good gas mileage.

Like the old Isetta, the Smart has a "buzz" surrounding it, as mentioned in our source article. I imagine that the world will look back on the Smart in a similar way as they do now with the Isetta. The question now is whether or not the small "microcar" idea will stick here in America. The success, or lack of it, of the Smart will go a long way towards answering that question.

[Source: Detroit News]

Don't get us wrong, we like the Smart Fourtwo just as much as anybody, but when considering what car deserves the title "Car of the Year" the little two-seater isn't the first vehicle that comes to mind. Not that the car is undeserving of some honor: the fuel mileage is laudable, the safety features are all present and accounted for and the emissions are suitably low. The problem is that there are other vehicles which perform equally as well in most of the categories mentioned for a similar price point. What would really merit an award such as "Car of the Year" would be an electric version of the Smart for the same price as the gas powered model. Now we're taking!

So, now that the pros and cons of the Fourtwo have been discussed, what do you readers think? Is the Smart an award-winning vehicle?

[Source: Detroit News]

By now, you are aware that for the first time since it was introduced, smart will be bringing their diminutive ForTwo to U.S. shores in nearly no time at all. In fact, sales so far have been rather brisk. One might wonder, though, if buyers had the choice for a bit more power and finesse if they might take it. While nobody is likely to confuse it for a sportscar, BRABUS has taken the new ForTwo model and massaged it as they did with the last. This time, the 1.0 liter three-cylinder engine is up to 98 horsepower, the vehicle has been lowered a smidge and the steering wheel and shifters have been swathed in leather. Most importantly, the pedals are changed to metal... we are sure your shoes will thank you.

All joking aside, the BRABUS Xclusive smart is likely to be far more entertaining to drive, if that is of interest to you. Sure, fuel mileage is likely to suffer, but your green credentials may still remain in tact thanks to the standard-version-matching 124 grams per kilometer of CO2 emission. Good riddance emit-ants!

[Source: Automotoportal]

Alright, enough debating over whether or not the Smart "Micro Hybrid" system qualifies as a real hybrid drivetrain or not; here are some pictures of the vehicle and a report that we will likely see it in the United States. Finally, a cool European vehicle that we can honestly expect to see here in the U.S. This is good news, and it will be made even better if the rumored diesel or diesel hybrid show up here as well. What would be even better, you ask? How about if a version of the all electric Smart with the Zebra batteries comes here also? Then, consumers would have the choice of the standard gasoline powered Smart, "Micro Hybrid" Smart, the three-cylinder direct injected diesel Smart, the hybrid diesel with the same engine and, finally, the electric Smart.

To refresh your memory, the so-called "Micro Hybrid" system is capable of stopping the engine instead of letting it idle. The pictures show a button which could turn the "ECO" mode off. If you look closely at the top picture, you will see the small "ECO" light at the top right of the dashboard. It appears that the transmission is the same sequential chutchless manual as used in the standard model. The pictures are apparently of a diesel hybrid, but the hybrid bits are reportedly the same between the diesel and the gasoline model.

[Source: Fourtwo Chat and the Smart Fourtwo Blog]

Parallel hybrid; serial hybrid; full hybrid; two mode hybrid; mild hybrid and now... micro hybrid. Yes, one more competing technology has entered the fray, with its very own nomenclature. The technology behind the stop/start system that is apparently being readied for the Smart FourTwo is nothing new to our readers. The start/stop Smart will have a 1.0-liter engine with 71 hp and a 5-speed sequential gearbox. Hybrids have the capability of turning off the internal combustion engine when it's not needed, and BMW has implemented a similar scheme for their non-hybrid models.

All of these competing technologies beg the question: what exactly is a hybrid? Perhaps I'm being too picky, but to me, a hybrid is not a hybrid unless it is capable of moving itself using either power source, be it electric, gasoline ICE, diesel ICE or hydraulic. But, anything that helps raise the fuel economy of any given vehicle is a good thing, even if they do call it a "micro hybrid". I wish we could get a diesel Smart over here, though.

[Source: Motor Authority via Autoblog]

Have you been wondering what all has been changed on the Smart Fourtwo from the first generation to the second? Have you wanted to see the two vehicles side-by-side to judge those changes yourself? Well then, good news! Here are some photos that I found at The Scooter Scoop which show the car in various angles, interior and exterior. Steve from The Scooter Scoop seems to like the older one a bit better, but I would have to disagree myself. I think that the changes to the car are mostly positive, but I would like to see some other engine options. A diesel option would be numero uno on my own list of "wants". Check here for other stories about the brand.

So, what do you think of the changes? Were they moves in the right direction for the brand? Would the car have been more or less successful here in the States without being changed? I know that some of the changes were made to make it easier for the vehicle to comply with U.S. safety standards and consumer requirements. What other changes would you like to see?

[Source: The Scooter Scoop]

We just shared with you earlier today a news item that SmartUSA will be trekking across the United States, coast to coast, to show off their new Smart FourTwo that will be available to U.S. consumers for the first time next year. Now, we get news that 12,600 deposits of $99 have already been placed for the diminutive little machine, and the tour hasn't even started yet! With three-quarters of the expected total allotment for the year already spoken for, if you want one and still have not put any money down to hold your spot in the line, perhaps you should get on that. Or, just wait a year and get your's then.

Anybody care to comment on whether or not this spike in early adopters means that there is more interest in the cars in America than was originally thought? Or, do you think that these 12,600 deposits represent a large portion of the people who are interested at all? My $.02 - I think that they won't have too much trouble selling them in the U.S. for the first few years, but I also wouldn't be too quick to assume that they will sell out like this year after year, especially after new electrics and hybrids hit the market. To read a few more opinions check out the comments on Autoblog.

Related:

• SmartUSA hits the road to preview the ForTwo

[Source: Autoblog]

I'm pretty sure that the majority of us would like to cruise in style. Whether that style gives off the image that we love high-performance, high utility or high economy, whatever we choose to ride or drive says something about us. A Camry tells other people that you value reliability and resale value, while a Corvette tells people that you like to be seen, and be seen going fast. What does a scooter say? That depends on who you ask, as some people, mostly men, wouldn't want to be seen dead on one. Or, others may think of the "Mod" craze from long ago. Whatever others think, you can rest assured that it is costing you less to get where you are going than them!

If you are interested in the history of how scooters and microcars got to where they are now, check out this new book. Did you think that the Smart car was the first of its kind? Not even close! That trail was blazed years ago by BMW, Fiat, Mini, Messerschmitt and many more. I have not yet read it, but I will. Maybe you should too!

[Source: Veloce Publishing]

The merits of a website aptly named "Pickuptruck.com" testing a vehicle such as the Smart Fortwo are, shall we say, debatable. What's not, however, is how cool it is that said website drudged up the good ol' Bambi vs. Godzilla cartoons for their title of the "comparison test". Do you remember going to see a movie in the 80's and watching Bambi get stomped? Good times, good times...

I am not going to write anything bad about the Cummins Diesel engine. I think it is a fine engine, and well worth it for the people who need it's amazing towing and hauling abilities. However, to have that truck as your primary, or worse, only transportation option is probably not a good choice. I thought that some of their math was interesting, including the emissions per pound and mileage per pound, but I'm not sure we have an apples to apples comparison there, either. I would argue that the weight of the safety equipment versus overall vehicle weight would skew the results in the Ram's favor in that type of test. To put that another way, how much mass (steel, aluminum etc) is required to make the Smart safe in an accident versus a vehicle such as the Ram?

Bottom line time: Both vehicles have their purposes, and both are fine choices for their intended roles. Taken for what it is, this comparison is a fun read, if you've got a few minutes to spare.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Santa Rosa, California based Zap! flipped on the switch September 23, 1994. Over the years they have built up their business building and selling battery powered vehicles. Currently they are offering a range of electrically powered ATVs, scooters, dirt-bikes and cars. One of their products is called the E-Pod (how long before Apple serves them with a cease and desist for that name?) that looks like a three wheeled recumbent bike with a full tear drop shaped body which runs $9,500. They also have a range of four wheeled vehicles including the Intimidator (although judging from it's size and appearance, I doubt even a squirrel would actually be intimidated) neighborhood electric car and their new three wheeled, four door Xebra. In 2004 they also began importing and distributing the smart fourtwo to the US market. The company went public in 1996 and over the past 12 years has delivered over 90,000 vehicles to customers in 75 different countries. Most of their products are definitely niche vehicles, but if your needs fit the niche, Zap may have the vehicle for you. Congratulations to the crew at Zap! for making it this far in a tough business

[Source: Zap! Cars]