2019 Smart Eq Fortwo Pure Coupe on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Smart ForTwo Iceshine won't make your hair look any better

This must be a first: Smart has named its latest special edition ForTwo after a shampoo. Not really, but clearly someone at Daimler did not do due diligence (or use Google) before dreaming up the Iceshine moniker.
The Smart ForTwo Iceshine is a special edition based on the model's Passion trim level, while Ice Shine is a variety of Pantene. Coming in white and a special azure blue, the vehicular Iceshine matches those exterior colors with white alloys and white mirrors to give the Smartfortwo a positively twenty-five year-old feel. Other equipment includes LED daytime running lamps, "leather effect" seats, and a three-spoke leather steering wheel. Interior trim is done up in - you guessed it - white, including the rings around the Fortwo's instrumentation. Frankly, we're finding all of this about as exciting as washing your hair.
Smart will be looking to push only 1,800 of these onto the German market, starting at just over $18,000 for the coupe and roughly $22,000 for the convertible.

Recharge Wrap-up: Car2go launches in Brooklyn, Green Fleet Car of the Year Award announced

The Car2go carsharing service is starting operations in Brooklyn next month. Beginning October 25, the service will offer 400 Car2go edition Smart Fortwo vehicles for point-to-point travel. Members pay a one-time sign-up fee, and are charged by the amount of time the use the vehicle (fuel and insurance is free). Drivers can find a car using the Car2go app or website, and can return the car to any non-metered parking spot within the 36-square-mile Brooklyn Home Area. Car2go is offering free membership and 30 minutes of credit for those who sign up early with a special promotional code. Learn more in the press release below. Renault and the Eco2charge consortium are working to bring better EV charging to France. They are providing research and development aimed at turning simple charging stations into "fully fledged energy ecosystems" through a smart grid. This grid would coordinate charging, consumption and energy storage in a way that increases efficiency and decreases cost. Read more in the press release below. The Renault-Nissan Alliance could source EV batteries from suppliers other than Nissan, according to CEO Carlos Ghosn. This news comes after recent questions of whether or not Nissan would scale back battery production in the US and UK. Ghosn says, "At the moment, we continue to produce our own batteries and we are open to outside sourcing, period." He also denies any plans to shutter Nissan's battery production facility in Tennessee. One source of batteries the alliance will look to is Korea's LG Chem. Read more at Automotive News Europe. The first-ever Green Fleet Car and Truck of the Year Awards will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The presentation on November 20 will be part of the LA show's Connected Car Expo. Nominees are selected by Bobit Business Media, with finalists picked by readers of Green Fleet, Automotive Fleet, Work Truck and Business Fleet magazines. The winners will be chosen based on performance, fuel economy, emissions, safety, capacities and other similar factors. Read more in the press release below. car2go Heads To Brooklyn Brooklyn To Be First To Launch Point-To-Point Carsharing Service In New York City Area On October 25th car2go North America LLC, the fastest-growing global carsharing company, announced today that it will be launching its pioneering carsharing service in Brooklyn on October 25th, marking Brooklyn as car2go's 29th market and the very first in the New York City area.

New Smart ED not coming to US until 2017

Smart is broadening its global lineup considerably with its new generation. There are two body styles, two engines, two transmissions, and more color combinations than we could shake a stick at. But, if you're waiting for a new electric version in the US, you'll have to wait a little longer. According to Automotive News, Smart won't launch the new ED (electric drive) model until 2017, which rules out the "late 2016" window we heard was possible earlier this year. We've asked Smart USA for confirmation of this time change, but have not yet heard back. The standard, fuel-burning version of the new ForTwo, on the other hand, is slated to arrive at US dealers in November. It will only be offered to American customers in two-door guise with the turbocharged engine, driving 89 horsepower through either a five-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The outgoing electric Smart is still going to be offered in three iterations. It first saw a pilot lease program distribute 100 vehicles in London, powered by a 41-horsepower electric motor and a 13.2-kWh sodium-nickel chloride battery that could take it for 68 miles on a single charge. The second followed in 2009 and spread 2,000 vehicles across 18 markets with a 27-hp motor with a 40-hp overboost and a 16.5-kWh lithium-ion battery for a range of 84 miles. The current, third iteration was unveiled in 2011 with a 74-hp motor, a 17.6-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 90-mile range. Expect the new Smart ED to further improve on those numbers when it arrives within the next couple of years. Until that time, the current model will still be offered as Daimler prepares the new ED model for launch as part of a growing array of plug-in electric vehicles. Related Video: