2015 Smart Fortwo on 2040-cars

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Next-gen Smart ForTwo, ForFour will be even smaller

As expected, the new four-seat vehicle that Daimler AG's Smart division is will start selling later this year will still be pretty darn short. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, speaking at the Mercedes-Benz parent company's annual press conference, disclosed a few details about both the next-generation Smart ForTwo and the new Smart ForFour, according to World Car Fans. The next-generation ForTwo will shrink by about six inches. The ForFour, which the German automaker should unveil this summer before starting sales in Europe by the end of the year, will be tidy 3.5 meters (137.8 inches) long. That's about nine inches shorter than the standard-issue Mini Cooper (we're not even going to compare it to the Clubman) and almost two inches shorter than the Fiat 500. It's also shorter than the original ForFour, which Smart sold from 2004-2006 and was 147.7 inches long. Additionally, Zetsche said the next-generation ForTwo will shrink by about six inches from the current version to a comically short 105.5 inches long. Smart's US sales were just south of the 10,000-unit mark for 2013 (9,264, to be exact), and Smart chief Annette Winkler said last month Daimler was unlikely to sell the Smart ForFour in the US because of domestic automotive regulations and the additional investment it'd take to bring the model stateside. Last February, a new Smart ForFour prototype was spotted being tested in the cold-weather climes of Sweden. Featured Gallery Smart Fourjoy Concept View 11 Photos News Source: World Car FansImage Credit: Smart Green smart smart forfour fortwo

Car2go acquires RideScout, adds all sorts of transportation options to carsharing program

Car2go has always been about offering its members an alternative to traditional car ownership as they move around town. Now, the carsharing company's focus is expanding to offer alternatives (plural) with the addition of things like taxis, bikesharing and public transportation to the Car2go family. This is because Car2go and its parent company, Moovel (which is in turn owned by Daimler), have acquired RideScout, an all-in-one service that Car2go calls, "the leading app-based mobility platform in North America." The idea behind RideScout is that you put in the address/POI of where you want to go and the app lists a number of options for you to get there, including expected travel time and cost. Think of it as a version of that all-in-one Helsinki project we mentioned the other day without the coordinated payment but which works in more cities. Car2go says that RideScout makes it simple to find, "the best way to get from point A to point B." Car2go has more thatn 850,000 registered members in 26 cities around the world. Check out the Car2go/RideScout welcome email (with details on a free-driving promotion) and two videos below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. What is RideScout? from RideScout on Vimeo. car2go Welcomes RideScout to the Mobility Family! Dear car2go Member, Since our launch five years ago, we have believed that how we all get from point A to point B has a massive impact on our quality of life and the environment in which we live, work, and play. Whether it's to get to those significant life experiences, or those everyday life errands, we have remained committed to making life easier to get to where you need to go, when you need to go, with complete ease. As the largest fastest-growing global carsharing company, we are proud to say that we have continued those efforts to provide the best service and experience to our valued community of over 850,000 registered car2go members across 26 cities around the world. Today, we are thrilled to share that we have acquired RideScout, the leading app-based mobility platform in North America, dedicated to allowing users to search and compare ground transportation options on demand.

Smart Fortwo Brabus drops most of its camo

When we drove the new Smart Fortwo last month, we were impressed at how peppy and darty it felt – especially in turbo spec. But that was just enough to whet our appetites for an even sportier version, and fortunately that appears to be just what Daimler is cooking up right now. This latest batch of spy shots gives us an even better look at the Brabus version of the new Fortwo under development. As you can see, it has upgraded rolling stock sitting on a lower (and presumably sportier) suspension with dual tailpipes and what could even be some enhanced aero components. Here's hoping the production version doesn't match an orange interior to a red body like this prototype does, though the bigger question is what it's got not under the hood, but beneath the rear cargo shelf where the existing Fortwo has a choice of three-cylinder engines. As we reported earlier, the new Smart Fortwo Brabus is tipped to pack as much as 130 horsepower, but in what form, exactly, we don't know. It could come from an enhanced version of the 898cc turbo three in the current range-topping Fortwo, maybe a turbo version of the larger atmospheric 1.0-liter inline-three, or a different engine entirely – like a 1.2 sourced from Renault. Either way, the decision was likely made jointly by Daimler and Renault, which is expected to offer a similarly sporty version of the Twingo as well.