2016 Smart Fortwo Passion on 2040-cars

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Daimler teaching teens to drive with EVs, offers Car2go access

If you want to drive the future, perhaps it makes sense to start with future drivers. That's the thinking behind Daimler's new electric vehicle driver's license trial program in Stuttgart, Germany. The automaker is giving teens who are learning to drive a chance to do so in a Smart Fortwo ED and a Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive as they get their Class B or BF17 passenger car driving license. Daimler is also offering test-takers a so-called eDriverLicence for their knowledge of electric vehicles. The minimum driving age is 18 in Germany, and teens who get their license through this program will be able to sign up for the Car2go carsharing program for free. Seems like a good deal for parents, because who doesn't want to put brand new drivers in someone else's car? Learning the future: Daimler introduces electric mobility in driving schools Electric cars make it easier for new drivers to get started. An initiative from Daimler AG and the ACADEMY Holding AG prepares novice drivers for a future of electric mobility. Pilot project with five driving schools in the wider Stuttgart area. eDriverLicence gives quick access to car2go. Drawing on the maxim "electric mobility is something you can learn", Daimler AG and the ACADEMY Holding AG are launching a pilot project with five selected ACADEMY driving schools in the wider Stuttgart area, with the aim of making electric vehicles an integral part of driver training. Kick-off for the project will be on April 10 at the Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlet in Stuttgart, in the presence of the Mayor of Stuttgart, Fritz Kuhn. Driving instructors, educational experts and business representatives will discuss the issue of "Electric mobility in driving schools in the context of current driving licence regulations". From April, the driving schools will be offering learner drivers a simple and timely introduction to today's world of locally emission-free mobility. The specially developed training concept is unparalleled in the way it tackles every aspect of electric mobility, focusing as it does on gaining familiarity and experience, as well as on the correct way to handle and work with alternative drive systems. The aim of the initiative is to integrate electric vehicles into the driver training process and so to generate enthusiasm for electric mobility, particularly among young people. The initiative is also designed to make the first experience of driving significantly easier for learners.

Auto Show Notebook: Legendary Continental name inspired Lincoln's designers

What's in a name? A lot for the Continental concept, and it gave Lincoln designers a sense of purpose as they styled the brand's upcoming flagship sedan. "The moment that we told them, it was amazing," Lincoln president Kumar Galhotra said. "They totally got it." "It" is cutting-edge technology wrapped in stately, large-sedan design. It's a nod to Lincoln's storied past, but a signpost for where the brand is heading. Though the Continental name dates to the late 1930s, Lincoln designers avoided making the concept overtly retro. "You can't let it pull yourself back too far in history, but you've got to design a car that lives up to the name," Galhotra said. Speaking to Autoblog on the floor of the New York Auto Show where the Continental formally debuted Wednesday, the Lincoln president reiterated that the car is on track to launch in 2016. It will compete against the Audi A6, Lexus GS, BMW 5 Series and other large luxury sedans. After its debut, the concept in New York will fly to China – another critical market for Lincoln – for display there. It will be replaced in New York by a prototype without an interior. The Continental is the latest high profile play by Lincoln to raise its image with consumers, who have either ignored or forgotten about it amid steep competition in the luxury sector from German and Japanese brands and a potentially resilient Cadillac. Lincoln sales are essentially flat compared with 2014 through the first quarter of this year, with total volume of 21,478 units. The middling start to 2015 comes on the heels of nearly 16-percent sales growth last year spurred by the launch of the MKC and the prominent signing of Matthew McConaughey to star in Lincoln advertisements. Other News, Notes & Quotes Speaking of names, Chevrolet did its homework before deciding to proceed with "Malibu" for its new generation of midsize cars. "We went out and researched it," said Alan Batey, president of General Motors North America. "People actually like the name 'Malibu,'" he said. Admittedly, the current Malibu has struggled in the marketplace against entrenched competitors, Batey said, but he's optimistic its awareness and historical value are assets to the dramatically redesigned sedan."The name's strong," he said. Meanwhile, in other Chevy news, the brand kicked off a new marketing campaign, "Real People, Not Actors" Wednesday. It will show consumers interacting with Chevys and their spontaneous reactions to the vehicles.

Smart shows off the Fortwo Cabriolet ahead of Frankfurt

The Smart Fortwo Cabriolet is official. The 2016 model gets a larger, three-position soft top, remote top operation, a tweaked design, and more package options. It looks a little different than the coupe, with a slimmer B-pillar and some so-called "more progressive" lines for the Tridion safety cell. The 20-millimeter thick "tritop" folding canvas soft top can be slide back to open an aperture like a targa, or it can be slid all the way back like a proper convertible in just twelve seconds. In that latter guise, the guiding roof bars can be removed and placed in a storage area inside the tailgate. The top can be opened with a button on the key, and it's available in three colors: blue denim, red, or black. The roof bars come in the color of the safety cell, and the top headliner is always gray. Passion, Prime, and Proxy comprise the three model lines, with two engines and two transmissions on tap. There's a 1.0-liter, 71 horsepower three-cylinder, or a 0.9-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 90 hp. Shifting choices are either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed twinamic dual clutch transmission. This model is stiffer than before thanks to more high-strength steel, crossbars underneath the car and the front and rear bulkheads, and a steel "inner tube" in the A-pillar. More safety comes with the available safety systems like Crosswind Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and forward collision warning. We'll get a look at it in person at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month before it hits European showrooms in February of next year. The press release below has all the nitty gritty. Related Video: The new smart fortwo cabrio: Summer in the city Stuttgart, Aug 28, 2015 - The countdown has started for the new fortwo cabrio, a particularly iconic variant of the new model series. The open-top two-seater will have its world premiere in September at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The new smart cabrio will be available for ordering from mid-November and the first models will reach dealers in February 2016. Three cars in one: at the touch of a button the new smart cabrio is transformed from a closed two-seater into a car with a large sliding canvas sunroof, or a fully fledged cabriolet with the soft top completely open. This enables the fresh air driving experience to be adapted to the weather or the driver's mood.