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Autoblog Minute: Finalists announced for 2016 Tech of the Year award

Here are the finalists for Autoblog's 2016 Technology of the Year award. Autoblog's Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute, with commentary from Autoblog executive producer Adam Morath, AutoblogGreen editor-in-chief Sebastian Blanco, and Autoblog senior editor Alex Kierstein. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] It's Fall here in Detroit and for us that means it's time for football, autumn beers, and the fourth annual Autoblog Tech of the Year awards. I'm Chris McGraw and this is your Autoblog Minute. Tech of the Year is one of our favorite things here at Autoblog. It's a time when we get celebrate all the best tech from the industry we love most. [00:00:30] - [00:01:00] [Commentary form Adam Morath, Sebastian Blanco, Alex Kierstein] Past winners include, Tesla's Supercharger network, FCA's Uconnect system and the BMW i8. In 2016 we're doing something a little different for Tech of the Year. We've separated our award into two categories. One award for best tech car, and a second award for best technology of the year. The nominees for best car in 2016 are: [00:01:30] the Tesla Model S, the Chevrolet Volt, and the BMW 7 series. The nominees for best tech in 2016 are: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Volkswagen's MiB II with AppConnect, Ford Sync 3, Audi's Virtual Cockpit, the Smart Cross Connect App, and Volvo Sensus. [00:02:00] We're going to announce Autoblog's Tech of the Year winners in January at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit. For Autoblog, I'm Chris McGraw. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Green BMW Chevrolet Ford Hummer smart Tesla Volkswagen Volvo Technology Infotainment Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video

Smart Cross Connect app changes how ForTwos get used [UPDATE]

UPDATE: The story's been updated with a response from a Smart representative. There are parking spaces, and then there are Fortwo parking spaces. Smart, which is owned by Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler, is looking for a way for its customers to take advantage of the difference. Think of it as a big thing for really small cars. Smart is working on an app for the redesigned Fortwo called Cross Connect that will be available as soon as next month, says Automotive News, citing Smart chief Annette Winkler. The idea is to connect owners of the diminutive two-seat vehicles to, for example, let them tell each other when there's a parking space that's too small for just about any other vehicle but big enough for a Smart. If you think that's a small thing, think again. The Fortwo is 8 feet, 10 inches long. That's almost six feet shorter than a Toyota Prius, which itself isn't exactly a stretch limo. In fact, the length of a Smart Fortwo is just 10 inches longer than the width of a Ford F-150, in case anyone was having misgivings about parking perpendicular in a parallel spot. Parking has become more relevant, and tougher, as more people move to urban centers. For instance, BMW said earlier this month that it would discontinue its DriveNow car-sharing operations in San Francisco because of the challenge of parking vehicles on that city's streets. Other possible amenities with the Cross Connect app including the enabling of personal car sharing as well as information on car washes that offer discounted rates for Smart Fortwo. Yes, there are some out there, apparently, and we salute them. Michael Minielly, a spokesman for Mercedes-Benz, confirmed to Autoblog that the Cross Connect features would be available in November. You can read Autoblog's driving impressions of the 2016 Fortwo here. Featured Gallery 2016 Smart ForTwo: Second Drive View 23 Photos News Source: Automotive News-sub.req.Image Credit: Drew Phillips Green Mercedes-Benz smart Technology Smartphone fortwo

Car2go introduces four-seat Mercedes B-Class vehicles

Easily identified by its huge fleet of blue-and-white Smart Fortwos in cities around the world, Daimler's Car2go car sharing service is growing in Canada – both in the number of vehicles and the doors that they have. For the first time in North America, the company is renting a model with a usable backseat thanks to a new pilot program bringing 75 examples of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class to Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. The point of adding these hatchbacks to the ranks is to offer an option for those seeking more than the paltry room that the ForTwo offers. Car2Go imagines people using the B-Class to haul extra people in the back or just for the added cargo space. The vehicles wear the same blue-and-white look as the rest of the fleet, but they're specially identified for users in the smartphone app. Best of all, for this pilot program, their rental cost is the same 41 cents per minute as the tinier Smarts. The car sharing service has already started testing the waters of offering the B-Class in Germany. Its Car2Go Black pilot program was announced last year and placed 100 of the hatchbacks in both Berlin and Hamburg. car2go Just Got A Lot More Spacious Carsharing Leader Introduces Four-Door Vehicles For The First Time In North America AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 28, 2015 /CNW/ -- car2go N.A., LLC, the market leader for one-way carsharing in Canada, announced today that car2go will be introducing 75 four-door vehicles to its fleet in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. The pilot program, which officially launches today, provides over 300,000 car2go members in Canada exclusive access to the Mercedes B-Class vehicle, a roomy, versatile alternative to car2go's signature smart fortwo vehicle. The new four-door vehicles are also equipped with the latest car2go technology, allowing members the ability to control their entire car2go experience seamlessly through the official car2go smartphone app. car2go will be introducing 75 four-door vehicles to its fleet in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. CLICK TO TWEET: car2go introduces Mercedes vehicles in Canadian markets for the first time http://c2g.cc/Gdscbf "As our members embark on new life chapters – whether moving to a new residence or growing their family – we want to continue providing an affordable and convenient transportation option that allows them to go wherever life takes them," said Paul DeLong, President and CEO of car2go N.A.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla tour recounted, Smart using Renault electric motors

A man recounts his recent Tesla factory tour in a new video. When Michael Brown toured Tesla's Fremont facility on September 10, he learned a bit about the production process, saw the enormous stamping equipment Toyota left behind, and even caught a glimpse of the finished Model X SUV. Brown was told very few people in the factory had seen the production version of the Model X. Check out the video above, and read more Teslarati. Johnson Controls is expanding production capacity for Absorbent Glass Mat batteries for fuel-saving stop-start systems. With the market for stop-start batteries possibly growing from 22 million to 56 million by 2020, Johnson is investing $555 million from 2011 to 2020 to be able to build more batteries in the US, Germany and, China. The company is planning to build a $200-million battery plant in Shenyang, China capable of producing 6 million batteries per year. "Johnson Controls is currently the world's leading provider of batteries for Start-Stop vehicles and we plan to stay that way," says Johnson's Lisa Bahash. Read more at Green Car Congress. Renault will provide electric motors for the new Smart ED. The electric versions of the Smart Fourtwo and Forfour will use the same motor as Renault's Zoe EV. The batteries for the Smart cars will be manufactured by Daimler's own Deutsche ACCUmotive. The Renault-powered Smart Fortwo and Forfour Electric Drive are slated to go on sale in 2016. Renault and Daimler have had a working alliance responsible for 13 projects since 2010. Read more from Automotive News Europe. Related Gallery Tesla Factory News Source: Teslarati, YouTube: Michael Brown, Green Car Congress, Automotive News Europe Green Plants/Manufacturing smart Tesla Renault Electric Hybrid Videos recharge wrapup

2016 Smart Fortwo Cabrio is for sunny urban climes

If you're looking for a smart urban car but don't want a roof over your head, Smart has just what you're looking for. The car you see above is the brand-new Smart Fortwo Cabrio, and it has just made its official public debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Our images are of a white car with a silver safety cell, but rest assured, there are any number of color combinations to satiate the inner designer in each one of us. There are a couple ways to configure the new Smart Cabrio. First, obviously, you can leave the canvas top in place for ultimate protection from the elements, or you can slide it back like a targa. For those wanting to really feel the wind in their hair, Smart says its sliding roof can fold back like a true convertible in just 12 seconds, but then a pair of roof bars will then need to be manually removed and stored away in the tailgate. A glass rear window with heating elements is a practical choice. Besides the convertible roof, the only real styling change from the hardtop is a thinner B-pillar, but that apparently doesn't reduce safety, thanks to additional reinforcements in the so-called tridion safety call. The Smart Cabrio has passed all relevant governmental tests, and in addition has been subjected to a battery of internal metrics to ensure its structure is sound. Two engines will be available at launch, in Europe at least, both with three cylinders. The base engine puts out 71 horsepower, while a 90-hp version is optional. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual or automatic dual-clutch gearbox. If you want more details on the 2016 Smart Cabriolet, click here, but not before you check out our high-res image gallery above. Related Video:

1,207 Smart ForTwos parade around Budapest

Daimler's Smart division partied down with the Smart ForTwo cult by staging a parade late last week that totaled 1,207 vehicles. In all, about 2,500 people showed up at Budapest's Heroes' Square to listen to music and party like rock stars in tiny cars. The parade, which included what was undoubtedly a romantic cruise along the Danube River, was set up to commemorate the 15th anniversary of an early, large gathering of Smart enthusiasts. The timing was auspicious, since Daimler is readying the second generation of the two-seater that is slated for the 2016 model year. Daimler unveiled the 2016 Smart ForTwo last summer. The German automaker managed to keep the notably short length the same, though it did widen the vehicle by four inches. The model will debut in North America later on this year with an 89-horsepower engine. The car still weighs less than 2,000 pounds and approaches a top speed of 100 miles per hour for anyone intrepid enough to try to hit those speeds. Take a look at Daimler's press release about the Budapest parade below, and check out our First Drive of the 2016 Smart ForTwo here. smart times 2015 in Budapest: 2,476 smart fans in the Hungarian capital Stuttgart/Budapest, Aug 31, 2015 On 28 and 29 August 2015 2,476 smart fans from around the world came together in the Hungarian city of Budapest for this year's smart times. Historic Heroes' Square in the city centre was the venue for the 15th anniversary of the world's largest international gathering of smart fans. For the first time the smart times participants had an opportunity to tour the city on the Danube by night. A total of 1,207 vehicles participated in the final parade on the Hungaroring and through the city. The new smart fortwo cabrio was a special highlight, on show before its presentation at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September. smartxchange discussions with smart experts When the event kicked off on 28 August the participants were able to enjoy all the different items on the agenda. The smart Club Village celebrated its premiere as a tent village for the best known smart clubs worldwide and formed the setting for the individual stations and stands on the extensive site. smartxchange was presented as a new interactive format for direct communication with smart fans. For the first time questions could be put to smart experts on the stage who offered interesting insights into the world of smart behind the scenes.

2016 Smart ForTwo Second Drive [w/video]

The best thing I can say about the 2016 Smart ForTwo is that I'd happily drive one again. That's huge praise; I hated the old ForTwo with the fire of a thousand burning Smart cars. And I wasn't alone. The car was panned by media and consumers alike for its cheap, spartan interior, weak fuel economy, and its lousy – no, horrible – transmission. Like, the worst transmission ever created. Ever. All of those problems have been addressed with the new ForTwo. But it's still not a car for everyone, and Smart knows that. Those who want it, want it. Those who don't can't be convinced otherwise. So instead of reaching for mass market appeal, Smart has, um, smartly updated its ForTwo in ways that make it more attractive to folks in the microcar mindset. That starts with design. At 8.8 feet long, the 2016 ForTwo is the same length as its predecessor. That was one part of the car that absolutely could not change, according to Smart boss Dr. Annette Winkler. Instead, Smart widened the ForTwo by almost four inches, allowing for more space inside. The wheels can turn in sharper, too, so the Smart now boasts a 22.8-foot turning circle, which is wicked fun. The Smart now boasts a 22.8-foot turning circle, which is wicked fun. The shape hasn't changed, but the details have. Up front, there's a friendly face with larger headlights and LED running lamps. Around back, the taillights are larger and squared off. It's a more confident design than before, "more substantial than the Smart we've known until now," as European Editor Noah Joseph said in his First Drive of the Euro-spec ForTwo. Plastic body panels adorn the exterior (they're flexible and resilient to shopping cart dings), and some 40 different panel/shell color combinations are available, including a matte finish like you see here. Most people don't think a car this small is in any way safe, but I promise, it is. Even more so now, thanks to increased high-strength material in the "Tridion Cell" frame. Don't believe me? Here's a video of a Smart crashing into a 5,000-pound Mercedes S-Class sedan. See for yourself; the passenger cell remains intact. The cabin is much roomier, thanks to that increase in overall width. Shoving two people inside is still a cozy affair, but the two of you won't exactly be rubbing elbows. Instead, there's ample room for drivers of all sizes, with lots of headroom and hiproom.

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.

Smart Fortwo Cabriolet coming to Frankfurt Motor Show

We kinda-sorta already knew this, but at an event this week in Portland, OR, Smart USA executives officially confirmed that the new Fortwo Cabriolet will bow at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Fortwo and Forfour hardtop models have already been on sale in Europe for a few months, and the US-spec Fortwo hits dealerships at the end of September. The Brabus Fortwo will launch in the "middle of next year," according to Smart boss Dr. Annette Winkler. But for now, the full Brabus model will not come to the US. Instead, there will be a "Brabus Tailor Made" program that we'll be hearing more about soon. On the EV side, we know that a new Smart Electric Drive is in the works. Last we heard, it'll launch in early 2017, and Winkler's comments this week reconfirm that. The car will debut at the end of 2016, so US sales will likely commence early the following year. In the meantime, the current Smart ED will be sold alongside the brand-new model. We had a chance to sample the European-spec Smart Fortwo (and Forfour) earlier this year, and found it to be a vastly improved product overall. We'll have our full impressions of the US-spec car soon, so stay tuned.

Daimler looks to skirt France's 35-hour workweek

Daimler has a brewing labor battle at its Smart factory in Hambach, France, over just how long the workweek should be. Under a French law enacted in 2000, workers are only required to be on the job 35 hours per week, but recent tweaks to the rule allow for companies to negotiate more flexibility. Now, the automaker is asking employees for 39 hours weekly in exchange for six euros ($6.70) per hour more during the extra time and a one-time bonus of 1,000 euros ($1,117), according to Bloomberg. The plant's labor union isn't taking kindly to Daimler's offer, though. "It's a way to freeze wages without any guarantees in return," union representative Patrick Hoszkowicz said to Bloomberg. One problem is that the six-euro raise during the four extra hours per week is less than France's 9.61-euro ($10.75) minimum wage. A spokesperson for the automaker countered in the report that the changes increase "competitiveness to ensure viability." The outcome of the deal could have major effects for Daimler because the Hambach plant is a major production hub for Smart. The automaker spent millions of euros there in 2009 for the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. The factory then received another 200 million euro investment in 2013 to prepare for the brand's latest minicar models. While a 35-hour week might sound like a dream to many Americans, it's not even truly the norm in France. According to Bloomberg citing Eurostat data, the average full-time worker there is actually on the job 40.5 hours weekly, an hour less than Europe as a whole.