2016 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe on 2040-cars

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Bibendum 2014: Daimler studying China for Car2go expansion

Despite a recent setback in the UK, Daimler's carsharing company Car2go remains in expansion mode. The company is currently studying the scene in China (and other countries) to see where the next batch of blue-and-white Smart Fortwo cars will land. "We are looking at the opportunities and doing a lot of market research about [China]." – Moovel China's Su Shasha Su Shasha, from Moovel China's business development department, would not confirm that Car2go would one day be available in China, but did tell AutoblogGreen, "We are looking at all kinds of locations and opportunities worldwide, and China is definitely one big market with many populated cities. We are looking at the opportunities and doing a lot of market research about it. We don't have any concrete plans for the details of the launch yet." Su wouldn't say how long Daimler has been studying China as a place to expand Car2go or when the results of the internal study would be made public. Car2go was on display at the 2014 Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Chengdu, China. Su said that the purpose of the cars on display was to gauge interest from the people attending the event. She did say that people were interested in the exhibit, so that's a start. Daimler is looking for more workers to bring Car2go to China. An online job opening for a "Trainee as Financial Analyst for Car2go China" says that the new hire will be responsible for "continuously refining the car2go China business case," supporting "the local management with business analysis on achieving the growth targets and the refinement of the business model based on the planned roll-outs" and making sure the Car2go plan doesn't run afoul of any local laws. Sounds pretty serious to us.

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

Smart Fortwo gets Twinamic dual-clutch transmission

When we drove the new Smart Fortwo and Forfour back in November, Daimler was still working out the kinks in its dual-clutch transmission. But a few months later, the German automaker has apparently finished tinkering with the automatic, and now Smart is introducing it as an option on the new Fortwo in its home market. The six-speed DCT - dubbed "Twinamic" - is being rolled out initially on the 71-horsepower version of the 1.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-three, netting a 0-62 time of 15.1 seconds. That's slow, but it's a solid 0.8 seconds quicker off the line than the same engine with the six-speed manual. Top speed (not exactly a city car's forte) remains pegged at 94 miles per hour. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures remain virtually unchanged, quoted at the same 4.1 liters per 100 kilometers (57 mpg converted from the more lenient European cycle) and a slightly worse 94 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer (instead of 93 with the manual). The first Fortwos with the DCT are slated to be delivered in March, available on the base model for an extra 1275 euros, tax-in (equivalent to $1,500 at today's rates) or 1000 euros ($1160) on the Passion, Prime and Proxy trim levels. Shifting is actuated automatically or can be controlled by the gear selector, but opt for the Sport package and you'll get shift paddles as well. Either way, it promises to deliver a much smoother experience than the widely lambasted robotized gearbox on the outgoing model. We suspect North American buyers will get this transmission at some point, but thus far, it remains unconfirmed. We've reached out to Daimler officials and will update this story if we hear more. smart fortwo now available for ordering with twinamic dual clutch transmission: Hands-on or automatic gear shifting As the first model of the new smart generation, the smart fortwo rated at 52 kW/71 hp is now available for ordering with the twinamic dual clutch transmission. This enables gear shifting to be carried out either fully automatically or manually. Manual shifting is possible using the selector lever in a separate gate or by means of the shift paddles included in the Sports package. The additional charge for the twinamic in Germany in the standard version is 1275 euros (RRP, incl. 19% VAT); in combination with the passion, prime and proxy lines 1000 euros (RRP, incl. 19% VAT). The dual clutch transmission is available in combination with the passion, prime and proxy equipment lines.