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Mind-boggling 2012 Smart ForTwo off-roader listed on Cars & Bids

Smart recently marched into the crossover segment by releasing the #1, but the electric four-seater doesn't look like something you'd want to take off-road. If you're in the market for a go-anywhere Smart, there's a second-generation ForTwo that features an astonishingly long list of off-road-focused modifications (including an eight-inch suspension lift!) currently live on enthusiast auction site Cars & Bids with no reserve. California-based Gotham Garage reportedly built this ForTwo for a show called Car Masters: Rust to Riches that aired on Netflix, and it looks like nothing was deemed off-limits to give the cheeky city car the kind of off-road prowess you'd normally find in a Jeep Wrangler. Riding on 30-inch tires, the ForTwo features a suspension system that's taller and a lot wider than stock, an exoskeleton-type roll cage, a front skid plate, and a 4,000-pound winch, among many other modifications. There is space on the roll cage to mount a gas can and a spare wheel. The end result is a ForTwo that looks like nothing else on the road — and like nothing else off the road, too. Imagine the look on a Ford Bronco driver's face when you zip by in a Smart on the Rubicon Trail. Inside, the little two-seater is surprisingly stock: the only modification is a nine-inch touchscreen. It doesn't sound like the drivetrain was touched, meaning that power comes from a rear-mounted, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine rated at 70 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. As of writing, bidding stands at $8,333 with three days left to go; the auction ends on April 25 at 10:30 a.m. California time, which is 1:38 p.m in New York. And, because this is a no-reserve auction, the winning bidder will be the one that takes this one-of-a-kind ForTwo home. There is another ForTwo currently live on Cars & Bids, and this one is pegged on the other end of the Smart spectrum. It's a limited-edition Crossblade, which was a concept car-like evolution of the original ForTwo that was exclusively sold in Europe. It has no doors, no roof, and a wind deflector instead of a windshield, and the example being auctioned has been displayed in the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Related Video

Car2Go expands service in New York City

New York City residents can expect to see even more blue-and-white Smart Fortwos buzzing around the Big Apple because the Daimler-owned Car2Go carsharing service is expanding into Queens starting August 29. The growth means that those in Long Island City, Astoria, Woodside, and Sunnyside can now rent the little hatchbacks by the minute. To support the expected new users, Car2Go is adding 100 more Smarts to the fleet in the area to bring the total to 550. The carsharing service launched in trendy Brooklyn in October 2014 and has seen success with over 27,000 members logging more than 250,000 trips. By expanding into Queens, Car2Go is trying to offer an easier way to travel between the two boroughs without having to go through busy Manhattan. The added locations also take the company's service area in NYC up to 44 square miles, eight-square-miles larger than before. Related Video: car2go Opens A Road To Queens With One-Way Carsharing Expansion Will Improve Cross-Borough Access Between Brooklyn and Queens and Extend the Reach of Public Transit car2go to Bring 100 smart Vehicles to Long Island City, Astoria, Woodside and Sunnyside Beginning August 29th NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- car2go N.A., LLC announced today that it will bring its popular one-way carsharing service to Long Island City, Astoria, Woodside and Sunnyside in Queens, New York beginning August 29th. On the heels of exponential growth in Brooklyn, car2go will be making it easier for members to explore several Queens neighborhoods, and travel to and from Brooklyn at their own convenience. The move represents an important step toward an outer-Manhattan carsharing system, representing a new mobility option for the diverse and vibrant communities that are less accessible via public transit. CLICK TO TWEET: car2go expands to Queens (LIC, Astoria, Woodside & Sunnyside) on 8/29 - sign up at http://c2g.cc/qXpjQr w/ promo code QUEENS "Since the twilight of the trolley system many decades ago, there really hasn't been a reliable option for New Yorkers to travel between Brooklyn and Queens without going all the way through Manhattan," said car2go Brooklyn General Manager Tom McNeil. "Queens is a bustling hub of cultures, small businesses, international cuisine and affordable housing opportunities that have long been a challenge to access.

NHTSA, IIHS, and 20 automakers to make auto braking standard by 2022

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and virtually every automaker in the US domestic market have announced a pact to make automatic emergency braking standard by 2022. Here's the full rundown of companies involved: BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo (not to mention the brands that fall under each automaker's respective umbrella). Like we reported yesterday, AEB will be as ubiquitous in the future as traction and stability control are today. But the thing to note here is that this is not a governmental mandate. It's truly an agreement between automakers and the government, a fact that NHTSA claims will lead to widespread adoption three years sooner than a formal rule. That fact in itself should prevent up to 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries. The agreement will come into effect in two waves. For the majority of vehicles on the road – those with gross vehicle weights below 8,500 pounds – AEB will need to be standard equipment by September 1, 2022. Vehicles between 8,501 and 10,000 pounds will have an extra three years to offer AEB. "It's an exciting time for vehicle safety. By proactively making emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent thousands of crashes and save lives," said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said in an official statement. "It's a win for safety and a win for consumers." Read on for the official press release from NHTSA. Related Video: U.S. DOT and IIHS announce historic commitment of 20 automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard on new vehicles McLEAN, Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept 1, 2022. Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA.