SmartPlanet

SmartPlanet.com drives the smart ed. We're jealous

Thanks to tipster Adam, we've read the first review of the smart ed, and now we wish even more that we could buy one for ourselves. If you've never heard of ed, as we like to call it, smart's U.K. operations has made available an electric version of the diminutive microcar to companies willing to power it using electricity generated only from renewable means. So far, the general public is unable to purchase ed, no matter where they live. This is a real shame, because it sounds like ed's a perfect little electric city runabout. Being able to reach 60 miles per hour and travel for 72 miles in between charging in a near-silent and completely non-polluting - not to mention safe - car really does sound smart.

Ed uses a sodium-nickel chloride battery along with a Zytek electric motor and is able to hit 30 miles per hour from a dead stop in 6.5 seconds. Not bad for a city car! Also, that 60 mile per hour top speed is electronically limited, so there could be enough power for highway travel, depending on how long the stretch of roadway is. In short, the smart ed is a real car, one that just happens to be powered by electrons. We want.

Is leather the "ultimate recycled material?" PETA thinks not

Last month, Peta sent a letter to David Schembri, president of Smart USA, informing him that his company is contradicting itself if it considers its Smart Passion models to be environmentally friendly. The problem is not the fuel mileage or emissions, but the fact that the vehicle includes leather seats. According to PETA, leather is harmful to the environment, but more importantly to them, it requires killing cows. According to PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk, "Smart can't have it both ways: touting its cars as eco-friendly and then plastering them with toxic and Earth-degrading leather."
Detroit News bloggers have chimed in regarding this issue, with Eric Morath quoting Rodney Hammond, vice president and general manager at Seton Co, as saying, "When you think about it, leather is the ultimate recycled material. You don't grow cows for the skin, you do it for the beef or the dairy. We take what would otherwise be waste and turn it into a beautiful, luxurious product." Hammond's company is an automotive supplier that makes leather interiors. Manny Lopez considers leather "green and practical," while Scott Burgess suggests switching to hemp and reminds us that some automakers have begun using bio-fabrics. In any case, leather interiors are not likely to go anywhere soon, but perhaps the industry could take a deeper look at the chromium-free tanning process that Lincoln was touting on their MKR concept.
VIDEO: Fifth Gear reviews electric Smart car, turns it into series hybrid with off-the-shelf generator
· This week, Fifth Gear did a side-by-side review of the Mercedes Smart electric drive and regular Smart car that runs on petrol (watch it below the fold). Fifth Gear found out that zero-to-thirty is a lot faster in the petrol but the handling, thanks the heavy batteries lowering the center of gravity, is tops in the electric. Just 100 Smart EDs (electric drive) are coming to the UK as a trial, and the launch will be based on demand, according to Fifth Gear. I think Fifth Gear's distance/cost comparison is kinda biased to the electric but the show does something very interesting at the end of the review. They put a portable gas generator in the back of the EV, charging the car and instantly turning it into a series hybrid. Why don't we see that more often?

Geneva 2008: smart fortwo limited two and smart navigation guide

With some new shiny paint and only 2,000 vehicles destined to be made, the new smart limited two was unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show. The limited two will be available with special features like "cognac brown" leater interior and matte silver hilghlights in the dashboard. Outside, the limited two gets a special "light blue metallic" finish that was created just for this version of the smart. Other new variants of the smart fortwo include a 52 kW/71 bhp petrol engine with the micro hybrid (start/stop) drive and a smart fortwo cdi that uses state-of-the-art common rail direct injection for CO2 emissions of just 88 grams per km and 71 mpg (U.S.). Mercedes has also announced a fortwo-specific navigation device called the "portable smart navigation system II." Full details after the jump.

Brabus continues to "ungreen" the Smart with the Ultimate 112

Smart has already gotten a little flack considering that their microcar, the ForTwo, doesn't exactly set any records when it comes to fuel mileage. Thus far, the only version in the U.S. is powered by gasoline, not diesel, and doesn't even include any of the "microhybrid" features. Still, it is one of the more eco-friendly cars sold here, so we'll take what we can get. Brabus, though, thinks that they can add some "red" to the "green" image of the ForTwo by upping the power ante and selling it alongside their latest Brabus SLR. The SLR, of course, is not in the least bit green, and adding a "tender" to the supercar for shorter trips doesn't really help. Whatever the case, Brabus does manage to squeeze 112 horsepower from the Smart's 3 cylinder turbocharged engine, enough to accelerate from 0-60 in about 9.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 106 miles per hour. The claim that their new creation is "the ultimate city sports car and thus the ultimate tender to the SLR." For the man in your life who truly has everything... except this, of course.
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Wired's Autopia gets a Smart, blogs a bunch

David Becker over at Wired's Autopia blog must be very excited about the recent purchase and pick-up of his Smart. His enthusiasm is palpable through the number of posts that the subject has garnered on Autopia, at last count it was six in the last two days. So far, he seems to really like the hill-assist, which keeps the car from rolling backwards when situated on an incline. He notes that there is plenty of room for the driver and passenger, but much less for stowage, so he made up a little formula to help people decide if the Smart will work for them. Lastly, he feels that his Smart "is the opposite of a penis extension/envy sports car." His words, not ours.
New Smart ForTwo Cabrio owner files a delivery reportBack in January, ABG reader Randy dropped us a note to let us know that he and his wife had received a letter from a Smart dealer that the car they had reserved would soon be ready for delivery. Well the Oklahoma City couple picked up their new car this week and Randy sent us another message:We just took delivery today. And we are very impressed. I live in Oklahoma City and the Smart dealer is located in Tulsa, which is about 100 miles. The drive back home was perfect. The car had no problem with keeping up with traffic, which on the turnpike speeds average 75-80mph. 80mph was not an issue to keep up. When we originally test drove the car during the tour, the cars seemed a little bouncy and jerky. Our cabrio is very solid and smooth. Top up on the highway, there is very little wind noise. Top down is stupendous. And the premium sound system ROCKS!!! All in all we couldn't be happier with our purchase. And for the days driving, after taking it on a tour to friends to show off, we averaged 44 mpg. WOOHOO! One other thing to point out, the attention the car gets is insane. I felt like I was in a parade on the highway. I have never had so many people waving and smiling and pointing. Some even snapped pictures. Sounds like Randy is pretty pleased so far. If you've got your own story, the comments are open.