Zap still pursuing Daimler over Smart deal

Zap still pursuing Daimler over Smart deal, California Supreme Court next

Once upon a time Zap had a dream to import the Smart ForTwo to the U.S. market. Unfortunately for Zap, that plan didn't work out and Smart's parent Daimler ultimately did a deal with Roger Penske to be the U.S. distributor for Smart. Zap decided not to take this lying down and ultimately filed a lawsuit in 2005 against Daimler (then DaimlerChrysler) alleging the German company interfered with their business (need more background? click here). So far Zap has had no success in U.S. courts, with both a trial court and appeals court ruling they had no jurisdiction over Daimler in the case. Undaunted, Zap is now going to the California Supreme Court hoping to get them to reverse the previous rulings. Zap hopes for a ruling in about three months.

smart set to party like it's its birthday

x The car's little, but the birthday's big - smart turns ten this year. The annual gathering of owners and aficionados known as the smart Festival will take place in late June at Mercedes-Benz World, which is located at the UK's historic Brook lands circuit. Fans who make the pilgrimage to the fest will be able to socialize, take in smart-related exhibits, test drive the smart fortwo EV, and see the nutty, Unimog-engined smart forfun² micro-monster in action, an experience that may be worth the price of admission by itself. We'd imagine the parking situation at a smart car confab like this is pretty terrific, too. The official press release is pasted after the jump.

Nonni's Pizza smartens up

Nonni's Pizza of Revere, MA has a new delivery vehicle that's bound to save the business money at the pump while generating all kinds of buzz on the street. The restaurant is the proud new owner of one of the first U.S.-market smarts, and it has put its for two right to work in full Nonni's regalia, including nose graphics that give the microcar a big happy grin. Despite its tiny footprint, the Nonni's fortwo shouldn't have any difficulty feeding the masses; it can haul 20 pies in back and another 10 in the passenger seat. Looks like Zip’s got competition. Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

Smart owners waiting patiently for their cars

We've heard stories that people are starting to receive their Smart cars here in the U.S., but with some 42,000 total deposits made, those of you who were a little late to the game are probably still waiting. Even some who were quick on the draw with their order have not gotten their cars yet. John Schwartz from The New York Times is one such person. After reading through the comments to his post describing the delay, it seems that many people are frustrated that it's taking so long for their cars to arrive, which is understandable. We hope that most of the early adopters can wait for their machine without canceling their orders, but for those of you, who want to fast-track your way to the front of the line, consider looking around for a canceled order at dealerships close to you. It's a long shot, but at least one commenter at the Times got theirs this way.

Smart produces art book, thinking sideways about the environment

Smart has produced an art anthology book titled sideways. a smart art project. The intent of the book is to get people to think about transportation and the environment in novel new ways. Instead of looking at problem straight on, tilt your head sideways and look at it from a different angle. The book's 248 pages are filled with images from over 100 artists working in mediums such as photography, drawing, paint, sculpture and hairstyling. The book will kick off a new marketing campaign promoting the brand that has consistently offered the highest-mileage production vehicles for several years. The sideways book will debut in the U.S. on March 19. In Europe it can be had for €29.90

Smart diesel with Blutec and 70+ mpg rumor will have to die, for now

We got a tip from Autoblog reader Cary about the delightful possibility of a Smart ForTwo in the U.S. with Mercedes' Bluetec technology. Cary writes:Yesterday, I spotted a ForTwo on the 5 freeway south in Orange County, intrigued by the fact that they have already been released and this one was still wrapped in the typical camo vinyl, I decided to follow it. After following the car back to Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel, I got to speak to the driver. And what I heard was music to my ears. The ForTwo will come in Blu - Blutec that is, according to a MBUSA R&D employee I spoke to at MB Laguna Niguel yesterday. I'll quote him on this, "Expect between 55 and 65 mpg around town and 70+mpg on the highway." He said they were testing with low rolling resistance tires. Best part of all, it will exceed Tier II BIN 5 standards without the use of urea injection found in the upcoming Bluetec diesel SUVs by MB. He was also able to tell me the engine has been developed in-house.Well, we needed to get some clarification on this Smart Bluetec rumor, so we called Smart's communication director Ken Kettenbeil (we last spoke to him at the Detroit Auto Show in 2007 talking about the availability of the ForTwo in America) for some more info and we got a big wet blanket. Kettenbeil said that there is nothing official to say on a Bluetec Smart ForTwo. He did say that Mercedes-Benz is looking at electric, micro-hybrid and diesel technology for Smart ForTwos in the U.S., but we'll just have to wait to see if these possibilities move beyond the looking stage. Thanks for the tip, Cary!

BMW to challenge Smart with Isetta brand?

People are already comparing the new Smart with old microcars like the Iso (and BMW) Isetta, so it makes sense that BMW would consider producing a challenger using the old, but not forgotten, marque. Reports indicate that this is a distinct possibility. In an ironic twist, BMW may consider producing the microcar to offset their large luxury-performance cars to comply with upcoming European CO2 regulations. Back when the Isetta was initially launched, the profits from that model are what allowed BMW to branch into the large car market in the first place. How the times have changed!

Although the Smart is a thoroughly modern version of the microcar concept, the Isetta would draw a more retro profile. Hey, it's worked for BMW before - their Mini brand sets a fine pattern but is a tough act to follow. BMW has a great deal of experience making small and reliable motors for their line of motorcycles, so creating a suitable powerplant might not be a problem. Diesel engines would be a near lock for the European market, but no hybrid is planned for the States. Instead, a small turbocharged gasoline engine would likely be on the menu. If these reports prove accurate, retro and modern will go head-to-head once again in the microcar market, leading to more choices for the consumer.

Sharing Winding Road's eBay find of the day

In a stunning example of e-sharing, we've decided to share Winding Road's eBay find of the day with our readers. Listen up: it's not stealing, it's meta... that's what's so cool about the Internet. Speaking of stealing *cough, ahem* sharing, our aforementioned find is a Chinese Smart ForTwo clone. Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so all of you legitimate Smart purchasers should be very proud of your chosen auto.
Unfortunately for the Revolution EV, it appears that the quality of the copy is a bit less than stellar. You know... when making a copy of a copy it never turns out quite as good as the original, right? We're not so sure that the safety cell of the Smart was copied over intact. In fact, we're pretty sure that it was not. At least you're not likely to get into too much trouble at just 25 miles per hour. If you do make the 60 miles until your next recharge, just wait about ten hours or so for your recharge. The cost? Just under ten grand. A bargain!