Not So Smart Move by Smart For United States and Canada?

I read that Smart will not be selling the gas powered Fortwo in the United States or Canada after 2017. It seems these two markets will only get the electric powered versions. I think this is not a very smart thing to do. I don't believe the range of the electric Fortwo is all that great when compared to other electric vehicles that is being sold. It might be similar to a couple but newer ones have really great range on a single charge.

I also think it is not very smart of Smart to not bring the Forfour to the United States. I think the Forfour would have a great market appeal than the Fortwo. The Forfour has four door and seats four. Smart indicated the market is too crowded for the Forfour. I think that many in this market segment would indicate that that it would be a bigger appeal for it than the Fortwo. The Fortwo has just two doors for two seats. As a commuter vehicle, it is ideal. I read that most people usually travel to and from work with one (the driver) person and sometimes a passenger.

The Smart Forfour. I am not sure if this is the newer one. There was also supposed to be a 'sport utility vehicle' version of the Forfour. I think the SUV version would be great in snowy colder areas. 

The Smart Fortwo. This is the slightly bigger newer one. 

A possible newer Smart Roadster.

Auto Evolution.

The thread about this on Smart Car Of America. 

CNET.

News JS.

Subcompact Culture. 

Smart Car Of America.

A great resource for all things Smart car

BigGoofyGuy

My personal website.

TomLeeM at Cafe Press

A site of my art on various items.

Obvio 012 using Smart Fortwo Parts?

I have seen photos of the Obvio 012. It looks really nice. I am not sure anything came of the design. I think it is a really nice really small sports car, from what I can tell of photos and what I read online.

Serious Wheels article on Obvio 012.

Here is the Obvio logo. I think it looks odd but that is just my opinion. 

It is like the Smart Fortwo but longer and lower. I think it has a sleek aerodynamic design. I think it could appeal to those who want to have fun without paying a lot (assuming the price is not huge).

It seems the Smart's rear engine and rear wheel drive is similar to what the 012 is supposed to have. It shows how compact it is. It might be a little bigger than the 828 which is really small.

The 012 has a more aerodynamic shape than the Fortwo. It seems the radiator is in front similar to the Smart Fortwo. It is one of the reasons I think the Fortwo would make a great donor car or basis for it to be built on.

I like the wide sports car like stance of the 012. With the wider stance it could perform better. 

Obvio 012 on Youtube.

It just shows the concept drawings but still interesting. 

It is a shame Obvio has not (from what I could find of it but I am doing more research) is just into making the electric version of the 828. 

Here the Obvio 828 (bottom) is compared to the Fiat 500 (top) for size comparison. At one time the 828 was supposed to have a gas engine with a CVT. It seems they are only going to make the 828 with electric propulsion. I think they should make it it with a choice of gas or electric and also make the 012 which is even nicer looking. 

One can see the 828 on the right in comparison to the Smart's on the left. Although the Smart has an automated manual transmission, I think it could work with the Obvio 828. I still think a CVT is cool even though there are many that dislike the CVT for cars. I think the CVT has the economy of a manual with the ease of an automatic. I read that there are improvements with the CVT.

Obvio on Wikipedia.

BigGoofyGuy

my personal website

TomLeeM - artist - at Cafe Press

Where items with my art is on a variety of items.

Hankook iFlex Airless Tires and Small Cars? Small cars like the Smart Fortwo.

I think the Hankook iFlex airless tires are really cool. One does not have to worry about flat tires since there is no air in the tires to leak out. I think they are also good looking tires. As far as I know, they are not available for cars yet but I am hoping that they are not only sold in the near future but also come in sizes that I could use on my Smart Fortwo.

This shows the makeup of the iFlex airless tire. 

This is the Hankook iFlex tire. It would be neat if color matched the color of ones car. It looks neat too. 

It seems that some cars sold today don't either have the room for a spare or one has to pay extra to have the spare installed. Even with a spare added, they seem to be small when compared to the tires that are used on the car. Not having to worry about tires going flat is a plus. Not having to worry about a flat while in the middle of the night or in the middle of nowhere or on some busy potentially dangerous road is a bigger plus. 

I like driving my Smart Fortwo. The downside is that there is no room for a spare tire. It does have an air pump and tire sealant. This combo is good for small punctures but not good for rips or tears in the tire. 

I read of some concerns from law enforcement not being able to puncture a tire of a vehicle fleeing the police. I think that could be solved by having spires that not only pierce the tire but hold onto it. Perhaps with some chords it could entangle the tire and keep it from turning or at least slow it down? 

Smart Car Owners of America.

An excellent resource for all things Smart car.

BigGoofyGuy

site of a big guy who likes Disney's Goofy plus other things.

TomLeeM - artist - at Cafe Press.

it is my online store where my art is sold on a variety of items. 

Smart Dakar by Smarpache?

I think this is really nice. It is Smarpache idea for a Smart car for the Dakar race called Smart Dakar. I think it would be great for not only off road but where roads might be covered in mud or snow.

In colder climates where snow can accumulate, having a Smart Fortwo with ground clearance and bigger tires is a good thing. One can stay small - if one likes smaller vehicles - and still be able to get around. 

Being able to go off road in ones small car is also a plus. Usually off road vehicles are big. This is one way to stay small yet not be restricted to on road travel. I think it would be great for beaches too. 

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM - artist - at Cafe Press

Stretched Smart Limousine by Carbonyte?

I have seen a stretched Smart Fortwo that looks very unique. It is made by Carbonyte of United Kingdom.
There is a video of it being made; 'How to Cut and Stretch a Smart car into a Limo'.  There is an article on it at Auto World. The vehicle in the video looks really nice the way they painted it. I am still trying to figure out how they get into the back part.

It seems this one is used to advertise the Red Bull beverages (above and below).

Since it is being used to advertise Red Bull, I think it could be used to advertise any kind of beverage that comes in a can. 

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM - Artist - at Cafe Press.

Smart ForSix? Smart Stretched Limo?

It seems someone has created a six wheel stretched limo from a Smart Fortwo. I think it looks really cool. The article is at the Top Gear site.  In case the link does not work, the article is titled 'Someone has built a six-wheeled, stretch Smart limousine'. Unlike some of the Smart Fortwo based stretched limo's, this one actually exists. One can see it in the video (link below). The inside (per video) looks comfortable.

I think it looks really nice. The back doors opening in a gull wing way is a nice touch.

Here is the YouTube video titled 'Smart MdeForSix Stretchlimosine by Limousine - Weltpremiere der Smart stretch Limo mit drei Achsne'.

Digital Trends has an article on it. The article is dated September 15, 2015. It is still interesting.

The Auto Evolution site has an article on it too. The site has an open photo gallery of the car.

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM - Artist - at Cafe Press.

Smart Roadster by Smarpache

I think this design at the Smarpache site would make the Fortwo look even more appealing. I think it would give it a less square shape and give it a longer length. I think it could use the same engine and transmission but be more aerodynamic in shape. 

I think Smart should check out some of the designs at the Smarpache site. I think they could inspire them. 

There are times I think they don't really want to sell Smart cars in the US, at least not the gas powered ones. After 2017, Smart will only sell the electric Smart in Canada and the US.

Fortune. USA Today. 

The Smarpache site has some really neat designs. Some are unrealistic and some - in my opinion - are totally doable. I think the above is one of the doable designs. 

Here is the Smart Fortwo. One can see the how Smarpache has changed it. 

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Smartborhini? by Smarpache.

While this exists only on a computer as a computer generated image, I think it would be the coolest thing ever if Smart created it in real life. The image is created by Smarpache. It is called the Smartborghini. It is a Smart Fortwo with really big influences from Lamborghini.

I think it has the elements of the Fortwo but makes it longer in length and (seemingly) shorter in height (perhaps seems that way in relation to the length). I think this design is entirely doable. Unlike some of the other designs at the site that are cool but unrealistic, I think this one could be created. It would be a really neat concept by Smart ever. It would be cooler if they do make it. With Smart not bringing the Forfour to the US, I doubt they would bring this here either, even if they made it. 

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Smart Roller Coaster? by Smarpache.

There is a site called Smarpache. The person created variations of the Smart Fortwo. I don't believe they actually exists but it would be really cool if some of them do. I think he was very creative in making them, even if it was just on his computer. I think some of these could actually exists if someone decided to make them. Some are just flights of fancy and I doubt they would ever exist in real life but are still really cool. I am hoping Smart would look at these designs and be inspired to create some of them.

This post is one that I think could actually exist if Smart decided to make it. This design - a Smart roller coaster - might not be built by Smart but could be licensed. I read of a roller coaster cars that are inspired by and look like Mini Coopers. If they could do it with Mini Coopers, why not a Smart Fortwo?

Here is the Mini Cooper roller coaster that was in and based on the movie Italian Job. The photo from Dynamic Mini Collective. 

Here are the Smart Fortwo roller coaster per Smarpache site. 

BigGoofyGuy

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Sceadu Siva S160 Spyder with Smart Fortwo Parts?

While this isn't really about the Smart Fortwo, it is about an idea of using Smart Fortwo parts in creating the Siva S160 Spyder using parts from a Smart Fortwo. It seems Sceadu is trying to bring back the Siva S160 Spyder.
'Back in the late 60's and early 70's there was a gifted British designer named Neville Trickett. He was a prolific designer of some wonderfully unique vehicles.

I was lucky enough to come across one of his Siva S160 Spyders a couple of years ago. I bought it from the original owner who had seen it at the 1973 London Auto Show, and then bought it on the spot.

As time goes on, I will document the details of this car. We are also considering asking Mr Trickett if he would be interested in bringing this design back to life.'

(this is copied from the Sceadu Siva S160 Spyder site).

I think it looks really neat. 

The reason I posted / blogged about it here is I was wondering if one could use the engine and transmission from a Smart Fortwo in creating it. It seems like a lightweight vehicle (from what I have seen of it or read). If they could put the engine in an airplane or other vehicle, why not this one? I think it could do well . I have driven a Smart Fortwo (first a 2008 then a 2012) since 2008. It handles quite well. The Fortwo is tall and short and narrow. With this being shorter and (maybe) wider, one could go a little faster? 

BigGoofyGuy

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