[part of our "smart at the Geneva Motor Show 2011" series.. scroll to the bottom for some awesome photos of this car]

Proving that electric mobility can be fun

smart forspeed: zero emissions, great fun to drive and a cool design

smart is presenting an unconventional study at the Geneva Motor Show: the forspeed combines contemporary urban mobility with the fun factor typical of smart. The two-seater has no roof or side windows and it features a low wind deflector instead of a windscreen in the style of a classic propeller aircraft. The result is an incomparable fresh air driving experience. The responsive electric drive that has been further developed and features a boost function also guarantees driving pleasure. A look forward at the next generation is particularly exciting as the era of electric mobility has already started at smart.

No roof, minimal windows and a responsive and zero-emission electric drive at the rear: the smart forspeed combines responsibility and emotional appeal in a new and pleasurable way. Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart says “The smart forspeed is a completely new take on how much fun it is to drive electric: it boasts a superb design with a powerful drive system and, needless to say, locally emission-free. And if you put the smart forspeed next to our ebike, escooter and smart fortwo electric drive you’ll see that smart has realised all kinds of variations of electric driving – demonstrating that smart is not just a practical city car, but a great idea.” The smart forspeed boasts an extremely innovative and self-assured design. Prof. Dr. h. c. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design says “The smart brand has always taken an unconventional approach with bold design. The forspeed now carries purist sportiness to extremes and in terms of form it is also a pioneer for a new paradigm of mobility.”

Powerful and environmentally friendly electric drive with an extra boost

smart is a pioneer in modern electric mobility. The second generation smart fortwo electric drive has been delivered to customers since the end of 2009. It is been proving its suitability for everyday use in 18 countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, England, France, Switzerland, the USA, Canada and further countries in Asia. Due to the high demand production figures have been increased to 1500 vehicles. Thanks to this experience smart has already collected extensive customer feedback that has been integrated in the development of the smart forspeed’s electric drive. With its improved performance and charge management the concept vehicle offers a look at the performance potential of future generations of the electric smart.

For example, the smart forspeed accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 km/h. A 30 kW magneto-electric motor is installed at the rear of the smart forspeed and the vehicle concept provides an immediate powerful response from stationary. Pressing a button in the centre console activates a boost function which provides an extra 5 kW of power for a short time and is ideal for overtaking manoeuvres on urban highways, for example. The smart forspeed is powered by a lithium-ion battery that delivers 16.5 kWh of electrical energy. It is simple to charge at any conventional 220 Volt socket. The charging device is located in the third brake light behind the smart logo and features a simple push/push opening mechanism. A fully charged battery is sufficient for 135 kilometres of driving fun (NEDC). Quick charging from 0 to 80 percent takes just 45 minutes.

The forspeed developers have integrated a further clever way of charging in the wind deflector: photovoltaic cells feed solar power to the on-board electrical system. As with the smart escooter this lengthens the battery life of the smartphone, for example.

Unconventional exterior

With its high-gloss white metallic paintwork the smart forspeed also builds a bridge to the two-wheel escooter and ebike studies that were presented at the Paris Motor Show.

The front and rear lamps have a very striking design. The outer rings are illuminated by a large number of rod-shaped LEDs whilst the centre of the lamps is white. The indicators seem to push outwards like arrows – like drops on the cockpit window of an aeroplane as it takes off. In the front and rear bumpers numerous holes with a honeycomb structure serve as air inlets and create an interesting progressive pattern. At the same time this pattern gives the forspeed a particularly wide appearance and a powerful road stance. The smart forspeed is fitted with front tyres in size 205/35 R 18 to match its dynamic look. On the driven rear axle the tyres measure 235/30 R 18 for full grip.

Purist and sporty interior

The exterior and interior of the smart forspeed are designed as a formal unit. This is manifested in numerous details: the tridion safety cell flows from the outside behind the roll-over bars towards the front to the cockpit and forms the centre tunnel as a load-bearing part. The outer and inner door sections connect seamlessly to form a single component, just like the floor and side walls. The leather seats also have a one-shell design and are a modern interpretation of purist sportiness.

The air inlet in the wind deflector ends in the central outlet in the centre console and can provide even more fresh air for the interior when needed.

The high-gloss white of the exterior paintwork also dominates in the interior. It is accentuated by green elements such as the sporty four-point seat belts for driver and passenger or the large horizontal shelf under the cockpit that provides stowage space. All the control elements that the driver uses particularly frequently, such as the gear lever, door openers or steering wheel come in natural brown leather. By contrast, load-bearing structural components such as the tridion safety cell or the curved trims on the instrument hoods are in matt platinum silver. Functional elements such as the steering wheel buttons and the shift lever with gate are painted in silver shadow.

The open two-seater has been deliberately designed without an outer door handle – an interior grip is all that is needed to open the door. The control for the electric parking brake is particularly convenient to operate and also has a simple and functional design: the switch on the centre tunnel is reminiscent of the lever used to pull in the landing gear of aircraft.

There is a block with ten LEDs in the middle of the instrument panel. When the forspeed is started the LEDs shine through the translucent paint and show the battery charge status of the electric smart. When switched off nothing is seen of the charge indicator except its outline.

Weatherproof thanks to tonneau cover and coating

The whole interior of the smart forspeed can be protected against rain and sun when necessary with a tonneau cover. It is an easy matter to stretch it over the interior and fasten it to the body with the straps. It can be divided in the middle with the help of a zip to free the driver’s seat only, for example.

But even without weather protection a downpour will not lead to any serious problems. Water drainage channels in the vehicle floor ensure that water is channeled outside. The seat surfaces also have water drainage channels and all interior equipment has a waterproof coating for fun behind the wheel regardless of the weather.

Smartphone as a communication centre

The purist sportiness of the interior is also reminiscent of classic aircraft construction: the driver and co-pilot sit in front of two separate round turbine-like instrument clusters. Whilst the driver has the speedometer firmly in his field of vision, the passenger is responsible for communication and navigation: this area of the cockpit features a smartphone. It can be swiveled by up to 90 degrees in its holder and towards the driver so that the driver can also take a look at the display of the navigation system.

As in the production models from smart, the smart drive app for the iPhone® has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, navigation with a special smart touch and a Car Finder that guides the driver back to the parked car.

Intelligent lightweight design, optimised aerodynamics and state-of-the-art LED technology

With its body made of glass fibre-reinforced plastic the smart forspeed is a real lightweight. The low power-to-weight ratio is conducive to driving pleasure. Moreover, the dynamic two-seater boasts excellent aerodynamics: round, taut forms, a deliberate lack of joints (for example on the single-piece front module), smooth, handleless surfaces on the doors and rear lid and the design of many details based on aircraft construction reduce aerodynamic resistance.

State-of-the-art LED lighting technology contributes to active safety. Furthermore, it is controlled intelligently: daytime running lamps are automatically activated during the daytime. The Citylight system also senses when the forspeed driver turns night into day: photoelectric sensors monitor the brightness and give the command to automatically switch on the low-beam headlamps when necessary.

[Source: Daimler AG, Stuttgart.]

With the claim “A big idea for…” smart is launching a new international brand campaign which focuses on the uniqueness of the vehicle’s concept in an unusual way. Five different stories are the common denominator for all communication activities. Each story demonstrates a feature of the smart fortwo, accompanied by humorous illustrations. They tell how this innovative vehicle improves the quality of life in pulsating cities. As a whole new vehicle concept ahead of its time right from the start, the smart is showing that it is the real city car. Compact, agile and individual as well as economical and with electric drive – all assets of the smart are addressed in the campaign. For example, the smart fortwo is a big idea for “…the city” because it fits in every parking space or for “…more uniqueness” because the individual program smart BRABUS tailor made offers endless possibilities for a unique and individual design and equipment.

Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart says “Right from the start smart was ahead of its time: Not just the perfect car for the city with a trendsetting design – it was also “a big idea”, a strong vision and a solution for the ever-increasing mobility and environmental problems in growing cities around the world. Almost 13 years after the first smart rolled off the production line approximately 1.25 million vehicles have been sold and it is a familiar part of the city roadscape. Not later than today we have the situation that moved the inventors of the smart to design this most consistent of all city cars that was far ahead of its time.

Now the time for the big “smart” idea has finally come, including the electric drive for which provisions were made right from the start – that’s what we want to demonstrate with our campaign.”

Marc Langenbrinck, Head of Sales & Marketing says “Our new campaign confidently communicates the leadership claim of the brand in the typical smart tongue-in-cheek manner as the inventor of the microcar segment and the best in class. The campaign clearly shows: The smart was, is and will be an icon, a big idea and a benefit for urban quality of life.”

The integrated campaign covers all communication channels – from print ads, posters and online banners to TV, online and cinema spots, a Facebook application and trade and dialogue marketing activities. It will also be integrated on the website www.smart.com and on smart’s mobile portal.

Need the visuals? Yup, here they are:

One of the new vids here, at smart’s YouTube channel:

[part of our smart at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 coverage]

smart is ringing in the spring with a fresh colour: the new limited special edition smart fortwo nightorange combines bright orange with elegant black. The striking two-seater can be ordered now. Customers can choose between three variants: two petrol versions and a diesel version and a coupé or cabrio body.

Colour psychologists regard orange as active, confident and trendy, whilst black is seen as resolute, elegant and strong-minded. The limited special edition fortwo nightorange is an exciting mix of both colours and is bursting with urban chic. The most striking feature of the exterior is the exclusive orange metallic finish combined with a black tridion safety cell and black ?3-double-spoke alloy wheels fitted with tyres in size 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear. The special edition also features black painted headlamp trims, black mirror caps and nightorange logos in the mirror ?triangles. The smart fortwo nightorange cabrio has a black soft top.

The interior takes up the colour concept of the body with a design that is both sporty and chic: the black seats in a mix of leather and fabric have an orange sport stripe in the middle, as does the knee pad in leather look. They provide a dramatic contrast to the black door trim and black instrument panel. Contrast components such as the instrument trims are painted in pearl black. The 3-spoke sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift and the gear knob are covered with black nappa leather. The audio system basic (RDS radio with AUX/USB interfaces and two loudspeakers) is already on board as a standard feature of the smart fortwo nightorange, as are dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter).

The new smart fortwo nightorange is based on the passion coupé and ?passion cabrio. Among other features the passion equipment line comes ?with softouch automatic gear programme, electric windows, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, and a transparent panoramic roof ?with sunblind. Options include electric power steering, heated seats, a ?lockable glove compartment, the smart surround sound system with six ?loudspeakers or the audio system navigation / multimedia with touchscreen display.

The fortwo nightorange can be ordered with a 52 kW (71 hp) petrol engine with micro hybrid drive technology, a 62 kW (84 hp) petrol engine or a ?40 kW (54 hp) diesel engine equipped with a diesel particulate filter.

[Source: Daimler AG, Stuttgart]

The first iPad app from smart can now be downloaded from the iTunes store. smart is presenting an interactive history of great visions and visionaries entitled “Ideas in motion”. And the name also says it all about the app itself: it is always in motion. iPad owners can add their own contributions and continue writing the story together with smart. In this way the eBook will keep growing and new updates will be added for users to read on their iPads.

The world is driven forward by pioneers who think outside the box; opinion makers who don’t just talk but act, and idealists who defend their ideals against all resistance. smart is presenting some of these people. There are stories about visionary people and revolutionary events in 17 subject areas. The wide topics range from society and politics to philosophy, science, lifestyle and communication. Film, fashion, architecture, environment and mobility – iPad users can write their own contributions in all the areas that move people and the world and they can share their thoughts, opinions and convictions with others. In this way an eBook will be created that reflects the ideas that move people today.

“We want to use the new smart iPad app to create a platform where people can examine the world in a creative way, write down their views and share and discuss them with others. This will create a unique kaleidoscope which reflects the diversity of people and their ideas”, says Dr. Annette Winkler, head of smart.

The eBook will be updated and new contributions published every two months. The smart iPad app is now available free of charge at http://store.apple.com/

[Editor's note: Of course the best way is to grab is straight from the iTunes/app store, just search for the phrase "Ideas in Motion" yep yep.. I wonder if you need to read German or if they have an English version too!? I myself don't have an iPad, just a iPhone, iMovie, iLife, iWork, iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes.. Aye, Yai Yai..]

Here’s some screenshots for ya.. If it’s anything like smart’s iPhone app, you are in for a real treat!

Can’t get better than first place, well, unless you get it twice! smart got 1st Place in User Interface AND 1st Place in Mobile Music at the mobile excellence awards in Los Angeles, California.

The awards were accepted by Johann Jungwirth, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc. at a gala dinner at Paramount Studios.

The jury (www.mobilexawards.com) evaluated the submitted innovations using five main criteria: strategic initiative, impact of technology used, creativity, ease of use and reach and execution and market success. “ This year’s entries were extremely impressive,” said Executive Director of the Mobile Excellence Awards and CEO of the ITV Alliance, Allison Dollar. “They demonstrate a range of innovation and depth of creativity that prove just how fast and how far mobile has come”.

smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone the popular phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras – for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.

The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate and features extra large buttons among other things. The new app makes urban mobility even easier and more fun – the declared objective of the smart philosophy.

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

- The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made.

- The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world’s first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters.

smart driving with the smart drive kit for the iPhone has been possible since August 2010. The smart cradle for the iPhone is available from smart dealers (for a fee, yep) and the smart drive app for the iPhone can be downloaded FREE from the App Store. There’s North America (NA) and European Union (EU) versions, which each have their own maps, and it’s just over a gig download for that.

The navigation upgrade with up-to-date maps cost you about $30 a year or so, which is way cheaper than updating the maps in my dealer-installed Pioneer AVIC-Z3 GPS unit (they go for around $200 every few years).

[Source: Daimler, Stuttgart/Los Angeles]

American West Coast zest for life meets German technology, design art, and granny’s hand-knitted woollen socks. The designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Sindelfingen based their design for an unusual smart with four seats for this year’s Los Angeles Design Challenge on these principles. The smart 454 is produced by “Smart Granny Robots” (SGR) using weight watch technologies (WWT). These incredible high-tech robots are equipped with huge knitting needles. Like our grandmothers used to knit, they knit the smart’s tridion cell from carbon fibres. This knitting creates complex shapes and structures which enable the vehicle geometry to be optimised in terms of weight and strength. When empty, the visionary small car weighs in at just 454 kilogrammes.

For the Los Angeles Design Challenge international car design studios were invited to design a visionary car weighing 1,000 American pounds (approx. 454 kilogrammes). The four-seater small car had to be safe and comfortable, offer good handling performance and first-class design. Steffen Köhl, Head of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design says: “As the prototype of the lightweight and environmentally friendly city car smart is predestined for this challenge. It met all the basic requirements. We just had to further optimise the lightweight construction coupled with a distinctive and individual design.”

Lightweight design with different materials for an individual look

Every single component of the smart 454 is made of different materials to give it characteristic features and a specific look. Every part is manufactured with the precise materials necessary for a perfect balance between weight and function. The windows, fenders, and bumpers are made of recyclable, coloured plastic. The roof is made of thin yet highly durable recycled textile fabric in various printed and woven patterns. The WWT carbon fibre tyres with integrated suspension have an extremely lightweight design and rule out the risk of a flat tyre. The unique SGR technology is the best lightweight design technology for rims and enables truly unique rims to be produced.

The smart 454 is driven by two 15 kW electric motors which are powered by a replaceable lithium-ion battery. The motors are housed between the rear wheels. In the interior the city runabout does not need an instrument panel at all. All functions are controlled and managed via an iPad, for example speedometer and battery charge indicator, navigation system, or air conditioning.

The modular “clip-on” design principle familiar from smart enables a sheer endless spectrum of customer wishes to be easily realised. Doors, roof, engine, and transmission are simple to exchange – for an individual look and driving fun and the best possible vehicle configuration for every occasion.

Los Angeles Design Challenge

The Los Angeles Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles Conference that will take place from 17 to 18 November 2010 within the framework of the Los Angeles Auto Show. This year international studios will participate for the first time in addition to South Californian design studios working in the automotive industry. The winner of the vision competition will be announced on 18 November 2010.

Speaking of design, here’s some concept art of the project car, which reminds me a bit of the earlier crossblade, except, more curvy and futuristic

• Aachen, city of science, becomes the second pilot city after Ulm
• Integration in the traffic concept for the Aachen region
• Finding drivers or passengers via smartphone or PC

Three weeks after the start of the car2gether pilot project in Ulm Daimler AG is announcing the second pilot project of the new mobility concept: on 8 October 2010 car2gether will be launched in the Aachen region.

car2gether is a web-based ride sharing community arranging incoming offers and requests for lifts. Rides can be arranged via smartphones on the way or from a PC at home – almost in real time.

“As a university and science city Aachen offers an ideal environment for pioneering new mobility solutions”, says Marcel Philipp, Mayor of the City of Aachen, welcoming the commitment of Daimler AG. “We look forward to working with Daimler and hope that car2gether can make a successful contribution to networking various mobility providers.”

The first car2gether pilot project started successfully in Ulm in mid September. “We are registering lively interest in Ulm in the first few weeks and across all age groups”, says Project Manager Michael Kuhn. “Lots of users are testing the system and trying out the different functions. We are in dialogue with them and are evaluating their experience.”

Aachen as a second pilot city

Aachen is the second region where Daimler AG will test the system in real-world everyday conditions together with its Partner Scientific Computers GmbH. All citizens there will be able to try out the ride sharing system. In addition, at the beginning of the winter semester car2gether will be presented to students at Aachen University. The pilot phase serves to test specific individual functions of the system and the acceptance and use patterns of participants. Experience with the system will be gathered in close cooperation with the users. The findings will be incorporated in the further development and optimi-sation of car2gether.

car2gether in detail
If users intend to offer or take advantage of a ride, they have first to register on the car2gether website and create a profile with their photo, mobile phone number and other personal information. There are no fees for registration or for the smartphone software required. Following registration, users can enter the desired starting time and the destination using their smartphone or PC. car2gether brings to-gether rides offered and wanted and sends details of suitable drivers or passengers to the user. Users can then confirm the journey via their mobile phone or PC. Once both parties have agreed to the journey, the journey details will be shown to both participants. Users can also receive text message or e-mail notifications.

The ride offers and searches are also displayed in the form of a “live ticker” on the car2gether web portal. This ticker displays all offers and searches in a short form and is automatically updated every 15 seconds. If interested, users can get further details of the ride from the live ticker and directly opt for it.

Potentials for the future

car2gether is an ideal addition to car ownership and other means of transport. For example, a taxi symbol takes the user straight to the central taxi switchboard in Aachen. For the future there are also plans to include information on public transport stops and departure times on car2gether. This integration is an additional focus of the pilot pro-ject in Aachen.

Furthermore, with its own fan page on facebook and its own Twitter account car2gether is firmly integrated in the virtual world of online communities and in this way promotes communication between its users.