Smart move? Daimler reportedly teams with Renault for next-gen minicar
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Minivan/Van, Sedan, Hatchback, Nissan, Smart, Renault, Electric
2009 Smart Fortwo - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Daimler brain trust of Dieter Zetsche and Thomas Weber has reportedly struck a deal with Renault/Nissan to develop its next generation of minicars due out in 2014 or so. As you would expect, Daimler will get a new Smart Fortwo out of the deal while the Franco-Japanese conglomerate will use the design for unknown future models that could bear both the Nissan and Renault nameplates.
According to Automobile Magazine, Daimler insisted on retaining the Smart brand’s trademark rear-engine and rear-wheel drive configuration, which was somewhat understandably met with some trepidation by Renault. Also held over will likely be the steel safety cage design with interchangeable plastic body panels so the resulting vehicles will be safe and easily distinguishable from each other.
Not surprisingly, electric powertrains will be part of the mix, along with a newly developed 1.0-liter direct injected three-cylinder engine and a duo of 1.3- and 1.5-liter fours. The modular chassis may also be lengthened in order to spawn a new four-seat Fourfour and a taller Formore micro-minivan with sliding doors.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Smart ForTwo
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Smart move? Daimler reportedly teams with Renault for next-gen minicar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: concept-cars, convertibles, entry, news, renault, renault nissan, resulting, smart, smart fortwo, smartcar, smartformore
AutoblogGreen for 02.15.10
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Quick Spin: Ford Transit Connect Electric a good sign of things to come Urban delivery drivers have a lot to look forward to with this van. |
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Class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Prius, Lexus hybrid owners Here it comes. |
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Smart uses hot dog costumes, street gamblers to lure customers Because this is what you think about when you think about the Fortwo, right? |
Other news: | |
AutoblogGreen for 02.15.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, filed-on-behalf, fortwo, here-it-comes, img-hspace, lure-customers, news, quick-spin, smart, transit-connect, urban
Hulu on iPad: How true?
Feb 11, 2010 Object
Rumor has it the Hulu will be coming to the iPad. This isn’t official yet but Hulu is said to be working on an iPad version aside from the iPhone app they are also rumored to be developing.
This is just a rumor but it wouldn’t hurt to hope much. I …
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Hulu on iPad: How true?
Tags: a-rumor-but, extreme-weather, from-the, from-the-iphone, hulu-, ipad, official-yet, one-because, reader10-4, recently-showed, smart, toughbook
Panasonic outs the Toughbook H1 Field
Feb 11, 2010 Object
Panasonic recently showed off their newest Toughbook H1 Field. Expect this to be a really tough one because it can withstand rough movements, drops, extreme weather, and is waterproof.
Let’s take a look at the specs:
1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor
fingerprint scanner
2 megapixel camera
LED flash
RFID reader
SmartCard Reader10.4 …
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Panasonic outs the Toughbook H1 Field
Tags: extreme-weather, intel, one-because, reader10-4, really-tough, recently-showed, rough-movements, smart, toughbook
AutoblogGreen for 02.10.10
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Next Toyota concept previewed in patent filing? Is this what we’ll be seeing in Geneva? |
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Seriously off oil: Better Place’s first electric vehicle demonstration center in Israel Hehe. It’s built inside an old oil tank. |
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Opel’s extended business plan includes multiple electric vehicles The brand will introduce “pure battery-electric vehicles in smaller-size segments.” |
Other news: | |
AutoblogGreen for 02.10.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 237-million, better-place, chevy-volt, dance, entry, img-hspace, israel, news, patent filing, smart, smart fortwo
Sales of the Smart Fortwo Plummet
Feb 4, 2010 Object
Sales of the Smart fortwo plummeted in January; is there any way the company can crawl back up?
Continued here:
Sales of the Smart Fortwo Plummet
Tags: diesel, electric-car, fortwo-plummeted, fuel-efficiency, img-alt, industry news, inquiry-into, january, smart, smart fortwo
Rumormill: Forthcoming Cadillac ATS to breed sedan, wagon, coupe, convertible
Feb 2, 2010 Object
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Cadillac, Rumormill, Luxury
Cadillac is in the midst of a renaissance. Again. Still. The 2008 CTS paved the way, the Converj is set to follow, and the XTS is set to put the stodgy old Seville and Deville to rest. But Caddy’s also preparing to launch an attack on the entry-level end of the luxury market. And according to word on the street, it’ll be a full-on assault.
When the “small” Cadillac model dubbed ATS debuts for 2012 - the smart money’s on the Los Angeles Auto Show in December - it’ll be spearheaded by a four-door sedan, targeting the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Infiniti G37. But like the offerings from BMW and Infiniti, the sedan won’t be the end of the story. According to an inside source speaking to Inside Line, the ATS will also breed a wagon, a coupe and a convertible.
Whether the convertible will use a folding metal roof or a conventional rag top remains to be decided, but whatever form it takes, one thing’s for sure: General Motors remains very serious about Cadillac, and so should the competition.
[Source: Inside Line]
Rumormill: Forthcoming Cadillac ATS to breed sedan, wagon, coupe, convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2011bmwalpinab7pricing, a-coupe-and, ats, attack-on-the, bmw 7 series, convertible-, grandcherokeerubicon, luxury, offerings, pricy-flavors, smart
Onzo Smart Energy Kit helps you go green
Jan 20, 2010 Object
The Onzo Smart Energy Kit is another green gadget that helps one keep track of energy usage inside the home. You can even use this thing to store up to a decade’s worth of data.
Obviously, you can attach this to a computer or a laptop to upload the information. It …
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Onzo Smart Energy Kit helps you go green
Tags: 10a-resembles, another-image, energy-usage, green, inside-the-home, really-help, smart, the-concept, upload-the
Why Smart Doctors and Dentists Make Dumb Investors
Dec 23, 2009 Object
Over the years, I’ve reviewed thousands of portfolios, and the worst I’ve seen were the ones held by doctors and dentists. That seemed odd to me. After all, these are highly intelligent professionals with big incomes. Why would they be such bad investors?
Continue reading Why Smart Doctors and Dentists Make Dumb Investors
Why Smart Doctors and Dentists Make Dumb Investors originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:08:00.
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Why Smart Doctors and Dentists Make Dumb Investors
Tags: cruelest, doctors-and, img-hspace, newscorp., nfl, over-the-years, smart, the-years
AutoblogGreen for 12.14.09
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Tesla employees going on 2,700-mile road trip from LA to Detroit Yes, there will be many stops along the way. |
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Automaker Advice: How to relieve long-range anxiety and gain market share Two words: rental cars. |
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NMG two-seat electric car now available for pre-order The price could be as low as $22,495 if 1,000 people place a pre-order. |
Other news: | |
AutoblogGreen for 12.14.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: bronx, business, its-close-up, may-reconsider, news, plugging, smart, third-hydrogen, uaw president, uawford, uawpresidentgettelfinger, under-the-law
