The Forvision is Smart's second concept model after the sportier, roofless Forspeed that debuted in Geneva this past March to feature the brand's new styling language that brings the original Fortwo's design into the 21st century.
Smart worked together with BASF, the world's largest chemical company, for the development of several advanced technologies used on the Forvision.
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In this latest tune, Vilner crafted a bespoke Smart ForTwo for one of its local customers. The Lilliputian two-door model received extensive styling modifications built around a square motive that is visible inside and out. On the outside, the ForTwo gains a colorful wrap that includes a chrome finish at the back and orange wheels, while the interior has been completely reworked featuring new and more luxurious materials throughout. Follow the jump for more pictures as well as a video from the build.
I guess it must be artsy or something. As Michael Fischer, a spokesperson for Smart and someone who probably understands Appartjik about as well as you or I, explains:
“It’s not their approach to deliver a perfect piece of art or a perfect piece of music. It’s a very conceptual project. It’s not like a regular band. They play in a cube.”
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Remember the patent designs of a topless, two-seat Smart model that we first showed you back in December, 2010? Well, according to Carscoop sources, the drawings are of a concept speedster model that will make its world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 1.
We also learned the concept is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, and that while Smart's parent company Mercedes-Benz has no plans to create a production version of the speedster-like model, key styling cues such as the headlamp and grille designs will pass on to the next generation Smart cars like the new Fortwo and the upcoming 5-door variant.
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Daimler is planning to end an agreement with Penske Automotive Group regarding the distribution rights of Smart cars in the United States and transfer all activities to Mercedes-Benz USA, starting from the end of the second quarter of 2011. Read more »
Fast-forward to today, and Smart appears to be readying a spiritual successor to the Crossblade as the firm's parent company Mercedes-Benz has trademarked these designs drawings of a two-seater roadster model.
Unlike the original Crossblade, which came without doors featuring instead steel safety bars at passenger shoulder height that swing upwards with the help of a gas-operated struts, the roadster model seen in these pictures gets a conventional set of doors. It also features a larger wind deflector surrounding the driver and passenger as well as Smart's trademark Tridion Safety Cell - albeit redesigned to look like separate safety bars.
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Available as a coupe or a cabrio with a 71HP petrol engine with micro hybrid drive technology (a.k.a. start and stop technology) or a 84HP petrol engine, the Greystyle Fortwo comes in an exclusive matt dark grey finish with matching 15-inch alloy wheels and contrasting yellow mirror caps.
The same color theme is found in the interior that combines dark colored fabric and high-quality nappa leather upholstery with yellow accents and trim parts.
Standard features include unique floor mats with the edition logo and the MP3-compatible CD radio smart radio 9. Electric power steering, heated seats, a lockable glove compartment and the smart sound system with MP3 interface are optionally available.
The special edition Fortwo Greystyle is on sale now with prices in Germany starting from €16,135 or about US$22,200 (including VAT).
For the 2009 model year, the Fortwo 61hp and 71hp will feature the firm's micro hybrid drive system as standard while Smart has also enhanced the minicar's equipment levels. When Smart says 'micro hybrid drive' or MHD for short, what the company means to say is an automatic start/stop start function. The system operates during the engine idling phases and promises to return fuel savings of up to 24% compared to the standard models and lower CO2 emissions to 103 grams per km. If the driver doesn't want to use the start and stop function, it can be deactivated through a switch on the center console until the next time the car is started. 
Together with the micro hybrid drive Smart also performed a few minor upgrades in the Fortwo's interior. Changes include a redesigned instrument cluster with an enhanced LCD display and new net storage pockets in the driver and passenger doors, while the passion's "design red" interior trim has now also been updated to match the new "rally red" paint finish.
Furthermore, Smart added the "grey metallic" to the Fortwo's exterior color palette along with new optional 15" six-spoke alloy wheels.
In the U.K., the 2009 Fortwo 61hp and 71hp are available for order as a coupe and a cabrio in all three lines – pure, pulse and passion – with prices starting from £7,060 on the road.
Having already made its way to the North American continent, the Smart brand is now heading south and in particular to Brazil. The announcement was made today at the Sao Paulo Auto Show where the Fortwo celebrated its domestic debut. Smart will tap in the promising Brazilian market from April 2009 offering the second generation Fortwo in both coupe and cabrio versions. Over one million of the two-seaters have been produced since the introduction of the first generation Fortwo in 1998. -ContinuedDuring the presentation of the Fortwo at the Sao Paulo Auto Show, Anders-Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Management at Smart commented, "The smart fortwo is a real success story - it is winning over customers in 37 markets throughout the world. We are certain that the agile two-seater possesses the ideal prerequisites to inspire lifestyle-oriented customers in Brazil's urban centers, starting with São Paulo."
"The upscale and fuel-efficient fortwo boasts not only exemplary safety equipment and distinctive smart design, but also typical smart quality and reliability." he added.
On 24 October 2008, Smart's parent company Daimler will inaugurate a pilot rent-a-car project called 'car2go' in the southern German city of Ulm that will see a fleet of Smart Fortwo vehicles being made available for rent within the boundaries of the city. So what's so different about Daimler's project that any other car rental service? Well, the difference is that following a one-off registration process, the Fortwos can be hired spontaneously in passing, or pre-booked and used for as long as desired with customer being able to simply park the rental smart anywhere within the city limits. -Continued According to Merc', billing for the Ulm project has been set 19 cents (Euro) per minute which includes of all associated costs such as fuel, insurance and taxes. If you do the math -19 Euro cents x 60 minutes x 24 hours, renting a Fortwo for a whole day will cost you an amazing €273.6 or a whopping $364.7 with the current exchange rates.
Even if Mercedes claims that favorable hourly or daily rates apply to longer rental periods and that there is no joining fee nor any requirements to enter into any long-term contractual commitment, that's a hell of a lot of money to rent a bucket on wheels a Smart for 24 hours...
Cost aside, on registering for car2go, the customer's driving license is provided with an electronic chip that enables the car to be unlocked. According to the German maker and now car-rental company, customers can simply hold their driving licenses up to a reading device behind the windscreen, get in, enter their PIN number and well, cry for the amount of money they're paying and drive off.
Available vehicles can be located via the internet or a telephone service hotline while alternatively, they can be booked up to 24 hours in advance for as long as desired. In this case the location and directions to the vehicle reserved are sent to the customer in good time via a text message.
Once you've had your fix, you can simply leave the vehicle in a parking space within the city limits. All "non-managed" parking spaces within the city limits can be used, for example the car can be parked at the side of the road or within marked parking spaces. In addition, specially marked car2go parking spaces are provided at railway stations or airports.
The aptly named Smart Fortwo Special Edition – Limited Two continues in the footsteps of the first generation model offering an array of extras along with a unique blue metallic paint finish, which varies between different shades according to the light. Based on the 71 HP Fortwo passion, the special edition model comes equipped with cognac brown leather heated seats, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gearshift, leather gear knob and velour floor mats also in leather trim, a rev counter and clock, limited two badging and 15-inch six-spoke alloy wheels. -ContinuedBut just because Smart calls it a “limited edition version”, don’t think you’re gonna get everything for free as buyers will still have to pay extra for electric power steering, a lockable glove compartment and the audio system. The special edition will be available in coupe and cabrio body styles when it goes on sale on 1st September 2008. Prices in the
