The US public is enjoying the tiny Smart that with its new series presents minimal dimensions and an inspirational philosophy that is the antithesis of the American idea of a car.

Damiler AG and Roger Penske, the brand’s official importer to the American market, have been proved right by the numbers. The Germans have assigned 25,000 units of the Smart ForTwo in America, but you’d have to be quick (waiting time has hit 12 months in California) and the importer has declared that selling another 15,000 vehicles is no problem, if only they would arrive.

Unfortunately for him there’s no assurance that Mercedes will send the requested number to the US as production lines are reported to be running full time to satisfy European market demand: in Italy for example, the new version is posting higher numbers than the parent and a production increase for America is unlikely to occur.

Continue reading: Sparkling Smart launch in the US: 2008 and already sold out

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Rumors from Germany that have BMW wanting to segment the arm of its smaller cars are ever more frequent. Yesterday we spoke of the electric city car and the chat between Reithofer and Auto, Motor und Sport. The same magazine today, returns to the topic of the flirt between BMW and the smaller segments of the market.

This “smaller” proposal from Munich will most probably include more individual designs exuding BMW personality, and not the classic utilitarianism of smaller cars. As said, the much-talked about model will be paying some attention to the environmental theme: the car will be smaller than the series 1 and the Mini, and will offer in 2012 (a year after its debut) a no-emission version. No fear though from the German manufacturer about driving pleasure, according to Auto, Motor und Sport, because the power produced by the electric motor will be enough for a city car, with added autonomy supplied by a lithium ion battery.

There’s more: the version equipped with a combustion engine could be an option for emerging markets. Management is ready to bet that in four years time, in countries like China, a new rich generation will be born and will be very interested in new forms of transport. In short, there would be many a premise for a “cultmobile” along the lines of the Mini in Europe. On the topic of Mini, there remains only the puzzle of the brand: in Munich they have yet to decide under which brand to commercialize the new citycar.

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Jeremy Clarkson’s second job, after his work with Top Gear, is the editorial of the automobile column of the Times: a hilarious space in the authoritative British daily. We’ve already looked at various articles from this said column (Jaguar XF, Fiat Bravo), but today’s article is a little special, because firstly it shows Jeremy at the wheel of a 500 and secondly because before now, no such test has previously been seen (if we can call it such).

St. Moritz: in front of Clarkson’s eyes run images of the Drophead Coupè, Maybach, Phantom and Audi R8 parked here and there in front of hotels and boutiques. Together with the ML 63 AMG they do nothing but contribute to the supercar panorama which people who come to stay here are used to seeing. A panorama in which to stand out, to show off, you don’t need the series listed above, but something with a little extra touch. “Something more appropriate to the place than Princess Carolina,” to use the words of the Top Gear driver.

And that something is the new Fiat 500, which attracted the attention of stars, magnates and the nobility alike, who can be seen walking on the streets of the Swiss city more frequently these days. “The 500 is the best revival job of recent years, from the new Beetle until now. There’s no comparison to the Mini, as this is more beautiful. The 500 is fantastic.”

Continue reading: At some stage they had to meet: Jeremy Clarkson and the Fiat 500

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The engines of the new Ford Ka are heating up in preparation for its Paris debut. Cologne’s citycar, which will be made in Tychy together with its cousin the Fiat 500, will encounter a competitve sector, where various choices (including that of Turin) expanding throughout Europe will be giving it a run for its money.

Either for the cold or to avoid curious photographers stealing important first details, the new Ka continues to go around all wrapped up, leaving a difficult job to the imagination. The stylistic direction will follow that of the new Ford Fiesta which we saw in Geneva (and which left us with a good impression): Kinetic Design had a spy as seen by photos published almost exactly a week ago.

And under the wrap? Many aspects will be shared with the 500, including the Euro 5 1.4 petrol engine, 100 bhp and 1.3 Multijet bhp. But that’s not all: given the clamour provoked by the Abarth 500, it looks as if Ford could be taking seriously the idea of a sporty range, composed of Ka ST and Ka RS, which would give a new expression to “Abarth” of “Abarth esseesse”.

Continue reading: New Ford Ka: cold spy photos

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From racing to our everyday roads, but always with a sporty approach. This is the goal behind the debut of the long-awaited Abarth 500, announced for the coming Geneva International Motor Show. The new car was developed by the Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre in the spirit of the legendary Fiat 500 Abarth of the 1960s, and will be marketed from July through the exclusive Abarth network.

With a strong sporty personality, the new car will be powered by a Fire 1.4 16v petrol Turbo engine, which delivers a maximum of 135 bhp (99 kW) at 5500 rpm and peak torque of 206 Nm at 3000 rpm in Sport mode (in Normal mode, torque is reduced to 180 Nm at 2500 rpm). This brilliant, smooth new engine is also a friend of the environment: like the regular Fiat model it is derived from, the new Abarth will respect future Euro 5 legislation.

Another interesting feature of the 500 Abarth is the fact that it adopts the new TTC (Torque Transfer Control) system, which improves the transfer of drive torque to the wheels, but, above all, ensures that the car behaves impeccably on bends, making it safer and more entertaining even with a sporty driving style. In other words, it is faithful to the phrase coined for the Abarths of the 1960s ‘small but wicked’.

Continue reading: Abarth 500 unveiled

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Monday, january 18th, we’ll be in Turin for the unveiling of the new Abarth headquarters. A funny coincidence: the Abarth newsletter sent out friday evening promises that “Monday 18th and tuesday 19th Abarth owns. And you’ll be there”. Attached to the newsletter was the sketch you find above. Enough to hope in the long awaited debut of the 500 Abarth ?

Stay tuned: we’ll be there!

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The new cars announced by Toyota should be a truly important addition to the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. On display will be the IQ urban car and the brand new model, the Urban Cruiser. The IQ was first seen in concept form in Frankfurt in September 2007 and time-wise in terms of development it has beaten the Volskwagen UP!, which was displayed only a few stands away at the same show.

Three passenger spaces have been confirmed, despite the length being less than three metres. Also confirmed is the shape of the prototype, with large wheels and a smoother drive. Even though the glimpses we have had of the IQ seem to be similar in concept to the Smart For Two, Toyota insists that the technology, the security and the design research represent an automotive revolution. As of yet, the specification details and performance stats, as well as the pricing have not been released, but we do know that the car will not be available on the market before the end of 2008. As for the engine, on
the Italian site we recently covered a possible collaboration with Yamaha.

Continue reading: Geneva 2008: Toyota IQ and Urban Cruiser

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Toyota has started work on the facelift for the Yaris, which by all accounts should be released by mid 2008. In brief, the nose has been corrected and the rear lights have been modified. However, perhaps these modifications are not an example of a proper restyling but simply an annual model retouch.

The Yaris Japanese car will undergo a few minor changes, only recognisable by a keen eye. The radiator grille will become narrower, whilst the tail lights will have new covers. The engine line-up will most likely be upgraded for better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Via | World Car Fans

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Škoda has started testing the new Fabia Super 2000, the rally version of the Fabia city car. The Fabia Super 2000 has a 4 cylinder 2.0 normally aspirated engine with a 6-speed sequential gearbox, 4-wheel drive and three mechanical differentials.

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The next Ford Ka has a hard work to face: it must try not to be cannibalized by the charming Fiat 500, which provides the technical basis for the small german citycar.

The only way to gain popularity and face adequately the italian rival, is impressing a peculiar styling to the body, and it seems that Ford Europe will take the right decision: the 2009 Ford Ka will keep very close to the Ford Verve concept’s lines (headlights, air intake, belt line).

We are sure it is a necessary choice for keeping the distance between the two citycars, all the more so since the Fiat 500 won the “Car of the Year 2008″ award.

Continue reading: Ford Ka 2009 spied

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