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Articles Matching “Smart”

• Tiny Tuner: Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Banovsky on July 30, 2009

  This is a customized Toyota iQ microcar to be sold in limited quantities from this November, in Japan.

  

  The Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Unlike the Smart fortwo, the Toyota iQ has seen a little bit of tuner attraction. This version is lowered, with an exhaust, 16-inch wheels, and a snazzy bodykit.

  And although it's unlikely to come to North America exactly as you see here, it may arrive on our shores as a Scion. And that has us excited.

  Click through for a video…and yes, it sounds awesome.

  [via paultan.org]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Japan, Misc, Toyota, iQ, Coupe, Smart, 2009, MPG, LOL, Gazoo Racing, iQ

• A Closer Look at Smart Car

  LesleyB on June 24, 2008

  It turns out that Smart fortwo was not so named because it is a car for smart, space conscious people, as I had always thought. Rather, the maker of Swatch (the watches) wanted to create a vehicle that would be innovative, easy to park and affordable for young people. Originally called the 'Swatchmobile' the brand was named 'Smart' after it settled on Daimler as a manufacturing partner. The name smart is an acronym: 'Swatch Mercedes ART'.

  

  [Photo by Michael Banovsky]

  Swatch pulled out of the joint venture after it lost money, and the car didn't meet the design expectations of the watchmaker; however, Mercedes continued to produce cars under the smart brand. Smart has lots of fun limited edition versions of the fortwo, and artists, advertisers seem to love the car alike. Now that I know the car's roots, it makes sense that the brand emphasizes personal style. A car that has 'ART' in its name? It's a whole different approach, and it makes me want to keep my eye on the brand.

  More…

  Read full article | Comments (7) | Filed under Industry, Europe, History, Misc, Smart