Autoblog

Report: Mini working on city car

Dan Roth — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, BMW, Mini, UK, Rumormill

Here in the U.S., the Smart ForTwo has proven less than successful considering the needs of most of drivers. Sold here on the merits of its efficiency, the Smart's true element is in the cities of Europe, where the small size allows nose-in parking and a diesel powertrain that's actually pleasant to drive. Mini and its BMW parents think that there may be something to Smart's success, even though the company has said in the past that small city cars aren't profitable.

According to an Autocar source, a Mini city car concept may debut within the next year. Part of the impetus for the reversal is BMW's backing of a three-cylinder engine, as well as a heavy focus on component sharing with the upcoming BMW MegaCity and other models under the BMW umbrella, along with new production techniques. The car should be smaller than the current Mini, though larger than the Smart. Details like chassis layout and styling have not been divulged, though back in the Rover days, Mini showed off the Spiritual concept (pictured above) and there was talk of a production version. However, how it fares in the marketplace will hinge on how well BMW packs value and the trademark Mini verve into its tiny shell.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Mini working on city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Daimler, Renault-Nissan alliance could be announced Wednesday

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Nissan, Smart, Earnings/Financials, Renault

According to an unnamed source speaking to Reuters, the Renault board of directors has called an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, April 6th, to discuss plans to enter into an agreement with German automaker Daimler. As was the case when Renault teamed up with Japanese automaker Nissan, there will reportedly be an exchange of stock, but not nearly at the same level as Renault's 44-percent stake in Nissan.

If the board chooses to move forward - and all indications are that it will - an announcement could be made as early as Wednesday detailing the partnership. It's widely thought that Daimler is keenly interested in Renault's small car expertise for its less-than-wildly-successful Smart car division, and it seems increasingly likely that the two automakers could jointly develop new city car platforms. Might a more family-friendly ForFour (previous generation seen above) be in the offing as rumored? Stay tuned.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Daimler, Renault-Nissan alliance could be announced Wednesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smart move? Daimler reportedly teams with Renault for next-gen minicar

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST

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.

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REPORT: Daimler and Renault collaborating on four-door Smart

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:39:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Smart, Renault, Rumormill

Reports of a collaboration between Daimler and Renault on a new four-door model to join the Fortwo in Smart dealerships just won't die, leading us to believe there may be a ring of truth behind the rumors. The last time Daimler set out to partner on a more mainstream Smart, the resulting ForFour - which was based on borrowed underpinnings from Mitsubishi - never met sales expectations and was canceled after a few short years on the market.

Collaborating with Renault on the development of a four-door Smart should help shield Daimler from the high cost of developing a model-specific platform that's unlikely to sell in particularly high volumes. Further, the rumored new model would offer Smart buyers a new option to compete with the new Toyota iQ, which seats up to four occupants despite its diminutive dimensions.

[Source: Detroit News]

REPORT: Daimler and Renault collaborating on four-door Smart originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes partnering with Renault to develop new-gen Smart Forfour?

Xavier Navarro — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST

According to Germany's Manager-Magazin, Mercedes-Benz has approached Renault about cooperating in the development of a new small car. Although conversations have just started, it seems that Smart could once again have a four-seat car in its lineup.

This would be the second attempt to develop such a model, after the original sales flop of the ForFour. That model, shown above, was c-odeveloped with Mitsubishi and shared the Colt's underpinnings. Rumors about such new model are not new, but the German publication points that the company's strategy relies on selling more subcompact premium cars. Developing the new A and B Class models can be pursued as an in-house development, but the family Smart would apparently require a partner.

[Source: Manager-Magazin]

Mercedes partnering with Renault to develop new-gen Smart Forfour? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bigger smarts - forfour, forthree, etc. - could be coming

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Green, Smart, Rumormill

13 people in a smart fortwo - Click above for small image gallery

Almost a year ago, 13 people squeezed into a smart fortwo. Yes, they were gymnasts. It might someday be easier to fit more than two people in a fortwo if plans to make a longer version of the most diminutive production car sold in the U.S. come to fruition. Smart head Anders-Sundt Jensen has confirmed rumors with Automotive News that an extended wheelbase could allow for 2+1 or 2+2 seating. Looks like pressure from the Toyota iQ and the VW up! is having an effect.

What might these new smart models be called? Go ahead, take a guess. Names like forone, forthree and forfour "are being discussed," AN writes, but as regulars may recall, AutoExpress thinks a four-door model could be called fortwo +2. A new model would likely look more like the current smart than the Colt-like smart ForFour that was sold from 2004-2006. The next-gen smart model is supposed to be revealed by next year's Geneva Motor Show, so we'll hopefully know more by then.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Bigger smarts - forfour, forthree, etc. - could be coming originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class

Noah Joseph — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Smart

According to the latest reports, Mercedes has finally realized why its A-Class and B-Class compacts haven't been doing so well: they're boring, overpriced and underpowered... and that's a losing combination. So for the next generation of the two model lines that's expected around 2011, Mercedes is reportedly preparing to turn up the volume.

Although the next-gen baby Benzes will reportedly stick with front-wheel-drive, they'll sit lower to the ground - and save production costs - by ditching the expensive current models' sandwich platform. Whereas the 193-hp 2-liter turbo is currently the most powerful engine offered between the two related models, sources indicate that the top engine could offer as much as 230 hp, possibly sourced from BMW off all companies whose 1-Series Mercedes hopes to target with the sportier new A and B-Classes. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that competition from the up!coming Volkswagen models could compel parent company Daimler to bring back the previously slow-selling and subsequently discontinued Smart ForFour.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Motor Authority]

Mercedes to pump some extra octane into next A- and B-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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