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Daimler plans to roll out a Mercedes-Benz model that runs on electricity in 2010, its chief executive said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“We plan an electric Smart for 2010 and for the same year a Mercedes (electric) model as well,”

Daimler currently has in London a fleet of 100 first-generation Smart cars that run on electricity.

Mr. Zetsche made no remark regarding the price, but based on the current market for electric vehicles, we can assume that the price for an electric smart fortwo will be significantly more than for a similar gasoline powered model.

“That depends on whether we sell the batteries with the car or lease them. The willingness (on the part of consumers) to pay more is limited,” he said, adding that the group is also considering whether to manufacture electric motors itself. Daimler, which spends about half of its research and development budget on powertrains and CO2 reduction, is also in talks with ex-SAP executive Shai Agassi regarding his plan to create a mass-market infrastructure for electric cars.

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What better way to start the week, then with some fun and show you a clip from what we can only call a smart Monster Car (smart, as in smart fortwo). We’ve actually seen pictures of this thing a while back, but it’s the first time we see it actually in action. There isn’t really much to say about this modded fortwo that you can’t already see, so enjoy the show.

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The smart fortwo continues its string of successes. Since the end of March 2007, the new model of the innovative two-seater has been purchased by a total of 100,000 customers, representing a sales increase of more than 80 percent. Yesterday afternoon, Ulrich Kowalewski, director of the Mercedes-Benz Center Munich handed over the 100,000th second-generation smart fortwo to a 36-year-old customer in the recently re-opened smart Center Munich.

Here in the US, the smart fortwo is slowly penetrating the market in the major US cities. In some places, the fortwo is sold-out until the beginning of next year, which just shows the popularity of the small flitzer among people who want to save on money at the gas pump, but also among folks that are trying to preserve the environment.

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Press Release:

“The new fortwo is even more comfortable, more agile, safer, and more environmentally friendly than its successful predecessor,” says Anders Sundt Jensen, who is responsible for brand management at smart. “The new fortwo is now offered in 37 countries, where enthusiastic customers are won over by the vehicle’s lifestyle-oriented design, as well as its exceptional fuel economy and environmental compatibility.”

The unique two-seater is most popular with customers in Italy and Germany, who account for two-thirds of all drivers of the new fortwo. Demand is particularly high for the premium equipment line “passion”, which is chosen by two out of three buyers worldwide. Twenty percent of smart car drivers in Germany and Italy take to the road in a smart fortwo cdi - the world’s CO2 champion. This fuel efficient diesel variant consumes only 3.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (NEDC) and features the world’s lowest CO2 emissions - 88 grams per kilometer.

A micro hybrid drive (mhd) version of the two-seater was introduced last October. This new fuel efficient technology cuts consumption of the gasoline variant by about eight percent in the combined cycle and even by around 20 percent in city driving. The vehicle’s start-stop function activates every time the car is stationary, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions. In recognition of these factors, the German Eco-Trend environmental research institute awarded its environmental certificate for cars to the smart fortwo mhd at the beginning of the year.

In February 2008, experts from the German automotive club ADAC and from various automotive magazines ranked the smart fortwo the most economical car on the German market, reaching this conclusion independently of one another. The experts at Autozeitung came to the conclusion that “the 61-hp basic gasoline-engine version costs only 24.5 Euro cents per kilometer to drive.” In addition to evaluating the operating costs, the experts took into account fixed costs including insurance premiums, taxes, service center fees, and value depreciation over time.

The fortwo also came out on top in the list of the most economical cars evaluated by auto motor und sport magazine. According to the magazine’s editors, the drivers of a fortwo cdi can travel 166 kilometers for just ten Euros - which no other car can match. The assessment of the smart fortwo as Germany’s most economical car is also confirmed by the experts at ADAC, who calculated that driving the compact car costs only 24.6 Euro cents per kilometer, less than any other automobile in Germany.

This 248 page book will contain work from the fields of photography, illustration, graphic design, painting, sculpture, architecture, styling, hairstyling and make-up. Developing greener urban transportation for the future is one of the smart brand’s primary goals, which explains why the manufacturer has been producing the series vehicle with the lowest CO2 emissions in the world for many years now. You will be able to get your copy at bookshops for €29.90, so roughly $44.

Check out the gallery after the break.
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With the eco-consciousness of today’s society, energy consumption and efficient designs became the path forward. With hybrids being one alternative in solving the problem of oil consumption, Mercedes’ take on re-interpreting the true essence of driving provides a new perspective on the way we use our automobiles and how we consume gasoline. The smart being the fore-runner in this “stripping down” to the essentials provides a fresh new ideal on how we use automobiles for mainly day to day travel. This minimalist approach to a two seater is a logical move to accommodate the usual single occupancy travel for one to get to and from work. With that said, size, weight and fuel consumption can be kept to a minimal and thus giving it top regards to eco-friendliness. It is with this regard smart has won the ecoENERGY award for being the most fuel efficient vehicle in the two-seater category from Natural Resources Canada - a agency facilitated by the Government of Canada.

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Official Press Release

Natural Resources Canada awarded an ecoENERGY for Vehicles award to the smart fortwo today for being the most fuel efficient vehicle in the two-seater category.

The world-acclaimed smart fortwo has been a frequent recipient of safety, ecological and fuel-economy leadership awards all around the globe. Since its Canadian launch in September 2004, more than 10,700 smart customers have recognized and praised its environmental benefits and its relentless commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.

Starting at $14,990, the completely redesigned second generation smart was recently launched in Canada in December 2007. It now boasts a new, more powerful gasoline engine, better acceleration, and lower emissions without compromising its top notch fuel economy of 5.4 litres/100km combined highway (4.8l/100km) and city driving (5.9l/100km) - the car also qualifies for a $2,000 ecoAuto Rebate.

Equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, its 3 cylinder 999cc gas engine produces 70 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque; the smart fortwo accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 13.3 seconds and now has a top speed of 145 km/h.
Natural Resources Canada estimates that the smart fortwo consumes 1,080 litres of fuel per year which represents an annual fuel cost of $1,080 and that its CO2 emissions total to 2,592 kg/ year.

The Honourable Mike Wallace, MP for Burlington presented the ecoENERGY award to Marcus Breitschwerdt, Mercedes-Benz Canada’s President and CEO at a press event held in conjunction with the opening of the 2008 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Mr. Breitschwerdt said, “It is with great pride that I accept this award. I want to take this opportunity to thank the 10,700 Canadian ambassadors who have made a passionate commitment to making a difference in Canada by driving a smart fortwo over the course of the last four years. Coupled with this strong customer support, invaluable endorsements such as this ecoENERGY award are key to educating consumers that they too, can now make an intelligent and environmentally friendly purchase decision.”

The start-stop function of the smart fortwo mhd came in for particular praise from the Öko-Trend institute. This feature uses each idling phase – at traffic lights, level crossings or in stop-and-go traffic, for example – to shut down the engine completely. As soon as the driver releases the brake pedal, the engine restarts automatically and the journey can continue immediately without a noticeable delay.“That works perfectly smoothly in practice, providing for a pleasant calm and quiet while the car is stationary and reducing fuel consumption.”

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On the occasion of the annual reader’s poll ‘Le auto che preferisco’ (‘favourite car’) the specialists at the Italian publication ‘Quattroruote’ singled out the smart fortwo cdi for a special award – the only one presented directly by the magazine. The award is a tribute to the extraordinary environmental friendliness of the trendy two-seater, which proved its status as a 3-litre car during an extensive test drive by the Italian car magazine.

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In justifying the presentation of the special award ’Quattroruote’ wrote: “the smart fortwo cdi was the first car in the world to realise an average fuel economy of 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres over a total drive of 1000 kilometres. This is an excellent result, which meets the highest demands concerning environmental aspects and energy conservation – combined in a car which is affordable by everyone”.

Thanks to its direct-injection diesel engine the smart fortwo cdi also boasts emissions of just 88 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, making it the world’s CO2-Champion.

The smart fortwo has already been awarded the ’ÖkoGlobe’ and an environmental certificate from the ‘Öko-Trend’ institute. According to a study by the German automobile club ADAC the smart fortwo is also Germany’s most economical car.