Minicars
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The U.S. sales history of the Smart two-seat minicar started with a bang in 2008, when gasoline prices soared, and has waned since then. A complete redesign of the little ForTwo in the 2016 model year, with the Cabrio soft-top following for 2017, didn't do much for sales. That led parent company Daimler to make a radical decision: For the 2018 model year, all Smarts sold in North America would be electric-only. DON'T MISS: Smart to be all-electric in U.S. and Canada; gasoline goes away (Feb 2017) Now that plan will apparently spread to Smarts sold in Europe as well. On Thursday, Daimler CEO...
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Appreciating the i-MiEV: oldest modern electric car still in production after 10 years
Think back, if you can, to early 2008. In the real world, that's just 10 years ago, but in electric-car time, it's several millennia. The Tesla Roadster had been announced, but hadn't yet struggled into production. The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt were still deep in development, and the plan for a...
John Voelcker -
Mercedes-Benz EQ electric car Geneva debut was...a rebranded Smart car
Unveilings for several key new electric cars were expected during the media days for last week's Geneva auto show. The Jaguar I-Pace made its formal debut, and the Audi e-tron appeared in camouflage as a sort of full-size teaser display. But there had been word from Mercedes-Benz that it would...
John Voelcker -
2018 Fiat 500e preview
When the Fiat 500e electric minicar launched in 2013, its range was rated at 87 miles, but its most distinctive feature was its wickedly fun-to-drive character. Six years later, the fun driving remains the same—and the range has fallen slightly to 84 miles, based on changes to EPA test...
John Voelcker -
Special-edition 2018 Smart Fortwo electric minicar marks 10 years of two-seater in US
Birthed from the uncommon alliance between watch company Swatch and Mercedes-Benz, Smart's goal was to bring a stylish city car to the masses with a level of personalization not seen in other models. The first Fortwo rolled off the line at Smartville (in Hambach, France) almost 20 years ago, but it...
Mark Stevenson -
2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabriolet first drive review: the perfect city car
I try very hard to go into each review with an open mind, but in the case of the 2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Cabriolet, I was prepared to dislike it. I expected an anemic driving experience in a vehicle that was somehow both small and cumbersome. I thought the Smart would be an automotive...
Brandon Turkus -
The first Mini E, cobbled together by putting a battery pack where the rear seat used to be, was BMW's very first attempt at building a modern electric car. Only a few hundred were built, back in 2009, but the quick project gave the German company real-world experience on how electric-car drivers used their cars, recharged them, and otherwise treated them. Last fall, BMW's CEO confirmed that an all-electric Mini would return to the British maker's lineup; now, it's rumored to debut in concept form next month at the Frankfurt auto show. DON'T MISS: Electric Mini officially confirmed by BMW...
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Autocrossing a Fiat 500e electric car for first, maybe last, time
When we published an article on one owner's experience using his Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car to compete in a local autocross, it contained a comment that riled up our reader Doug Kerr. That comment—"Outside of one high-performance electric vehicle, casual electric cars are hardly the...
John Voelcker -
RIP Mitsubishi i-MiEV: lowest-range, slowest electric car departs U.S. market
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car deserves a place in history. It was arguably the first mass-produced modern electric car put on sale, well before the Nissan Leaf arrived in December 2010. Pre-production i-MiEVs were operating in test fleets in Japan as early as 2007, and it was on sale in that...
John Voelcker -
2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive preview
The 2018 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive goes on sale in the U.S. next year.
Stephen Edelstein -
2018 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive prototype: first ride impressions
Following the launch of the latest Smart Fortwo hatchback, it was only a matter of time before the trendy German brand would introduce an evolution of its Fortwo Electric Drive version as well. While some electric vehicles remained desperately uncool or overpriced, the Fortwo "ED" (as Germans...
Jeff Jablansky -
Mitsubishi Mirage: The Unexpected Small-Car Success
The Mirage has contributed significantly to Mitsubishi's U.S. sales growth.
Stephen Edelstein -
The Lexus LF-SA Concept that made a first appearance this past month at the Geneva Motor Show definitely pushes the brand into unexpected design territory—and down to an unexpectedly small size. At just 136 inches long, 67 inches wide, and 56 inches high, the concept that Lexus described as “an ultra-compact, sub-B-segment, urban 2+2” is nearly a foot shorter in overall length than the base 2015 MINI Cooper, yet it’s a full 20 inches longer than the 2016 Smart Fortwo. Exterior styling is about as bold as bold can be, while the interior brings a fresh take at...
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2016 Chevrolet Spark Gets More Upscale Interior: Korean Photo Leaked
A Korean website leaked a photo of the 2016 Chevrolet Spark interior.
Stephen Edelstein -
Cheapest MPG You Can Buy: What Cars Give Lowest-Cost Mileage?
There are some pretty efficient cars on sale these days, but it's fair to say that to benefit from the technology, you often have to spend a little more to start with. What if you want to spend as little as possible on fuel, but spend as little as possible on the car itself too? That's where...
Antony Ingram -
New 2015 MINI Cooper With Five Doors Confuses...Well, Everyone (Video)
The 2015 MINI Cooper five-door breaks new ground for the brand, as demonstrated by this ad.
Stephen Edelstein -
2015 Fiat 500 Updated With New Instrument Cluster, Display Options
The 2015 Fiat 500 gains new technology features, and an automatic transmission for Turbo and Abarth models.
Stephen Edelstein -
2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Gas Mileage: Real-World 40 MPG-Plus Possible, Owners Say
The 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage is unusual among the latest breed of gas-sipping small cars. There are no fancy tricks employed to hit its 37-40 mpg combined EPA ratings, no turbochargers or hybrid systems. It's simply small, light, aerodynamic and uncomplicated. Those qualities are also allowing...
Antony Ingram -
Car companies aren't in the habit of persisting with loss-making enterprises, so it's a surprise that Daimler has continued with its Smart city car brand as long as it has. Perhaps the next generation will fare better than previous models, thanks to a tie-up with French automaker Renault. We've now got the clearest look yet at what the next-gen Smart ForTwo (and four-seat ForFour) have in store, as Renault has revealed its own version of the car, the new Twingo. Renault's version will only be available in four-door format, having canned its own two-seat variant some time ago. It's quite a...
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Very Small Cars Fail New IIHS Small-Overlap Frontal Crash Test
Minicars are the worst-scoring group in the small-overlap frontal crash test, the IIHS says.
Stephen Edelstein -
Nissan Micra Minicar: Now Available In Canada, U.S. Still Denied
Compared to Europe and Asia, the U.S. market for subcompacts and minicars is tiny, with dozens of models available elsewhere that will never hit U.S. shores. One of those is the Nissan Micra, slotting below the Versa Note in Nissan's range. Versions of the Micra have sold for decades in other...
Antony Ingram -
Daimler Boss Says Smart Car Is "More Relevant" Than Ever
Cars described as "ahead of their time" are usually regarded fondly, but often commercially unsuccessful--the resulting vehicles often too unusual for many consumers. Daimler's Smart brand and the Fortwo minicar fits that bill and could well be described as ahead of its time, but company boss...
Antony Ingram -
Will Mitsubishi Mirage Minicar Add Sedan Model For 2015?
A Mitsubishi Mirage sedan is expected to appear at the 2014 Montreal Auto Show.
Stephen Edelstein -
World's Cheapest New Car, Tata Nano, Gets Diesel Option
Diesel may be taking a while to catch on in the U.S, but in India the diesel market has exploded in recent years. It's no surprise that automakers have been making the most of this, and the latest to do so is Tata, whose Nano--the world's cheapest new car--is soon to get its own diesel option...
Antony Ingram