At LotPro.com, we’ve never really disliked the smart fortwo. Our argument with the car has always been that its focus may be just too narrow. In addition, trying to make an economic case for it as a first, or even second, car is difficult.

The base pure model starts at $11,990, about the same as a Chevy Aveo 5. For that price, neither vehicle comes with air conditioning or power windows. The Aveo comes standard with a 1.6-liter 4 making 108 hp, while the pure comes equipped with a 1.0-liter 3 and 71 hp.

Stepping up to the passion trim gives you, among other things, air conditioning and a radio, but with a jump in price to $13,990 – and now we’re only a grand away from the base Honda Fit. It should also be pointed out that both the Aveo 5 and the Fit also include back seats and a decent amount of storage – something both smart models lack.

In any case, taking retail sales numbers into account (September sales were down over 50% from 2008 with year to date sales down by almost 33%), the bloom may well be off the rose for the fortwo.

So to prop up numbers, parent company Daimler AG has come up with a tried-and-true method to boost its numbers – rental fleets.

car2go

On Tuesday, Daimler announced that in partnership with the City of Austin it was launching its car2go pilot project in North America. As a bonus, Austin also becomes the official headquarters of car2go North America LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler.

At the outset, 200 smart fortwo vehicles will be made available within the city for all registered car2go members. The fleet will be available 24/7 and, after a one-time registration process, customers can access vehicles on the street or by online reservation and may use the fortwo for as long as they like with charges based on time and rates starting by the minute.

The first-ever pilot took place in Ulm, Germany in October of 2008. During that pilot, the fleet of 200 smarts was rented between 500 and 1,000 times per day and was used by 15,000 customers with 90% of the rentals taking place outside the reservation process.

Three days in August

Beginning August 21st, smart car owners and aficionados from all over Europe will descend upon the town of Zell am See / Kaprun (located in the state of Salzburg in central Austria) for smart time 09 – the fourth annual gathering of smart car enthusiasts.

The focal point of the gathering will be a former airfield in Zell am See and admission to the event is free. The former airfield site will enable participants to not only view the latest and greatest offerings from smart in terms of models and accessories, it will also serve as a temporary test track where drivers will be able to road test performance models from such aftermarket tuners as Brabus.

Last year’s “Brabus Race Drive” featured an acceleration contest featuring 180 plus horsepower Brabus tuner smarts, while two smart fans from Hannover set a different kind of record – in lowest fuel consumption.

Other activities

In addition to driver-oriented events, and while their parents are enjoying these plus the many food tastings that are offered, children will be invited to participate in the Kids Area – complete with its own smart fortwo as well as a generous supply of finger paints (this should be interesting).

The smart Corso

The highlight of this year’s event will undoubtedly be the smart Corso – a gathering of smart cars which, last year, set a Guinness World Record for the longest parade of smarts – 743 in all, beating the record of 369 cars set the previous year.

For more information on the fourth annual smart times, as well as information on pre-event activities and the parts flea market, you can visit the web site at: www.smarttimes.at (there is an English translation available).

Images courtesy of smart and Brabus

The invisible manufacturer

Here at LotPro.com, we really have to pity poor Mitsubishi. As the red-headed stepchild of the Japanese automakers, the brand has found selling vehicles in the U.S. a bit of a rough row to hoe. If it wasn’t for the success of the Lancer (with 5 different trim levels plus two for the Evolution), which accounts for nearly half of all its passenger car sales here, the company’s footprint in the U.S. would be very small, indeed.

This isn’t to say that the vehicles that the company produces are bad, but they are, for the most part, forgettable. But that situation, hopefully, is about to change.

The i minicar

Just like every other Japanese manufacturer, there are a whole slew of models that Mitsu produces for its home market that never see the light of day here in the States. One of those models is the i minicar.

First released in Japan in January of 2006, the i features innovative styling as well as a unique mid-rear engine layout. Its overall length (133.7 inches) falls almost squarely between that of the Honda Fit (161.6 inches) and a Smart fortwo (106.1 inches). So why even mention the i?

i-MiEV

At the 2009 Geneva auto show, Mitsubishi exhibited two electric concept versions of the i, called the i-MiEV (for Mitsubishi in-wheel motor Electric Vehicle). Today, the company unveiled the production version and announced that it expects to lease 1,400 copies to corporations and governmental units in Japan with an eye on accepting orders, beginning in July, from individuals for delivery beginning in April of 2010.

Standard features include a single charge range of 100 miles from its stack of 88 lithium-ion cells and a top speed slightly north of 80 mph. It also features a climate control system with an air conditioner powered by an electric compressor and a heating system that circulates warm water from an electric heater.

The i-MiEV also comes standard with LED headlamps and rear combination lamps with LED emitters for the taillamps and stop lamps. And as if using electricity for motive power weren’t enough, the electric i also uses PBS (polybutylene succinate)-bamboo fiber Green Plastic for the interior trim on the tailgate.

Inside, the i-MiEV will have an available entertainment system complete with a 7 inch display and navigation (to be updated through the use of SD flash cards) based on solid state drive (SSD) technology to ensure maximum power conservation.

The rest of the story

The good news is that it looks like Mitsubishi is planning on bring the i-MiEV over here sometime in the near future. The bad news is that the vehicle sells for 4,599,000 yen (a cool $46,800) in Japan.

Everything in Texas will no longer be big

smart fortwo meets a Longhorns fan

Beginning this fall, Daimler will begin a pilot program in the U.S. that will coincide with an expansion of the program that began in Ulm, Germany in October of last year. Called car2go, the idea is to make available for rent a fleet of smart fortwo vehicles to registered users on an as-needed basis from any location within a defined city area.

Unlike other car-sharing programs, the theory behind car2go is that a user will be able to get in a car and drive at any time of day without having to reserve one in advance. After it has been used, the fortwo can be returned to any available parking spot within the defined area of operation.

Initial pilot project

Daimler began the first pilot project in Ulm, Germany, with a group of employees from the local Daimler Research Center and their families in October of 2008 with a fleet of 50 cars. This month, a public test phase begins with an increase in the fleet to 200 cars and the availability of cars2go for all 120,000 residents of Ulm as well as to visitors to the city.

“From the very beginning, we have seen car2go as hugely advantageous and a great opportunity for Ulm as a City of Science. The City is benefiting enormously from the public interest in car2go. We anticipate a reduction in the burden on city center traffic and parking in particular,” says Ulm’s Mayor Ivo Gonner. “We are very pleased that the first car2go in the U.S. will be driving in Austin. We feel a connection to Austin, in that science and cosmopolitanism is held in high esteem in both cities.”

Austin city limits

To Daimler, the choice of Austin, Texas is seen as the next logical step in the program. Home to one of the largest universities in the U.S. (and crazed University of Texas Longhorns fans), the city located in the Texas hill country boasts of a mild climate as well as a progressive and diversified economic environment. Austin also allows the German manufacturer to begin focusing on larger metro areas as both the population and the metro area are roughly 6 times larger than Ulm.

“We conceived car2go for international implementation from the very beginning,” explains Robert Henrich, the project leader, talking about program targets. “With the positive experience that we have gathered in Ulm so far, we are now focusing on the challenges and opportunities presented by larger cities.”

How it works

After registration with car2go, the customer either receives a membership card or finds his driver license tagged with an electronic identifier that will unlock the vehicle. Available vehicles can quickly be located via the internet or through a car2go service hotline. Once located, the customer holds the card up to a reading device located in the windshield, gets in the car and enters a PIN code, then drives off. In addition to instant rentals, vehicles can also be reserved up to 24 hours in advance with the location of the vehicle sent to them via text message.

The rental period can be as long as necessary and, to avoid obvious free-for-alls, the vehicle remains reserved during any stop-offs during the rental period. The fortwos can be left in any parking space not subject to fees or restrictions while specially marked car2go spaces will be available at high-traffic locations such as train stations.

Although specific rates have yet to be set, vehicles can be rented by the minute, hour or day and pricing will include taxes, insurance, mileage and gas. A car2go service team on the ground will also handle daily maintenance of all vehicles.

all photos courtesy of Daimler AG.

Green Car of the Year

In the world of automotive awards, GCOTY is a fairly new one. Established just three years ago, the first one was awarded to the 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. A year later, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid was the recipient, while last year, the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid received the award that was presented, for the first time, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

In order to qualify for a nomination, a vehicle must, according to Green Car Journal, “exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year.” In addition, each nominee is driven by Green Car Journal so that its driving characteristics can be observed first-hand. Nominee vehicles must also be in production to make sure they are actually available in the market during their award year.

The winner is selected by an 11 member panel that is comprised of both automotive as well as environmental experts. Past jurors have included such luminaries as Jean-Michael Cousteau of the Ocean Futures Society and TV personality and major car aficionado Jay Leno.

2009 Nominees

In alphabetical order, here are the 2009 nominees:

2009 BMW 335d

The 335d is BMW’s first U.S. diesel sedan in almost 20 years. Equipped with a 3.0 liter turbocharged direct injection diesel, this 3-series Bimmer produces 265 horsepower and a stump-pulling 425 lb.-ft. of torque.

Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six diesel
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/LEV
Horsepower: 265
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 23/33 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $44,725

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Just introduced at the L.A. Show, the hybrid Fusion receives the same makeover as the rest of the lineup for 2010. Under the hood, the hybrid benefits from the same new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing as the Escape/Mariner hybrids, the green-friendly models produce 155 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque.

Engine: 2.5-liter inline-four, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 155
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 38/35 (est.)
Base MSRP: $27,000-$30,000 (est.)

2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

The second generation Saturn Vue was introduced at last years Los Angeles Auto Show and, like its smaller brother the Astra, it’s a re-badged Opel, although in Europe it is known as the Antara. The Vue benefits from the first application of the General’s two-mode hybrid technology in a V-6 front-driver.

Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/AT-PZEV
Horsepower: 255
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 28/31 (est.)
Base MSRP: Under $33,000

Smart Fortwo

The Fortwo is certainly the latest way for environmental fashionistas to wear their colors. Ideal for urban prowling, the fortwo, with its short wheelbase and lack of storage space, is less suited for spirited driving or family vacations. EPA numbers of 33 city/41 highway are impressive, but 0-60 times are best measured with an hourglass.

Engine: 1.0-liter inline three
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2 Bin 5/ULEV
Horsepower: 70
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 33/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $11,990

2009 VW Jetta TDI

Here’s where the fun starts. The VW, it must be noted, is the antithesis of the Fortwo. It has terrific handling, plenty of space and a clean diesel engine that meets emissions certification in all 50 states. To top it all off, fuel economy is 30 city/41 highway, with many drivers claiming close to 50 mpg.

Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four, diesel
Emissions, EPA/CARB: Tier 2, Bin 5/SULEV
Horsepower: 140
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 30/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $21,990

And the winner is…

As it announced this afternoon, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI becomes the first-ever clean diesel to win Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year honor. From all of us here at LotPro.com, a tip of the hat to Volkswagen!

If this is the answer, what was the question?

You might think this is a discussion about a new TV series called “Pimp my Smart,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Lorinser is very serious about the modifications it does to every Mercedes-Benz, and the tweaks it has performed on the Smart fortwo are no exception. But while a performance version of practically every ‘Benz makes sense, those of us at LotPro.com leave it up to you if you think a Smart falls into the same category.

If you can’t go fast, at least go faster

There are currently three versions of the 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engine available in Europe and all three can be upgraded by Lorinser. The base 61 hp version gets a boost in power to 71 hp and a top speed of 97 mph. The 71 horsepower version (the one available in the U.S.) can be upgraded to deliver 77 hp and a top speed of 97 mph. The 84 hp turbo engine gets a full 20 hp boost to 104 hp and a top speed of 112 mph. Launching the vehicle from a standstill to 62 mph, however, still take just under 10 seconds to achieve.

The Rims and the Kit

Outside, there’s no mistaking the Lorinser for your run-of-the-mill Smart urban cruiser. Standard 15” wheels are replaced with 8.5×17 inch aluminum rims with 245/35R17 tires on the rear and 7×17 inch rims with 215/40R17 tires on the front. A lowering kit is also part of the package.

New front and rear valences as well as wheel arch extensions are part of the body package – increasing the width of the Smart by 2.17 inches. In front, there’s a U-shaped air intake covering a sport grill, while in back, the wider bodywork is accentuated by no less than 4 tailpipes (one more than the number of engine cylinders).

Interior Upgrades

Inside, you’ll find a recalibrated speedometer, carbon-accented parts, a brushed-aluminum clock, tachometer and speedo housing as well as aluminum pedals and a metal-trimmed parking brake lever. Also included is a black leather steering wheel trimmed in aluminum with shift paddles.

The Bottom Line?

Ah yes, the bottom line. In the process of writing this article, an email to the company’s U.S. distributor requesting pricing information was not returned, while phone calls to the same company were never answered.

According to one European web site, the cost for the complete turbo conversion is 7,000€ which, at today’s exchange rate, is about $9,000 US. This means that a 2009 Smart fortwo with the comfort package and destination charges, plus the Lorinser modifications, puts the total package at $24,485.

So if you’re looking for the kind of vehicle that you probably won’t be passing on the street, the Lorinser Smart fortwo might be just the ticket; but if you’re hoping for the best bang for your buck, you might want to look elsewhere.

Honda Civic Hybrid

Top 3 Models Remain the Same

If you’re looking at just the bottom line, your vehicle of choice will still be a hybrid. Matching last year’s results, the Toyota Prius is still number one; the Honda Civic Hybrid retains its number 2 ranking and the Nissan Altima Hybrid again finds its way to the podium in third place.

The Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner hybrid trio moves up a notch from fifth place to fourth place based on a 1 mpg improvement in highway mileage. All three, by the way, are the front-wheel-drive as opposed to the all-wheel-drive versions of the platform. In fifth place are the new-to-the-U.S. Smart Fortwo convertible and coupe – the top non-hybrid fuel economy leaders for 2009.

Ford Escape Hybrid

Weighing in at number 6, and falling two places since last year, is the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Although the Camry’s numbers haven’t changed, the improved fuel economy of Ford’s SUVs and the inclusion of the Smart twins caused the Camry to drop. When it comes to fuel economy, it’s a tough world out there.

Next on the list are two versions of the same two vehicles. And for those fans of great handling vehicles as well as proponents of compression ignition engine technology, you now have two reasons to rejoice: The manual versions of the Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan and Volkswagen Jetta TDI SportWagen finished in 7th place, while the automatic versions of each made it into the 8th spot.

Volkswagen Jetta

Rounding out the last two spots on the list is the Toyota Yaris. Bumped from 6th place last year, the manual version is number 9 for 2009, while the automatic model is in 10th place.

Who missed the cut?

On last year’s list but dropped for this year is the Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Scion xD and the Hyundai Accent. Here is the complete list for this year:

How they were rated

Here at LotPro.com, we decided to let the government do all the work. This may be a contradiction in terms, but the EPA performs yeoman’s duties when it comes to slicing and dicing the test results. For the purposes of this article, we used the annual fuel costs in their report, which are based on assumptions of 15,000 miles per year with 55% city driving and 45% highway driving. Figures in parenthesis next to the model are the EPA yearly fuel cost estimates.

In order of yearly fuel costs (based on gas priced at $3.39 per gallon), the winners are:

1. Toyota Prius ($1,103) – The Prius again takes top honors as the most fuel efficient vehicle available in all 50 states (more on that later). Not an enthusiast car by any stretch of the imagination, the Prius does come with a generous amount of passenger and cargo space.

2. Honda Civic Hybrid ($1,210) – Honda’s top entrant is not nearly as commodious as the Prius, giving up 5 cubic feet of passenger space and nearly 4 cubic feet of cargo volume. The big difference between these two vehicles is owner attitude; the Prius was created to flaunt your greenness, while the Civic exists for those who are more subtle about their politics. The Civic Hybrid shares its design with all 8th generation Civics and reaps the rewards of a stiffer chassis, improved interior design and, quite frankly, a much more handsome exterior.

3. Nissan Altima Hybrid ($1,495) – As we have said before, the Altima is a great choice for those of you looking for a more distinctive design than the Camry. A recent re-design is based on the new Nissan D platform and gives the Altima excellent driving dynamics. Hybrid components are based on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid ($1,495) – Combined passenger/cargo volume is almost exactly the same as the Prius, with the Camry gaining 4 cubic in passenger volume but giving up 4 cubic feet in cargo volume due to its lack of a hatch. Since Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive is capable of all-electric mode and the EPA gives a 55% weight to this, all Toyota’s have a tendency to score higher than their hybrid competitors.

5. Smart ForTwo Coupe ($1,505) – You, too, can be the first on your block to own a vehicle that is environmentally friendly, but possesses absolutely no functionality outside of seating two people in relative comfort. The required 91 octane fuel only adds to the mystery. While the ForTwo may make sense for city dwellers, its size and ride quality limit it to urban settings. It will be interesting to see how it scores in IIHS crash ratings.

6. Toyota Yaris ($1,592) – When the Yaris was first introduced, we thought that the hatchback was the better looking of the two, but time has a way of changing things. Squint hard at the four door and a mini-Corolla/Camry comes to mind – a big step above the ugly/homely little Echo that it replaced.

7. Ford Escape Hybrid ($1,592) – The Ford is part of a trio of hybrids that includes the Mercury Mariner as well as the Mazda Tribute. Like the Toyota hybrids, its hybrid system is parallel, which means that it can operate in electric-only mode around the city. While the Ford and Mercury versions are available everywhere, the Mazda will only be available in parts of California.

8. Honda Fit ($1,642) – For those of you looking for an incredibly versatile vehicle, the Fit is the answer. For about the same price as a Smart ForTwo and an increase in your yearly gas budget of only $137, the Fit gives you an infinitely better ride as well as a vehicle that can be driven on the expressway sans a Valium/Zanex cocktail.

9. Toyota Corolla ($1,642) – Although the Corolla is not our first choice for a compact ride, you can’t deny its gas-sipping qualities. Throw in Toyota’s traditional quality and a decent amount of interior space and you have a great combination.

10. Mini Cooper ($1,695) – At the opposite end of the Corolla/ForTwo/Yaris spectrum is the Mini. With excellent handling and performance, as well as the closest thing to classic style on this list, the Cooper is the enthusiast choice when it comes to fuel sippers. The newest member of the family, the Clubman, also ties with the standard hardtop with the same mileage numbers.

Honorable Mention:

Honda Civic GX – If the GX was available in more than 2 states – California and New York, it would be at the top of the list. Running on natural gas, the GX gets 24mpg city and 36mpg highway. Because of the price of natural gas, its miles per gallon-equivalent is under $900 per year. Drawbacks include a 250 mile range and a lack of fueling infrastructure. It’s true that you can buy a fueling station for your home, but a full re-fuel requires almost 20 hours.