Smart now offering every color in the rainbow, plus a few more
Filed under: SMART, USA
One of the Smart customization program’s vinyl wraps – Click above for high-res image gallery
Things are about to get a lot more colorful at your local Smart dealership. The company has just announced a new customization program that will allow buyers to swaddle their Fortwo in nearly any color they can imagine. The company has partnered with PPG to come up with a total of 93 colors to choose from. But what if all of those colors clash with your favorite pair of Wayfarers? No problem. Smart will now color match any hue under the sun and slather it all over your new pint-sized three-cylinder machine.
What’s that? You want even more options? Fine. Smart has also pulled the sheet back on a total of 35 vinyl wrap designs, including the one you see above. Should things go well, the company has another 100 looks in the can, just waiting for the big OK. While heavy hitters like Bentley and Rolls-Royce have been dealing out this kind of over-the-top paint variety for years, this is the first time we’ve seen a car in the sub-$15,000 range do the same.
If one of those unique colors is up your alley, get ready to lay down around $1,550. Wraps will set you back closer to $1,650 including installation. Oh, and if such colorful antics just aren’t your thing, you can always revert back to matte.
Let’s Go Road Trippin’
What is a road trip…anyway? “A question of almost Talmudic proportions” so says author Steve McCarthy. “Well then, let’s talk Road Trips. not the “Load the kids in the Minivan, turn on the DVD and rush to some far off theme Park eating fast food all the way on the interstate with the cruise control on and yakking on cellphone road trips; trips that sadly confirm John Steinbeck’s prediction, ‘soon, we will be able to drive coast to coast and never see anything.’ No, real Road Trips. Road Trips on back roads. Road Trips eating at Mom and Pop diners. Rod Trips of odd souvenir stands and picnic lunches. Road Trips of spectacular scenery where the journey itself is the reward and to top it off, you have to do it in a Real Car.” That’s from the back cover of a wonderful little book called Let’s Go Road Trippin! that everyone with a cool car ought to own.
I don’t know Steve McCarthy, but based on this little mission statement, I like him already. Most of this book covers great California road routes, and much of it is an ode to the late, lamented “No Frills Iron Bottom Motoring Tour”. A Road trip event only for the sake of road tripping. For a decade, the NFIBMT met and launched at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with a minimum of organization and rules. It was one of those good things that was ruined when a couple of lead-footed, lead-brained Luddites acted as if it were a Cannonball Run with a billion dollar prize, and went too fast for too long in the wrong place and pissed off too many people. So the organizers killed it off (after the 2008 running) before somebody was hurt, killed, or sued big time. I never drove an NFIBMT, but know folks that have and they still speak warmly of it. I have driven many of these roads, and the McCarthys know of what they write. Many are Motor Trend Road test route favorites.
McCarthy and his wife drive a well worn, rally-prepped Triumph TR3 that has been road hard, put away wet, and looks fabulous (the book’s cover photo was shot over its blue-and-white louvered hood). A real road animal. And they do a nice job of giving you turn by turn directions and road notes on driving some of the Western US’s most notable back roads. I recommend it.
Road Trippin’ a guide to absolutely the best west coast road trips, ever! by Steve McCarthy
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Photo Gallery: 2011 MINI facelift
MINI has revealed the facelifted Cooper Hatch, Cooper Convertible, and Clubman. The updated MINIs feature new bumpers, a revised air intake, and modified fog lights, new headlights, LED taillights, restyled wheels, and an updated exterior colour palette.
Inside, the cars get revised controls for the audio systems and air conditioning, new colours for seat upholstery and trim elements, and a revised stereo for all cars that offers MP3 compatibility and an aux-in connection.
The Mini Connected system has also been improved. It offers iPhone users the chance to view video files and album artwork on an onboard monitor that can also display Facebook and Twitter posts via an external application.
Mini says the new options list will offer customers more variety than ever, but it has also put together three “design worlds”, packs of paint and roof colours, alloy wheel design, upholstery, trim elements and other features chosen for what the firm calls “their coherent character”.
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Tesla hires former Apple retail strategist to revolutionize buying experience
Filed under: Car Buying, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Tesla, Electric
Tesla has, if nothing else, crafted a unique automobile in the Roadster. It’s electric, very attractive and highly desirable. Up next, assuming all goes according to plan (a rather big assumption, granted), the Model S sedan will be equally special in the global automotive marketplace.
Such machines deserve an equally unique buying experience and the Silicon Valley firm has hired former Apple and Gap Executive George Blankenship to turn that idea into reality as Vice President of Design and Store Development.
Blankenship will go right to work, with his initial projects said to include opening Tesla Stores in Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, DC. For his part, Blankenship sounds ready to take on the project, saying:
Joining Tesla allows me to work with some of the boldest and brightest people on the planet while changing the world for the better. I’m excited to create a retail experience that is as thrilling as my first drive of the Tesla Roadster.
2011 Aston Martin Vantage V8 N420 special version has released
British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has released special version – Vantage V8 N420. The car was built in honor of the participation grade in the 24-hour race Nürburgring.
The use of carbon reduced the weight of supercars at 27 kg compared with a standard Aston Martin Vantage V8. The machine has a wide sill, carbon splitter and diffuser, black alloy wheels, black air intakes and nozzles on the exhaust pipes.
Specversion interior of leather and Alcantara. It installed easily from carbon fiber racing seats, Bluetooth, cruise control and parking assistance system. In addition, the Vantage V8 N420 can install options Sports Pack, which includes sport suspension and sport exhaust system.
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Video: Ford of Europe shows how the Focus RS 500 comes together
Filed under: Performance, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Hatchback, Ford
Ford Focus RS 500 on the assembly line – Click above to watch video after the jump
It takes quite a bit to build one of the world’s hottest hatches. We are, of course, talking about the Ford Focus RS 500. While the car may start life as nearly identical to the standard Focus hatch, the hottest Focus quickly sets about a path of factory modification that starts with a unique hood and wraps up with a special intercooler, bodywork, spoiler and wheels – all slathered on by hand. In between, everything from the car’s trick flexy bits to the wild 350 horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter engine make their way on board via the miracle of the assembly line.
How do we know all this? Ford has released a video, of course. The company recently churned out a quick flick detailing the production of the devilishly fast little hatch at its Saarlouis manufacturing facility. We even get a look at the guys and gals from 3M as they wrap the car in matte black vinyl. Hit the jump to enjoy.
Hybrid sales tank in June
Crashing hybrid sales
Hybrid sales down more than 17 percent in June
Compared to last June auto sales were up 14 percent, however, hybrid sales dropped 17.5 percent due to a poor economy and cheaper gas prices according to Hybridcars.com
