Thanks to tipster Adam, we've read the first review of the smart ed, and now we wish even more that we could buy one for ourselves. If you've never heard of ed, as we like to call it, smart's U.K. operations has made available an electric version of the diminutive microcar to companies willing to power it using electricity generated only from renewable means. So far, the general public is unable to purchase ed, no matter where they live. This is a real shame, because it sounds like ed's a perfect little electric city runabout. Being able to reach 60 miles per hour and travel for 72 miles in between charging in a near-silent and completely non-polluting - not to mention safe - car really does sound smart.Ed uses a sodium-nickel chloride battery along with a Zytek electric motor and is able to hit 30 miles per hour from a dead stop in 6.5 seconds. Not bad for a city car! Also, that 60 mile per hour top speed is electronically limited, so there could be enough power for highway travel, depending on how long the stretch of roadway is. In short, the smart ed is a real car, one that just happens to be powered by electrons. We want.
Is leather the "ultimate recycled material?" PETA thinks not
Last month, Peta sent a letter to David Schembri, president of Smart USA, informing him that his company is contradicting itself if it considers its Smart Passion models to be environmentally friendly. The problem is not the fuel mileage or emissions, but the fact that the vehicle includes leather seats. According to PETA, leather is harmful to the environment, but more importantly to them, it requires killing cows. According to PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk, "Smart can't have it both ways: touting its cars as eco-friendly and then plastering them with toxic and Earth-degrading leather."Detroit News bloggers have chimed in regarding this issue, with Eric Morath quoting Rodney Hammond, vice president and general manager at Seton Co, as saying, "When you think about it, leather is the ultimate recycled material. You don't grow cows for the skin, you do it for the beef or the dairy. We take what would otherwise be waste and turn it into a beautiful, luxurious product." Hammond's company is an automotive supplier that makes leather interiors. Manny Lopez considers leather "green and practical," while Scott Burgess suggests switching to hemp and reminds us that some automakers have begun using bio-fabrics. In any case, leather interiors are not likely to go anywhere soon, but perhaps the industry could take a deeper look at the chromium-free tanning process that Lincoln was touting on their MKR concept.
Geneva 2008: smart fortwo limited two and smart navigation guide
With some new shiny paint and only 2,000 vehicles destined to be made, the new smart limited two was unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show. The limited two will be available with special features like "cognac brown" leater interior and matte silver hilghlights in the dashboard. Outside, the limited two gets a special "light blue metallic" finish that was created just for this version of the smart. Other new variants of the smart fortwo include a 52 kW/71 bhp petrol engine with the micro hybrid (start/stop) drive and a smart fortwo cdi that uses state-of-the-art common rail direct injection for CO2 emissions of just 88 grams per km and 71 mpg (U.S.). Mercedes has also announced a fortwo-specific navigation device called the "portable smart navigation system II." Full details after the jump.
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