Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Suzuki fuel cell Concepts at Tokyo

The Suzuki SX4-FCV hydrogen fuel cell concept will show at Tokyo Suzuki are going to be bringing three fuel cell concept vehicles to Tokyo. The first is the SX4-FCV which uses an 80KW Fuel cell produced by General Motors, which is fuelled by a hydrogen storage tank pressurised to 10,000 psi. A capacitor irons out the flow of power to the 68KW electric motor and benefits from regenerative braking.

Smart Forvision Concept points at new Fortwo

Smart Forvision Concept - a pointer to the 3rd generation Fortwo Just as they do with Maybach, Mercedes persist with Smart. Despite the fact that both outings must cost an arm and a leg to keep going with, as far as we know, no profits ever. And that perseverance seems unlikely to end any time soon – at least for Smart – with the reveal of the Smart Forvison Concept, which is heading for Frankfurt.