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The lads and lasses at Smart have teased numerous different versions of their urban two-door in an effort to get more Americans to pay more attention to it. Car2Go is a worthy attention getter, and the Smart For-Us concept might be another, because who among us red-blooded U.S. of A’ers doesn’t love a pickup truck – even one the size of a ladybug?

It “translates the practical loading concept of a pickup to the reality of 21st century urban traffic for the first time” with a longer wheelbase and wider track, a tiny bed, a 75-horsepower, 98-pound-foot electric motor, a “friendly yet assertive face” and (unlike other Smarts?) “extremely short overhangs.”

We’ll be at the Detroit Auto Show next month to capture all 11.6 feet of it. Until then, you can read about it in the press release after the jump and have a look at sketches in our high-res gallery of images.

Continue reading Smart For-Us pickup making its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show

Smart For-Us pickup making its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block had a busy summer. The exhibition driver spent the season frolicking around the globe with a few friends and putting on Gymkhana shows as part of a world tour. The event showed up in just three cities; Los Angeles, Vienna and Melbourne, and gave a handful of lucky Block fans a show worth remembering. But with so few shoes spread across such a wide distance, that left plenty of the driver’s faithful out in the cold. Ever the publicist, Block crafted a video for those who couldn’t make it out to breathe the tire smoke.

The result is three shows crammed into less than six minutes of footage. There’s plenty of sideways Ford Fiesta action as well as airborne motocross riders, scantily clad ladies of multiple nationalities and at least one gold tooth as part of the clip. One very famous Segway also makes an appearance or two. Hit the jump to see the full clip for yourself and read the press release.

Continue reading Ken Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video

Ken Block recaps 2011 Gymkhana World Tour in latest video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The writer F. Scott Fitzgerald once opined that using an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest work van concept from Volkswagen. The German Automaker has partnered with the German Post Office and the University of Art at Braunschweig to create the eT! electric delivery van. The company says that vehicle offers zero-emissions driving and can be operated by a joystick-type device on the passenger side if necessary. We aren’t entirely sure how that second feature lends itself to making deliveries any easier, but we applaud the automaker’s efforts toward facilitating practical jokers everywhere.

Perhaps more impressive is the fact that VW says that the eT! can be operated semi-autonomously. The vehicle can follow a delivery person from house to house or return to the driver after being parked. While there are no details currently available on the vehicle’s drivetrain, Volkswagen does say that the eT! is equipped with electronically opening doors. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Volkswagen eT! electric delivery van is out of this world

Volkswagen eT! electric delivery van is out of this world originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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