Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, Frankfurt Motor Show
Daimler's iconic Smart Fortwo has taken a lot of forms over the years, morphing into everything from special editions to all-electric drive, but there is more life left in the little two-seater. The latest iteration, released today, is the Smart Forvision, a new all-electric concept that Daimler worked on with BASF and that will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. What's the Forvision? Glad you asked.
Described as a "think tank for urban mobility," the Forvision's raison d'être is to show that reducing weight and adding in clever energy-saving technologies can greatly add about 20 percent to an EV's range. Some of those technologies include more-efficient LEDs, "transparent organic solar cells," infrared-reflective films and coatings and all-plastic wheels. Also, the seats and armrest are coverd in an e-textile that "ensures that body contact points sensitive to the cold are also warmed in this area." And you thought the heart monitor in the Ford Evos was perhaps a bit too connected to the driver. Based on the images Daimler released today, the Forvision was also apparently send to the Hollywood School of Alien Vehicles, with sci-fi touches all over the place. Just look at that mottled roof.
Daimler didn't reveal any details about the powertrain in the Forvision, so we'll assume this has the same upgraded powertrain as the 2012 Fortwo Electric. We'll try to confirm this in Frankfurt. Smart head Annette Winkler said in a statement that the engineers, "can't wait to take it out of the research laboratory and onto the roads!" We have to agree, if only to see what others think as this thing wizzes by.
Continue reading Daimler rethinks Fortwo with solar, organic Smart Forvision concept
Daimler rethinks Fortwo with solar, organic Smart Forvision concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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