2008 smart fortwo Passion Coupe for Sale

Color: Blue Metallic with Black Tridion
Price: $13,999
Odometer: 8,360 miles
Style: 2-Door Coupe
Year: 2008
Transmission: semi-automatic

Specs:
9-spokes alloy wheels (15")
power windows
softtouch: automatic gear program, switchable to softtip
electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
smart premium sound system package
lockable glove box
fog lamps
air conditioning, including dust and pollen filter
panorama roof
electric power steering
seat heating

click here for more details or contact Jon Monroe at 518-785-4197 ext. 501 or jmonroe@keeler.com.

The Future of BMW - Z2

Over the last several weeks we have been hearing interesting news in terms of what BMW is thinking about the future and future models. We all know that over 20 new models will be coming to market within the next few years but in which direction is the company moving?
Most enthusiasts are concerned about the overall increases in size and weight of BMWs in general. We have heard from several (reliable) sources this is not necessarily the direction of the future. With the possibility of new legislation being passed throughout the world to help combat pollution BMW has been investing in Efficient Dynamics to decrease emissions and make cars lighter. We have seen the first stage of the this program with stage 2 to be released shortly to the buying public in the form of hybrids.

That is not the end of the program; the team at Project-i is mandated to defy conventional thinking. And with the Vision Concept (the Z2) they will do just that in Frankfurt this September. The Z2 is not expected to hit dealers until 2013. continued →

(Source: BimmerFile)

Driving your smart in your garage

Have you ever thought about better ways to make use of your garage? How about driving in and driving out of it? Well the smart makes things like this possible. See for yourself.

XJ Update: Jag's big sedan looks to XF for inspiration

If it seems as if we've been talking about the Jaguar XJ a lot recently, it's because we have. The redesigned flagship model is very important car for the British-born, Indian-owned automaker. Reports say that its new design will borrow heavily from the automaker's modern, but still traditionally classy XF. Jaguar revealed the first official 2010 XJ teaser image at the Shanghai Auto Show today, and based on the overhead shot that shows the car's panoramic roof, we'd say the reports we've been hearing are spot on. Notice the hood in particular and what appears to be either a very thin or completely blacked out C-pillar. You can also follow the jump to watch the short teaser video Jaguar revealed at the Shanghai show earlier today.

Jaguar says that July 9 will be the date of the XJ's coming out party in London. There will be both short and long wheelbase versions, with power coming from the company's new range of gas and diesel engines. That includes the 503-hp, supercharged, direct-injection, 5.0-liter V8, although that model might not wear the "R" moniker like the similarly equipped XKR and XFR models. The "R" badge is said to be reserved for an even higher performance model to be announced later on.

When the new car hits showrooms in December, it should directly challenge the benchmark Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series with plenty of high-tech features in a very stylish package, both inside and out. The XJ will feature the same JaguarDrive gear selector first introduced in the XF, but also paddle shifters to work the 6-speed auto. It will definitely be a leap into the 21st century for Jag's big sedan. There's reportedly even an extended range electric in the mix that will take on the Fisker Karma among others.
Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ teasers

[Sources: Jaguar, Auto Express, Autocar]

smart Safety Report

(Source: Capital News 9)

Audi wants fans to respond to BMW’s famous billboard

Talk about letting things go….instead of taking this like real men, the folks at Audi decided to “strike back” after they literally got owned by the now famous “Checkmate” billboard put up by Santa Monica BMW.

The famous billboard went up a few days ago and it has been since then taken down since the space was billboard space was rented for two weeks only. The “BMW M3: Checkmate” slogan spread all over the internet within hours after it was put up and it was the most viewed article ever on our blog as well. (Digg count stopped at 3,500 votes).

So, Audi, instead of letting this one go, they decided to ask their fans for help and created a Facebook page where users can submit their own version of the billboard. Sometimes it’s OKAY to let things ago, especially since Audi has been poking at BMW for months now, starting with the Meet the Beckers video series and then the Superbowl Ad.

You can’t win it all Audi and that chess game ended two days ago!

Here are some “attempts” at being funny. The first one is an official Audi billboard, the others are just photoshoped.

BMW launches AK-47 thwarting X5 Security Plus

If Jason Statham's character, Frank, decides to switch back to a BMW in The Transporter 4, we think we have his new ride picked out. Or maybe Clive Owen just needs to film another episode of The Driver. BMW has just released info on its first Class Six bullet resistant vehicle, the BMW X5 Security Plus, which happens to be the first vehicle ever available to the public with that classification from a high-volume manufacturer. That means that its skin can handle anything up to a AK-47 assault rifle, the weapon-of-choice for terrorists, pirates and kidnappers around the globe. Besides thicker bulletproof glass, BMW has added heavier armored body panels all around, as well as sealing up all of the joints to bolster protection in normally vulnerable body panel gaps.

The Security Plus models are partially built alongside the regular models in Spartanburg, SC, and then sent to Toluca, Mexico for final assembly. Some of the special features that are fitted include a beefed-up suspension with special run-flat tires, an intercom system to communicate with people outside the vehicle, a hold-up alarm that automatically locks windows and doors, plus sirens and flashing lights too. There's also a list of options that includes a rear view camera and a front-bumper-mounted side view camera. It's powered by BMW's 355 horsepower, 4.80-liter V8, and even with the extra equipment, this crossover can scoot from 0 to 62 miles-per-hour in 8.2 seconds on its way to a top speed electronically limited to 112 mph.

(Source: BMW)

2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class shows off cool tech

Mercedes has a new promotional video for the 2010 S Class that offers peeks at the model range and suite of tech coming on the latest luxury sedan: the S400 Hybrid and its energy monitoring system, S500 (the S550 in the U.S.), S600, Splitview COMAND screen, new headlamps, and LEDs everywhere.

RUMOR: MINI Roadster??

[from AutoBlog]

BMW has been on a roll with its MINI brand, and after the raging success that the revived Cooper had in its first generation, the German automaker saw fit to give the brand its first major revision back in 2006. A year later, the automaker released the extended-length Clubman model and this year it finally launched the new convertible. What's next? Almost certainly the first MINI Crossover, which is expected to make its formal debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.

You'd be forgiven for assuming that BMW's MINI team would be content to rest on its laurels for a few models years after all of this activity, but the ever-active rumormill wouldn't agree. According to MotoringFile, a new MINI Speedster may (finally) be on the way, based on the running gear of the current R56 Cooper. If true, we can expect to see a fabric top along with a possible removable hardtop and the same 1.6-liter engines as used in other models from MINI. Longtime MINI followers may recall that a speedster variant was often mooted for the previous Cooper, but in recent times, that talk has diminished somewhat.

A small, two-seat, roadster that promises equal portions of driving fun, reasonable fuel economy, and an attainable price tag? Now that's an idea we can get behind.

The All-New 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes Benz has been getting roughed up along with everyone else during the ongoing worldwide automotive downturn, but it appears that help is on the way in the form of the new E-Class. Mercedes' newest luxury ride has reportedly received 50,000 orders, with Q1 pre-sales in Germany double the sales from the same period in 2008.

Daimler knows the stakes are high when it comes to the new E-Class, and Mercedes has armed itself with plenty of tools for success. The new E-Class will be offered in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon variants, along with the fire-breathing E63 AMG just introduced in New York. Der neue E-Class will also be available with a 211 hp, 3.0-liter Bluetec diesel.

The last E-Class sold over 1.5 million vehicles during its lifespan, giving the 2010 model a lofty target to reach over the next few years. With 50,000 orders already on the books, the E-Class is at least off to a promising start.

(source: Automotive News)

BMW X5 M and X6 M at Ascari race track,Spain

Mercedes-Benz unveils 2010 S600 and S400 Hybrid

With all eyes trained on the Big Apple for this week's New York Auto Show, it struck us as odd that Mercedes-Benz would release two new models on the eve of the event, neither of which will make an appearance in NYC. But here they are: the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S600 and the S400 Hybrid, the first series production gas-electric model from the automaker.

Both models benefit from a subtle exterior makeover that includes redesigned front and rear fascias, a new grille, chrome below the air intakes and bi-xenon headlamps with LED indicators, while inside, the 2010 S-Class hosts a myriad of high-tech appointments, including a 6.5-inch color display, a revised COMAND system, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and a Zagat-rating system for local restaurants. But the tech doesn't stop at helping you eat better. Many of the safety systems that debuted on the E-Class have found their way into the S, including optional Adaptive Highbeam Assist that recognizes vehicles ahead and dims the headlamps, Lane Keeping Assist (self-explanatory) a new Active Body Control (ABC) system that compensates for crosswinds and a drowsiness detection monitor that will warn drivers if they're getting too tired to pilot their two-plus-ton behemoth.

The 2010 S-Class line-up will include the 382-hp, V8-powered S550 in both rear- and all-wheel drive spec, along with the 518-hp S63 AMG, the 510-hp S600 and the range-topping, 604-hp S65 AMG. But the S400 Hybrid is M-B's newest party piece.

With a 3.5-liter V6 partnered to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, the S400 puts out 275 hp on its own, but when the electric drivetrain is summoned, the system creates another 20 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque. Efficiency is the name of the game and with a regenerative braking system and a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the engine compartment, Mercedes claims the S400 will get an estimated 29 mpg on the combined cycle. Sales of all four models will begin in the U.S. this August. Hit the jump for the official details.

(source: Autoblog)

NADAguides Cites Five Cleanest Vehicles

This Earth Day, NADAguides.com, the popular provider of pricing information and market research for new cars, used cars, classics, RVs, motorcycles and boats, announces its Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars of 2009, simply suggesting that hybrids aren't the only choice for those who wish to minimize the environmental impact of their driving. NADAguides.com Market Data Analysts evaluated fuel economy and emissions data and determined that the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, MINI Cooper, Pontiac G5 and Hyundai Elantra are the Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars of 2009.

NADAguides.com is a huge proponent of hybrid and alternative fuel technology, but given that the industry will be highlighting hybrids for Earth Day the company wanted to show that there are conventional vehicles that can help cut down on air pollution.

"It is no surprise that on Earth Day the automotive world will be focused on the latest and greatest hybrid vehicles, but the fact remains that consumers are still overwhelmingly buying and driving conventional gasoline cars," said Michael Caudill, spokesperson for NADAguides.com. "The Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars show that consumers have options for vehicles that are easy on the environment without the higher price point of emerging hybrid technology."

Despite improvements in production efficiency and material costs, the prices of gas-electric hybrid vehicles remain considerably higher than those of their gasoline-only counterparts. The base price of the all-new 2010 Honda Insight, designed to rival the fuel economy of the Toyota Prius for about $2,000 less, is still expected to retail for nearly $2,000 more than the MINI Cooper, the most expensive car on the NADAguides.com top 5 list.

The Chevrolet Cobalt LS, Ford Focus S, Pontiac G5 and Hyundai Elantra GLS all qualify for PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle) certification, while the MINI Cooper is designated as an ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle). Several independent tests have shown that the exhaust coming from the tailpipe of a PZEV vehicle is often cleaner than the surrounding air in many metropolitan areas. In fact, four of the five cars on the list put out less air pollution than some hybrid vehicles.

NADAguides.com chose the Top Five Cleanest Conventional Cars based on a combination of scores from three criteria: Greenhouse gas emissions, smog-producing air pollution levels and combined miles per gallon.

Vehicle Combined MPG Greenhouse Gas Air Pollution BaseEmissions (pounds/year) MSRP(tons/year)

2009 Pontiac G5 30 6.13 0.99 $16,980
2009 Chevy Cobalt LS 29 6.34 0.99 $15,660
2009 Hyundai Elantra GLS 28 6.57 0.99 $15,120
2009 Ford Focus S 28 6.57 0.99 $15,520
2009 MINI Cooper 32 5.75 4.13 $18,550

Greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane gas (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and represent vehicle combustion by-products that contribute to global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions are expressed in tons per year based on 15,000 miles of average driving. These figures are directly proportional to the vehicle's fuel economy and type of fuel used.

Smog-forming air pollution includes nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide (CO), various carbon-containing compounds (including hydrocarbons), formaldehyde (HCHO) and solid particulate matter. These compounds, which contribute to smog and other health problems, are measured in pounds emitted per year based on 15,000 miles of average driving.

Combined fuel economy is calculated from EPA city/highway miles per gallon figures, based on 55 percent city and 45 percent highway driving.