A couple of odd new smart car concepts

[ajprice]

Rinspeed have done some very weird stuff before. Drug hallucination levels of weird. Why stop now? Here's a third axle extension that docks onto the back of a Smart, it's meant for the EV version, the pod has an engine in it as an extended range generator, and you get the few feet of extra bootspace in the back. It's going to be shown at Geneva 2012.

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/stretch-thy-smart-...


Another one, from Smart. To follow on from the ForSpeed and ForVision as sneakypeek looks at the Smart ForTwo Mk3. This one is a pickup truck, still around Fiat 500 or Mini size in length and you get the flatbed for extra space in the back. This one will be at Detroit next month.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/smart-for-us-pi...


I know they're not the most PH of motors (unless they have a Hayabusa bike engine in the back ), but the one I've got does what I need it to do and is no hassle.

[5lab]

i think the range extender add-on is a good idea, if not the best execution. but you get a battery Smart, great for nipping round town, parking, etc, then for longer journeys you get boot space and a range extender eliminating the complaint of everyone that electric cars can't go very far.

The problem, imo, is that smarts are bought by people who live in cities, who won't have room for an engine in a trailer