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With the foreward by non other than Anders Sundt jensen, this latest book to hit the samrt enthusiasts shelf has been compiled by Willi Dietz and Jurgen Zolter in a new, fresh approach with big, bold text and equalley bold images. it focuses on the international and cultural aspects of the samrt brand with some stunning ( if slightly corporate) photographs. indeed, the entire introduction takes 33 pages of large print and mutiple pictures before finally reaching the 'History and Technology' Index. Up till this stage you may be forgiven for thinking you have picked up a 'quick glance' style maagzine that one might find in a doctor's waiting room. It's a further eight pages before one reaches the more 'convetional' text but at this point it becomes clear that it's been worth the journey. A wealth of information, constructivly written, taking the samrt (city copue as it was) from its concept and initial formative ideas way back in the 1980's throguh to the initial meeting of mercedes-Benz DG and Swatch in 1992. From there we are taken on the development of the idea to the building of the smartville, Hambach. The panles, the tridon safty shell and subsequent development of the cdi, cabrio and, of course, crossblade in 2002. The Roadster are not ignored and even the 'crosstown' gains a page or two on this journey through smart's history before closing with the current foretwo models and work into alternative texhnologies. Our Verdict: Overall, a good book to add to your collection although perhaos one more for the coffee table than the bookshelf. Superb high-quality, high colour vibrant pictures and good coverage of all modles and whilst difinatley aimed at a North America market, it's unmistakeably smart. --thesmartclub dot con, November 2008
This is a great reference book for owners of the smart car. For a change I'm able to answer some of the many questions people ask about my little car. If you have a friend who owns one, this would be a great gift idea. --Carole S matthews
This is a great reference book for owners of the smart car. For a change I'm able to answer some of the many questions people ask about my little car. If you have a friend who owns one, this would be a great gift idea. --Carole S matthews
Product Description
The Smart story is one of entrepreneurial vision and daring. It is a story of innovation and changing a car to suit the needs of drivers. At Mercedes-Benz, the roots of an automotive concept designed for urban use reach back to the 1970's. With growing problems of inner-city public transport, limited parking, environmental awareness, rising petrol costs, the time was right for a small, easy to park, nippy, fuel-efficient car, and Smart captured the market and imagination in this area as no other car has done with it's introduction in the early 1990's.Since then, over 770,000 customers have purchased a first-generation Smart fortwo, and for many this has become an expression of their lifestyles and beliefs. This multidimensional examination of SMART covers the design, evolution, development, and marketing of Smart, showing technical details, lush colour photographs, marketing, an exciting account of creating a new auto brand in our time. Bound to be popular with care enthusiasts, the general publics, and business readers looking for a success story "Smart Small Car Big Deal" will join "Smart Thinking" on the shelves of these reader's walls.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
High quality binding cover and pictures. A bit disappointed when I went through the book. Pre buy information says it is 2008 publication but it is actually originally 2007. A number of pages has lots of picture collages but none of the smart car or minimal. Very limited info and pictures on the 451 model. Also repetitive account of history throughout the book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I finally got around to purchasing the three "picture books" on the smart series, and of the three, this is the only one that I would recommend. While the layout is quite modern (and there are some errors, such as labeling a photo of the firm's administrative headquarters as the factory), it is still a condensed, readable account of what has happened since D-B/Mercedes and Hayak got together to combine their ideas for a city car.
Originally a German concept (vis the Messerschmitt "bubble car"), the city car was matured in Japan, where all of the manufacturers have very small models that seldom see the export light of day. The DB/Hayak collision was a synthesis of the two firm's concepts. Hayak wanted small, fun and cheap, DB wanted safe, quality and "Germanic". The result pleased D-B more than Hayak, who dropped out of the partnership before the first launch. And the result was the smart, a small, safe, fun and high quality (some might quibble there) vehicle.
This book chronicles the story, from inception to about 2007. All of the smart vehicles are given some coverage, if only in photo or diagram form. The layout is much more along the lines of an Apple Computer publication than a typical car book, and there are plenty of photos of designs that never made it off the drawing board, of decorated smart enthusiast's cars and of the people and factory facilities behind the line. You will find zero technical information in this book (a problem that plagues all smart-oriented publications), but for a well thought out "overview history" of the car, this is the one to buy.
(Incidentally, the other two "picture books" on the smart are filled with duplicated photographs through and through. That's not the case with this book.)
I was not happy with the binding (a "soft hardcover", with a jacket fused to a paperback binding), but (of the three picture books) I would buy this one above all.
Originally a German concept (vis the Messerschmitt "bubble car"), the city car was matured in Japan, where all of the manufacturers have very small models that seldom see the export light of day. The DB/Hayak collision was a synthesis of the two firm's concepts. Hayak wanted small, fun and cheap, DB wanted safe, quality and "Germanic". The result pleased D-B more than Hayak, who dropped out of the partnership before the first launch. And the result was the smart, a small, safe, fun and high quality (some might quibble there) vehicle.
This book chronicles the story, from inception to about 2007. All of the smart vehicles are given some coverage, if only in photo or diagram form. The layout is much more along the lines of an Apple Computer publication than a typical car book, and there are plenty of photos of designs that never made it off the drawing board, of decorated smart enthusiast's cars and of the people and factory facilities behind the line. You will find zero technical information in this book (a problem that plagues all smart-oriented publications), but for a well thought out "overview history" of the car, this is the one to buy.
(Incidentally, the other two "picture books" on the smart are filled with duplicated photographs through and through. That's not the case with this book.)
I was not happy with the binding (a "soft hardcover", with a jacket fused to a paperback binding), but (of the three picture books) I would buy this one above all.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
smart car
2 Nov 2008
Format:Paperback
This is a great reference book for owners of the smart car.
For a change I'm able to answer some of the many questions people ask about my little car. If you have a friend who owns one, this would be a great gift idea.
For a change I'm able to answer some of the many questions people ask about my little car. If you have a friend who owns one, this would be a great gift idea.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Smart Car book
10 May 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I recently purchased a model 450 Smart Car in the USA. This is one of the European models that have not been imported officially but I did get one and wanted a book that tells me the history of the development of my car. This book does that and even goes a little into the newer model 451 that began importing to the USA in 2008. For what I wanted, this book was perfect. Now if I could only find one of those British books that seemed to exist for almost all car models 30 years ago that showed how to take the car apart and fix it. I don't think a book like that exists for the Smart Car. Yet.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
SMART FORTWO -- CAR OF THE NOW AND FUTURE
23 Nov 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
After seeing my first Smart Fortwo in Berlin, Germany in 1998, I waited ten years to get one in April of this year. What a great car. However information about the car has been sketchy at best over the years and this book fills in the gaps and answers questions that a potential owner might have or for that fact, one who owns a Smart Fortwo now. In particular is the description of the assembly plant in France and the explanation of why Mercedes dealers in Germany prior to 2006 would not even talk to you about a Smart car. Read the book to find out. This little car does exactly what it is designed to do. Micro City Car (MMC). Great in traffic and terrific mileage. Also it has the lowest CO2 emissions for a gasoline engine car in the USA.
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