Business smarts 44: Easigrass

Easigrass - artificial grass company based in London, England.
Photo: Colin Marsh.

Isetta

This Brighton, Sussex built Isetta was spotted at the 32nd edition of the Sandwell Historic Vehicle Show in the West Midlands.

Business smarts 43: Sandwell College, West Midlands, England

Sandwell College

Not so Smart move for car driver in Sandbanks

By Juliette Astrup

IT proved an expensive dash to the toilet for a driver waiting to use the Sandbanks Ferry yesterday morning.
Tony Hearn, who left his silver Smart car on the ferry slipway to spend a penny, ended up costing insurers thousands after it rolled into the sea.
Shocked witnesses saw the £7,000 mini-motor bobbing out of Poole Harbour, around 8am, heading towards the Isle of Wight.
But its inaugural voyage was a short-lived one – floating a meagre 30 metres past the Haven Hotel before sinking to the bottom of the sea.
Tony, 34, who works with autistic children in Hampshire, was left on the harbourside in disbelief, watching it disappear under the waves.

Read full story here.

Business smarts 32: Fat Flyers

Fat Flyers offer a comprehensive design and printing service, specializing in promotional flyer design & print. Whether you require a flyer to promote your club night or small business, Fat Flyers will provide a professional, efficient and friendly service on time every time.

Photo taken in Lewes, East Sussex, England by RLT.

Business smarts 30: Edinburgh Flats

http://www.edinburghflats.co.uk/

Photo taken while on holiday in Edinburgh, Christmas Day, 2008.

Business smarts 29: Geoffrey Kilts, Edinburgh, Scotland

"Look smart in a kilt from geoffreykilts.co.uk"

Smart Fortwo ED: It’s a total shock – I love it

To her surprise,Vicki Butler-Henderson gets a huge buzz from the new Smart
I’ve never been a fan of the Smart car, not least because it doesn’t like to be spelt with a capital S. I’ve been a snob about its short, stubby shape for a decade but I’ve just turned 180 degrees and am sold on this electric version – though just this version, I hasten to add.
At long last it’s okay to be seen driving a car that’s attached to a plug, and it’s so of-the-moment that it turns you a pleasant shade of green.
It makes perfect sense if you live in a town peppered with electric recharging posts and if you favour Prada over passengers (it’s got as much room inside as a tumble dryer).
Nobody in or out of the car would suspect that it lacks an internal combustion engine as you hoof it away from the lights, and up to 30mph it doesn’t let the side down.

Read full story here.

UK survey says screw hybrids if you want a green car

How many top ten lists of green cars to you know of that don't include the Toyota Prius? A new survey by Cardiff University and UK automotive consultancy Clifford Thames has come to the conclusion that the poster car for the environmental driver is actually only the 12th greenest vehicle. Number one? The discontinued Smart Roadster. And the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet comes in second. Or, as Car magazine put it: "A new report today exposes the real green cars - and there's not a hybrid in sight in the top 10." The Financial Times has also written about this story, but it's behind a subscription wall. So, what is this list and how did it come into being? Vehicles were given points depending on emissions/pollutants (half the total) and the "vehicles' construction, energy costs, recyclability and size," according to Car. I'll guess that that construction factor is the key in the Prius faring so poorly, compared to expectations. Let's hope this doesn't revive that CNW Prius vs. Hummer "report" again.

Top Green cars, as calculated by Cardiff University and UK automotive consultancy Clifford Thames:
1st Smart Roadster - 66.2 points
2nd Smart Fortwo Cabriolet - 59.8
3rd Citroen C1 1.0 - 40.1
4th Peugeot 107 1.0 - 38.6
5th Citroen C1 1.4 HDI - 31.3
6th Fiat Panda 1.2 Dualogic - 28.4
7th Ford Ka 1.3 - 27.5
8th Toyota Yaris 1.0 - 27.2
9th Fiat Panda 100hp - 23.6
10th Pegueot 206 1.4 - 23.5
11th Mini Cooper D - 23.3
12th Toyota Prius 1.5 - 23.2

View source.

Devil's in detail for Rev Gary

By Laura Sharpe
It's a case of better the devil you know for a clergyman with a daring taste in car number plates. The Rev Gary Gotham, from Stockport, bought the registration R666 REV for his sporty Smart Car. And the number signifies the devil, according to the Bible.Gary, who preaches at the United Reformed Church in Hazel Grove and Great Moor, has played a part in Stockport's bumper sales in personalised plates which has put the town ahead of sales compared to other parts of Greater Manchester. In fact there is a growing trend nationally for the specialised plates.Gary bought the cheapest registration going at the time - 666 REV - for £250 and his somewhat unusual choice has made him a local celebrity.He said: "I had a rummage on the DVLA website and found a string of plates with 666 which people didn't want because of superstition, but I thought it would be quite apt in my line of work. "I thought it would be different and I think I'm on the right side and I've got nothing to be afraid of. "He added: "Often the church gets a bad press so it's good for people to see the clergy has a sense of humour too. "I'm just a human being like everybody else."
Source: Manchester Evening News

Car fire causes M6 delays

A car on fire on an M6 sliproad led to long rush-hour delays in Lancashire.
The Smart car caught fire close to the junction 31a exit at Fulwood, Preston, shortly after 5.30pm on Thursday.
One lane of the southbound carriageway was closed.
Crews from Preston and Fulwood fire stations were called to attend the incident, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in the engine.
Source.

London 'CO2 charge' hit by delay

London Mayor Ken Livingstone's plan to turn the capital's congestion zone into a low emissions zone has been put on ice, Autocar has learned.
Three weeks ago we reported on Transport for London's plan to introduce a sliding scale tariff in place of the current £8-a-day congestion charge. As part of it, cars emitting less than 120g/km of carbon dioxide, like the Smart Fortwo, Citroen C1 and Toyota Prius, will be able to enter the city centre for free, while those emitting more than 225g/km of CO2 – sports cars, luxury saloons, SUVs and a great many others – will be liable for a whacking £25-a-day sting.
Autocar understands that TfL has appointed consultants to advise on how best to implement the new system, and how markedly it might affect CO2 emissions in the city centre. According to various sources, among them The Guardian and the BBC, the Mayor's plan was to put this new carbon emissions-based charge in place in spring 2008, in time for the London Mayoral election.

Read full article here.

(Photo: Cheshire Fire Service)

smart destination Brooklands

(Photos by Annette Lloyd Thomas, Brooklands 2001-we drove our first smart, a 2000 all-black pulse, to this event)

thesmartclub in association with Mercedes-Benz and smart, is delighted to announce an exciting new Major Event for 2007.
You can join us for a massive gathering of smart cars, smart owners and smart enthusiasts for a day of driving, entertainment and attractions at Mercedes-Benz World, UK on July 28th 2007.
Doors open at Mercedes-Benz World at 10:00 hrs, with a range of engaging and entertaining activities starting at 12:00hrs (noon), including test drives of the new smart fortwo. You will be able to enjoy smart-related brand displays, driving attractions, boutique accessory stands and access to all the facilities at the innovative Brand Experience centre.
In addition to these activities and attractions, you will also have access to a large number of independent smart suppliers specialising in after-market parts, accessories and performance products.
Plus, we'll have a number of competitions on the day in addition to a range of food and beverage facilities and, of course, you can take the opportunity to visit the Brooklands Museum.
Best of all, access to the Event itself will be FREE of charge.
A full list of attractions, the Event timings for the day plus much more will be published here from 1st June onwards.

Spotted in England V

The Hillman Imp was a compact, rear-engined saloon (US: sedan) automobile manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler Europe) from 1963 to 1976. This one is technically a Sunbeam Imp.

The Reliant Robin (often but incorrectly known as the Robin Reliant), is a small three-wheeled car manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. Being a three-wheeler, the Robin can be driven on either a motorcycle or car licence in the United Kingdom, and can be registered and insured as a motorcycle at considerable savings over a conventional car. The single wheel in the front steered, while the engine (also in the front) drove the rear axle.
The one pictured here is arguably one of the last made.

Spotted in England IV

G-Wiz seen in London.

British spec fortwo in Lewes, East Sussex.

Spotted in England III

Opel Ascona



Perfect parking for purplish fortwo.

Spotted in England II

Morris Minor Traveller, Spalding, Lincolnshire

smart roadster, Spalding, Lincolnshire

Spotted in England I

On our recent "Bonfire Tour" to England (October 17 to November 14, 2006) we snapped photos of several interesting vehicles, including smart cars. Over the next few days, I'll post some of these pictures.

Fortwo with Canadian flag sticker, Lewes,East Sussex

Nissan Figaro, Lewes, East Sussex