Agility: Even more power

Petrol engines: more power and torque

State-of-the-art compact three-cylinder engines are installed at the rear of new smart fortwo. For the petrol engines, the engine capacity has been increased from 0.7 to 1.0 litres. There are two naturally aspirated engine versions to choose from, delivering 45 or 52 kW (61 / 71 bhp) respectively, and a turbo engine rated at 62 kW (84 bhp). In addition to the increase in power, the maximum speed has also been increased – to 145 km/h.

The all-aluminium engine was developed in cooperation with Mitsubishi, and is produced in Japan. It has been further developed for use in the new smart fortwo.

The engine is mounted transversally in front of the rear axle, and is slanted at an angle of 45 degrees towards the rear. The cylinder barrels take the form of grey cast iron liners. Gas exchange is controlled by four valves per combustion chamber. The valves are controlled by separate intake and exhaust camshafts, via bucket tappets.

To allow high torque to be developed even at low engine speeds, the intake camshafts can be twisted electrohydraulically against the exhaust camshafts (variable valve control). The camshafts are driven via a maintenance-free timing chain.

Because the masses being moved are low, there is no need for a balancer shaft – which would reduce the output of the engine. However, in the turbo version there is a torsional vibration damper on the crankshaft.

At a glance: Special advance public world premiere of the new smart fortwo

Stuttgart, Dec 04, 2006
Eight years of continuous success and over 210,000 new vehicle registrations in Italy have made the smart fortwo an integral part of the city landscape, so much so that it is now impossible to imagine a city without smart. In Italy’s major urban centres the smart fortwo has clearly become the car of choice for the young urban generation, a metropolitan cult in its own right. For example, there are now over 50,000 smarts on the streets of Rome, confirming the Italian capital’s status as a truly “smart city”.

So smart has decided to let Italy – and the city of Bologna in particular – celebrate the spirit of this exciting brand on the occasion of the special advance public world premiere of the new smart fortwo. This is a reward for the enthusiastic support received from Italian customers and admirers, who will be able to view the new model at the next Motor Show.

Bologna is the world’s oldest university city, full of young people and well-known for its openness to innovation. And the Piazza Maggiore, the square at the centre of the city, provides an outstanding showcase for the colourful display of passions and feelings. The evening of the premiere will include appearances by some of the leading new performers on the Italian musical scene: the pianist and composer Giovanni Allevi, the very young and incredibly talented L’Aura, and Finley, the hard pop group, winner of the “best Italian act” category at the latest MTV Europe Music Awards. These young artists will present the three facets of the new smart fortwo: originality, talent and energy.

Historical Timeline

1875
- Walter Percy Chrysler is born in Wamego, Kansas, USA.

1892
- A 17-year-old Walter P. Chrysler begins an apprenticeship as a railroad engineer with Union Pacific in Ellis, Kansas.

- The young train mechanic Chrysler develops and builds his own special tools because, “A good mechanic should never trust a tool that he didn’t put together and harden himself.”

1908
- Walter P. Chrysler, at the age of 33 already a top manager at Chicago Great Western Railway, with a monthly salary of $350, buys his first automobile for $5,000 — a white Locomobile Phaeton with a red interior. He takes the car apart and puts it together again several times to get to know its technology. As a result – he learns to drive.

Dodge Legends Vehicle Highlights

1915 Dodge Brothers Touring Car
An auspicious beginning
The Dodge Brothers conversion from the world’s largest supplier of automobile parts to manufacturers of their own car was an anticipated event. The first Dodge Brothers car met with enthusiastic success after the November 1914 introductory run of 249 units. 45,000 Dodge Brothers cars were built and sold in 1915, making Dodge Brothers the third largest manufacturer of cars in their first full year of business.

These 1915 models were sensible in design, and bore the quality and solidity the Dodge Brothers reputation promised. Each car was equipped with genuine leather upholstery, a folding top, electric lighting, an electric starter, a windshield, speedometer and demountable rims. The combination of solid, dependable quality and advanced features at a reasonable price insured the brothers’ lasting success in the infant, volatile automobile business.

Wheelbase: 110 in. (279.4 cm)
Weight: 2,200 lbs. (997.9 kg)
Engine: L-head, inline 4-cylinder
Displacement: 212.3 cu. in. (3.48L)
Bore/stroke: 3-7/8 in. x 4-1/2 in. (9.84 cm X11.4 cm)
Compression ratio: 4.0:1
Length: 149 in. (378.5 cm)
Base price: $785
Horsepower: 35 @ 2,000 rpm
Transmission: selective sliding gear, 3-speed, unique “inverted H pattern,” standard on Dodge cars until 1928

American Management – (Alas, too true!)

I received this e-mail and had to share…

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors)
decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced
long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese team won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate
the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior
management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese team had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person
rowing. So American management hired a consulting company and paid them
a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised that too many people were steering the boat, while not
enoughpeople were rowing. To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the
American’s rowing team’s management structure was totally reorganized to
4 Steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant
Superintendent steering manager .

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1
person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called
the “Rowing Quality First Program,” with meetings, dinners and free pens
for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and
other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was
distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year’s
racing team was outsourced to India.