Tag Archives: vehicles

NEW CARS

Smart #2: The Fortwo Reborn, but Not as You Remember It

Smart is finally ready to show its hand on the car that matters most to its future. The company has released the first official images of the #2, the long-awaited successor to the Fortwo, and while the photos show little more than camouflaged test mules, the message is clear: Smart hasn’t abandoned its original idea—it’s rebuilding it from the ground up.

Due to arrive late next year, the all-electric #2 will become Smart’s new entry point, slotting beneath the #1 and #3 crossovers, the #5 SUV, and the forthcoming #6 saloon. In a lineup that has drifted steadily upward in size and ambition, the #2 is meant to pull the brand back to its urban roots.

What’s hiding beneath that familiar-looking test body is far more interesting than the camouflage suggests. The #2 rides on Smart’s new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA), a platform developed jointly by parent companies Geely and Mercedes-Benz. That alone makes it a first for the modern Smart era. Until now, Smart’s electric lineup has followed a clear division of labor: Geely handled the engineering, Mercedes handled the styling. The #2 breaks that mold, with the platform co-developed in China and Europe to better suit its primary target market—European cities.

For now, that new architecture is wearing a third-generation Fortwo body, a deliberate choice meant to underline continuity. Smart says this confirms the #2 will maintain proportions similar to the car it replaces, which is reassuring news for anyone worried that the Fortwo’s replacement might grow into yet another small crossover. Short overhangs, a tight footprint, and wheels pushed to the corners remain central to the brief.

Design-wise, Smart is keeping its cards close. There’s no official styling reveal yet, but the company describes the #2 as a “reinvention” with a “fresh identity” penned by Mercedes-Benz designers. Expect something more expressive and modern than the old Fortwo, but not a betrayal of its purpose. This is still meant to be a city tool first, fashion statement second.

Crucially, Smart has confirmed that the fundamentals remain unchanged. The #2 will stick with a two-door, two-seat layout and rear-wheel drive, preserving what it calls the same “core driving dynamics” as the Fortwo. In an era where even city cars are turning into mini SUVs, that commitment feels almost radical.

Behind the scenes, however, the business case is anything but simple. Smart CEO Dirk Adelmann has openly acknowledged that developing a bespoke small-car EV platform is expensive—and difficult to justify without scale. To make the numbers work, he’s hinted that the ECA platform could underpin additional models, potentially even a modern Forfour successor.

“We need the economies of scale,” Adelmann said earlier this year, noting that shrinking an EV platform to Fortwo dimensions is far harder than expanding an existing one. The fact that Smart pulled it off at all suggests just how serious it is about keeping a true city car alive.

Technical details remain scarce, but Adelmann has confirmed that the platform can accommodate a dual-motor setup, opening the door to an all-wheel-drive variant—an intriguing possibility for a car this small. Still, the real engineering priority wasn’t straight-line speed. It was maneuverability.

“The wishlist feature we gave to engineering was a very small turning cycle—the same as the last Fortwo,” Adelmann said. In other words, the #2 isn’t trying to be a miniature hot hatch. It’s trying to be unbeatable where it counts: tight streets, narrow parking spots, and dense city centers.

If Smart gets this right, the #2 won’t just be another EV. It’ll be proof that the original Smart idea still makes sense in an electric world—and that small, purpose-built cars still have a place in an industry obsessed with going big.

Source: Autocar

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Audi’s Formula 1 Future Gets a Name—and a Date—with the Audi Revolut F1 Team

Audi’s long-telegraphed march into Formula 1 has finally crystallized into something you can point to, pronounce, and—soon—see on a grid. The Audi Revolut F1 Team is now official, complete with a name, logo, and a global launch date set for January 20, 2026, in Berlin. It’s the clearest signal yet that Audi’s entry into the pinnacle of motorsport is no longer a concept study or a corporate promise, but a fully formed factory effort counting down the days to its debut season.

The naming matters more than it might seem. Formula 1 teams are brands as much as racing outfits, and Audi’s decision to fuse its factory identity with Revolut, the global fintech powerhouse confirmed as title partner in July 2025, is a statement of intent. This isn’t a logo-on-the-sidepod deal. It’s a partnership designed to define how the team operates, communicates, and connects with fans in a sport that is rapidly evolving beyond the racetrack.

More Than a Sponsor Sticker

Revolut’s involvement goes well beyond traditional sponsorship optics. The partnership is positioned as a strategic alliance built on shared values: innovation, performance, and global reach. In practical terms, that means Revolut Business will be integrated into the team’s financial operations, while Revolut Pay will handle transactions in the team’s online store—small details, perhaps, but ones that underscore how deeply the fintech company is embedded in the project.

For fans, the promise is a new layer of engagement. Audi and Revolut are targeting app-based benefits, exclusive access, and activations that aim to pull Formula 1 closer to a younger, digitally native audience. It’s a nod to the reality that modern F1 fandom isn’t confined to grandstands and television screens—it lives on smartphones, social platforms, and global communities that expect more than just lap times.

Berlin as a Statement, Not a Convenience

Audi could have unveiled its team anywhere. Choosing Berlin is deliberate. The German capital offers a mix of history, modernity, and cultural edge that aligns neatly with Audi’s desired F1 identity. On January 20, the Audi Revolut F1 Team will present its full brand for the first time in an immersive launch designed around three pillars: clarity, technical intelligence, and emotion.

In a sport often criticized for being opaque and overly complex, “clarity” is an intriguing word choice. Audi appears keen to demystify its F1 project, making its ambitions and values legible not just to engineers and insiders, but to fans worldwide. The following day, January 21, the doors open to the public—another signal that Audi wants its entry into Formula 1 to resonate beyond the paddock.

The Livery That Sets the Tone

While power units and organizational charts are critical, Formula 1 still runs on visuals and symbolism. The Berlin launch will mark the first full unveiling of the team’s 2026 race livery, building on the Audi R26 Concept shown in November. With fewer than 50 days remaining before the first race of the new regulations era, the livery reveal isn’t just cosmetic—it’s the visual manifesto of Audi’s F1 philosophy.

Expect Audi’s design DNA to be front and center: precision, restraint, and technical confidence rather than gratuitous aggression. How that translates to the hyper-aerodynamic canvas of a modern F1 car will say a lot about how Audi sees itself in a grid crowded with legacy brands and aggressive newcomers.

Rewriting the Corporate Map

Behind the scenes, the transformation is just as significant. As part of the team’s formation, Sauber Motorsport AG will be renamed Audi Motorsport AG, with the Technology Centre in Bicester, UK, becoming the Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK. It’s a clean rebranding that firmly places Audi at the core of the operation.

At the same time, Audi is careful not to erase the past. The names Sauber Holding AG and Sauber Technologies AG remain, acknowledging the Swiss outfit’s long-standing contribution to Formula 1. It’s a balancing act between heritage and reinvention—one Audi appears keen to get right.

Leadership, Aligned

The tone from leadership is notably unified. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner frames the team name and logo as a “clear identity” that reflects both ambition and innovation, positioning the Berlin launch as the moment Audi officially introduces this new chapter to the world.

Mattia Binotto, heading the Audi F1 project, emphasizes culture over spectacle. His comments point to a team “driven by precision and relentless ambition,” suggesting that the groundwork—technical, organizational, and philosophical—is well underway. For Binotto, Berlin isn’t just a reveal; it’s the first time the team stands together as a single entity.

Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley highlights the multinational nature of the effort, uniting Germany, the UK, and Switzerland under one banner. In a sport where coordination across borders can make or break a season, that sense of collective identity may prove crucial as 2026 approaches.

From Revolut’s side, CEO and co-founder Nikolay Storonsky casts the partnership in disruptive terms, framing the alliance as a challenge to the status quo, powered by a shared obsession with engineering excellence. For Revolut, Formula 1 isn’t just marketing—it’s a platform for global growth.

Counting Down to 2026

Formula 1’s 2026 regulations reset the competitive deck, offering new manufacturers a rare opportunity to enter on relatively equal footing. Audi knows this is its window. The Audi Revolut F1 Team name, logo, and Berlin launch aren’t the finish line—they’re the starting signal.

When the lights go out in early 2026, Audi won’t just be debuting a car. It will be debuting a philosophy, a partnership, and a brand vision designed for Formula 1’s next era. Berlin is where it all becomes real.

Source: Audi

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Das Treffen X: How Porsche’s Southeast Asian Heartbeat Found Its Perfect Tempo in Bangkok

By the time the gates opened at Impact Speed Park, it was clear this wasn’t just another enthusiast meet. Das Treffen—now celebrating its 10th edition—has grown into something far more significant: a cultural checkpoint for Porsche passion in Southeast Asia, and a reminder that the brand’s soul has never been confined to Weissach alone.

What started as a low-key gathering organized by Porsche devotee Sihabutr “Tenn” Xoomsai has matured into the region’s most anticipated Porsche event, drawing owners, collectors, and dreamers from across Asia. Ten editions in, Das Treffen feels less like a car show and more like a family reunion—one where air-cooled memories, hybrid futures, and racing DNA all speak the same language.

“Reaching ten editions of Das Treffen is something I never expected,” Xoomsai admits. “It’s the community that makes this event what it is.”

He’s right. But Porsche Thailand deserves credit for turning that community spirit into a carefully orchestrated experience.

A Porsche Playground, Bangkok Edition

Impact Speed Park was transformed into a series of themed zones, each highlighting a different facet of Porsche’s multifaceted identity. At the center sat the Porsche hospitality village—part lounge, part boutique, part playground. Visitors browsed exclusive Porsche Lifestyle merchandise, then strapped into advanced racing simulators to chase lap times on legendary circuits. Equal parts luxury and adrenaline, it was classic Porsche.

Just next door, the Motorsport zone delivered a history lesson that needed no explanation. The centerpiece was a Porsche 956, flown in directly from the Porsche Museum. Even standing still, the Group C legend radiated menace. This is the car that rewrote the rules of endurance racing, winning Le Mans outright four years in a row from 1982 to 1985 and redefining what aerodynamics could achieve at 240 mph on the Mulsanne.

Parked beside it was the modern counterpoint: the Porsche 963 LMDh. Fresh off an IMSA Championship title and a second-place overall finish at Le Mans in 2025, the 963 isn’t nostalgia—it’s proof that Porsche still knows exactly how to win when the lights go out and the clock starts ticking. Together, the two cars formed a rolling timeline of Porsche’s race-bred philosophy: different eras, same intent.

Every Porsche Story, One Event

Elsewhere, Das Treffen X unfolded like chapters in a book Porsche has been writing for more than seven decades.

Adventure was represented by a specially prepared Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupé, famous for its staggering 22,000-kilometer journey from Bangkok to Stuttgart. Crossing 17 countries in 61 days, the expedition wasn’t a stunt—it was a rolling validation of Porsche durability in the real world.

Performance needs little explanation. The 911 and 718 stood proudly as the benchmarks they’ve always been, reminders that balance, feedback, and mechanical honesty still matter in a world chasing numbers.

Urban looked forward, not back. Taycan and Macan models highlighted Porsche’s electrified future, blending daily usability with the unmistakable feel that separates a Porsche from a mere appliance.

And then there was Heritage—a curated space anchored by the 911 Spirit 70. With its retro colors, period-correct patterns, and unapologetic nostalgia, it celebrated the decade when Porsche wasn’t just a sports car maker, but a lifestyle statement.

Community Beyond the Cars

Das Treffen X wasn’t confined to the showground. Alongside the event, Porsche Asia Pacific hosted its first-ever regional Porsche Club Presidents’ Meeting in Bangkok. Leaders from across Asia gathered to exchange ideas, share standout initiatives from 2025, and strengthen the connective tissue of the global Porsche network.

The day culminated in true Porsche fashion—with people. More than 280 club members converged at Curvistan Bangkok for Porsche Club Night and the opening of a new exhibition curated by Stefan Bogner, fittingly titled Porsche Communities. Set in the heart of Thong Lo, Curvistan proved once again that Porsche understands modern enthusiasm isn’t just about cars—it’s about culture.

“Porsche communities are the heartbeat of our brand,” said Yannick Ott, Director of Marketing for Porsche Asia Pacific. It’s a sentiment that echoed throughout the weekend.

More Than a Milestone

Das Treffen X wasn’t about celebrating the past for its own sake. It was about continuity—how racing heritage informs electrification, how community fuels innovation, and how passion transcends borders.

Ten years on, Das Treffen has become more than an event. It’s proof that Porsche’s most powerful engine isn’t found under a rear decklid or beneath a carbon-fiber body—it’s the people who keep showing up, year after year, united by a crest that still means something.

And if this is what the first decade looks like, the next ten should be worth the wait.

Source: Porsche