The Garage Blog

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Is your project car as cool as this big block powered Smart car?

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smart v8

I suppose that depends on your definition of cool, but as I debate over Suzuki vs. rotary for my Spridget, this guy has taken the bull by the horns and jammed an 8 pot where it was never intended to be: in a Smart car. YouTuber Keith Pufal has posted a video of his buddy’s Smart that has been stuffed full of big block, taking its first pass down the strip at No Limit Raceway in Indiana. The contraption looks kinda slow off the line, but a few tweaks saw it run a 12.2. They are hoping to get it down to into the 10’s.

My kid just looked over my shoulder and told me that there is no such thing as a cool Smart car. He also suggested removing the wheelie bar to create the World’s first self-tipping Smart. The kid might be on to something.

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Penske Auto Group to Buy Saturn

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2009 Saturn Outlook XR

GM has been busy ridding itself of what many call the “Bad GM”-namely, Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn, and Saab, brands that won’t be a part of the “new” GM. Pontiac is being phased out, earlier this week Tengzhong announced plans to purchase Hummer, and today, Penske Auto Group announced that it will buy the Saturn brand and its dealer network from GM. Price was not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close in the third quarter. 

Penske gains 350 dealers and other assets attached to Saturn. GM hails the purchase a victory in that the move will preserve 13,000 jobs. When Saturn changes hands, there will still be vehicles to buy: the Aura, Outlook and Vue will be provided on a contract basis from GM. It should be noted that in Penske Auto Group’s press release that this arrangement would only be for “an interim period.”

It is too early to know for sure what cars Saturn will sell in the future, or if Penske will use the existing dealer network to expand the availability of the Smart car (In the US, Penske operates Smart USA). Penske is rumored to be in talks with several manufacturers who are interested in having their cars sold in North America.

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How smart is Smart?

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_smart3.jpg

How smart is Smart? Plenty smart if you look at the way Smart USA is marketing their munchkin, and the way other auto makers are trying to play catch-up to join in what they see as an up and coming segment.

At nine feet long, the car will be the smallest on the road but is showing big numbers pre introduction. In a unique marketing angle to promote a new car, Smart has taken in over 30,000 Internet reservations for its Smart ForTwo at $99 per reservation this year.
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