Kobe Bryant - Smart Cars

Kobe Bryant and Bjrn Hauber, executive vice-president of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd, give a thumbs-up to the smart.

NBA basketball superstar meets Chinese fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena

To rousing cheers of fans in Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena, basketball legend Kobe Bryant joined 200 smart owners on July 20 in a fleet to illustrate the smart brand's campaign - "Big, in the city".

After the long trek from the Staples Center in Los Angeles to Shanghai, the NBA superstar arrived as China's brand ambassador for smart, a role he took in February, the first time Bryant has appeared in China as a member of smart family in a market-specific campaign.

"Right from the start, smart was ahead of its time," said Annette Winkler, head of smart brand.

"It's not just the perfect car for the city with a trendsetting design - it's a 'big idea', a strong vision and a solution for the ever-increasing mobility and environmental problems in growing cities around the world," said Winkler.

"The partnership with Bryant will strengthen the position of the smart car as the most popular lifestyle and city car in China. Bryant's passion, agility, intelligence and creativity blend beautifully with smart's core values.

The smart was launched in 1998 using Mercedes-Benz's spirit of innovation - "The best or nothing".

Bryant has been a star player on five NBA championship teams, named to All-Star Teams for 11 consecutive years since 2000 and selected as the league's Most Valuable Player in 2008.

360 percent growth

"Almost 13 years after the first smart rolled off the production line, some 1.25 million vehicles have been sold and it is now a familiar part of the city roadscape," Winkler added.

"Even though smart has only been available in China for two years, it has already gained a huge number of smart fans," said Bjrn Hauber, executive vice-president of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd.

"It is agile on city roads, and is not only one of the shortest mass-produced cars in the world with a cute shape, but also combines unique design, leading safety standards and eco-friendly technology."

Hauber said smart sales in China in the first six months of the year hit 5,500 units, an increase of 360 percent from the same period last year.

"We are thrilled by these impressive sales figures that make China the third-largest market for smart. We are confident of a further boost in smart sales during the summer months with Bryant joining in us," said Hauber.

The Mercedes-Benz Arena was alive with energy as Bryant entered driving a smart. He was joined by special guests including students from the Lei Shing Hong Hope School.

The superstar's interaction with students comes a year after establishment of the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund to help underprivileged children through the company's corporate social responsibility efforts.

While participants got the chance to shoot hoops with Bryant, he said meeting his Chinese fans was the highlight of his trip.

"China is my home away from home. Touring Shanghai has been truly amazing. It is, for me, a very special and unforgettable experience to drive the smart car with such cool smart fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai," said Bryant.

Mao Jingbo, vice-president of marketing at Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd, said the campaign called smart Kobe 24 hours "with the superstar not only highlights the excitement of smart but also represents one of the strongest cross-industry collaborations for the brand in 2011."

"smart Kobe 24 hours is an exciting campaign as well as a big celebration we will be presenting this year to our smart owners and smart fans. Mercedes-Benz will continue to release a series of exciting new marketing and sales plans for the next three years, and to bring smart fans more exciting results," said Mao.

The smart Kobe 24 hours will give more smart fans the opportunity to closely experience with Bryant the core value of the campaign "Big, in the city" - the excitement in driving freely, the wisdom of transforming complexity to simplicity, the big joy in safe driving and the big environmental benefits in such a small car.

350z Intake Manifold from SpeedForce Racing

The runners at the front of the motor get less air then the runners at the back of the motor. This means that a lean condition can occur, which could destroy your motor.In order to address this situation, we designed an intake manifold that flows equally across all six cylinders.We also increased the volume in the plenum to maximize power.The Speed Force Racing intake manifold replaces the stock unit with a piece of art that performs even better then it looks. This intake is also perfect for direct port nitrous set-ups. This is also the plenum that you will need to eclipse the 1000WHP barrier on the VQ motor. We have seen peak gains of 30ft/lbs of torque and 30 horsepower at the wheels on low boost (7.8psi)Forced Induction cars! The Speed Force Racing Intake Manifold for the 350Z and G35 is built entirely out of 5052 and 6061 aluminum. Each runner utilizes a velocity stack to maximize airflow and broaden your powerband. Each plenum is formed out of a flat sheet os .125 wall aluminum for superior strength. These intake manifolds are capable of withstanding 50+ psi of boost! 

Here is a video on a run that SpeedForce Racing put together.

More pictures:

Smart Forvision (Prototype)

DAIMLER : and BASF combine know-how in pioneering vehicle project

Jointly developed smart forvision concept vehicle has world premiere at the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt

Innovative technologies from the chemical industry will contribute to increasing automotive energy efficiency

Daimler and BASF have developed a new concept vehicle that combines both companies' ideas for holistic electric mobility. The resulting vehicle is the smart forvision, which has been developed with a special emphasis on energy efficiency, temperature management and lightweight design. The smart forvision will have its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Both Daimler and BASF are engaged in wide-ranging research and development work aimed at getting electric cars on the road and ensuring that electric mobility becomes part of everyday life as soon as possible. Daimler is embracing the age of electric mobility: it is the first car manufacturer to have released four electric production models, and its smart fortwo electric drive is a pioneer among battery-driven vehicles. BASF, the world's largest supplier of chemical products to the automotive industry, develops sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions for the energy-efficient mobility of tomorrow. The two companies have now combined their technological competencies for the first time, developing a forward-looking vehicle concept that offers decisive solutions to the challenges of the future. The new vehicle brings design, lifestyle and technology together to form a new functional whole.

"In this joint project with Daimler we have successfully developed a holistic approach to urban mobility of the future. This is something we are very proud of. Our research activities make an important contribution to ensuring that electric cars are affordable, environmentally friendly and sustainable," says Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF SE.

"The smart forvision is an impressive example of what can be achieved when two leading companies from two very different sectors sit down together. It was exciting to see how our developers and designers worked with the researchers at BASF and came up with a joint vehicle concept that provides a meaningful insight into the future of electric mobility," says Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member responsible for Group Research and Development at Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Because it has always set itself apart from other vehicle concepts, the smart was predestined for this joint project. As a result, the smart forvision is the perfect vehicle for showcasing new technologies. The researchers and developers have succeeded in combining no less than five automotive world premieres in the new concept vehicle. Transparent organic solar cells, transparent organic light-emitting diodes, all-plastic wheels, new lightweight body components and infrared-reflective films and coatings all help to reduce the vehicle's energy consumption and thus increase its range and practicality.

Energy efficiency

State-of-the-art materials and technologies allow new concepts to be implemented in the electric car that not only save energy, but even generate it. The resulting increase in range contributes to further improving the performance and economy of electric vehicles. The smart forvision features energy-efficient solutions such as power-generating solar cells based on organic-chemical dyes on the roof. Combined together with energy-saving organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), the vehicle's roof, which is covered in solar cells, is not just environmentally friendly, but a real design highlight as well.

One challenge in ensuring the continuing development of electric mobility is sustainably producing and using the power required to drive the cars. Electric mobility is at its most effective in preventing climate change and protecting the environment when the energy required for it is generated highly efficiently and with minimal CO2 emissions. For this reason BASF is also working on solutions for producing electricity from renewable energies such as wind and solar power.

Multifunctional lightweight design

The lighter an electric vehicle is, the less drive energy it requires, and the greater its range will be. Making vehicles lighter will therefore be one of the key challenges for electric mobility in the future, and BASF can make an important contribution here. Lightweight design means replacing heavy, metal components with composite plastic materials that offer the same functionality and stability. Weight can be reduced particularly successfully by substituting load-bearing components, for example the chassis, with fiber-reinforced plastics. Moreover, the smart forvision features the first ever all-plastic wheel suitable for series production, made from the new high-performance material Ultramid® Structure developed by BASF. This material, which is just as stable as metal, can reduce weight by up to 30 percent.

Comprehensive temperature management

The heating and air conditioning systems in vehicles are major consumers of energy. The amount of energy needed to heat up or cool down the vehicle's interior can be reduced with the help of a comprehensive temperature management system that uses innovative materials such as polymer films in the windows to reflect thermal radiation, and high-performance insulating materials.

The smart forvision brings together these forward-looking technologies from the chemical industry with a unique mobility concept and distinctive design. Together, the automotive and chemical industries are making a significant contribution to the affordability, environmental friendliness and safety of electric vehicles. In the smart forvision, Daimler and BASF have laid the perfect foundations for efficient, sustainable, uncompromising electric mobility.

Cisco
Home of the Original "Smart Car Intake"
www.SmartCar-Performance.com
951-532-7939

Nissan 350Z Turbo Systems

For your Nissan 350Z we have a wide variety of turbos for you to choose from.  From single turbo to twin and you can choose up to 1000 HP.

click below:
Nissan 350Z Turbo Systems


Cisco
Home of the Original "Smart Car Intake"
www.SmartCar-Performance.com
951-532-7939

Smart Car Armrest - September Special

For the month of September, we will be giving away a free gift with every purchase of our Smart Car Armrest:

Smart Car Armrest

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Cisco
Home of the Original "Smart Car Intake"
www.SmartCar-Performance.com
951-532-7939