Smart Thinking: The Little Car That Made it Big [Hardcover]

Tony Lewin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2004

The story of smart is an epic tale of genius, inspiration, hope, disappointment, disaster and ultimate triumph. Funky, stylish and fun, smart is the youngest and most exciting brand of car on the market - and it has revolutionised the way we think about cars and the way we use them. It has put much-needed fun back into driving, and even city motorists smile when they're at the wheel of a smart. But it nearly didn't happen at all. The revolutionary design was the product of the genius who invented the Swatch watch, saving the near-bankrupt Swiss watch industry in the process. But these visionary ideas proved too radical and the tiny two-seater almost died at birth when a succession of backers lost their nerve. The sensational story of smart traces the decade-long history of this ambitious project, talking to key figures from every stage of the programme and building a vivid picture of an idea ahead of its time.- Inside information from within VW, never before published- The real reasons VW Group dropped the program and DaimlerChrysler picked it up- Secret approaches to other carmakers- What happened? The guiding light of the project speaks out for the first time- Full and frank interviews with today's leading authorities- Smart design - today, tomorrow and in 2010- Not so much a car, more a way of thinking: what the brand experts thinkAbout the AuthorTony Lewin has spent most of his working life driving cars, analyzing them and reporting on the ups and downs of the global enterprises that build them. As a business writer and editor of Financial Times Automotive World he has kept a constant watch on the world's top carmakers for many years. Today, Lewin divides his time between business journalism and books. In 2003 he published the widely-acclaimed How to Design Cars Like a Pro.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tony Lewin has spent most of his working life driving cars, analyzing them and reporting on the ups and downs of the global enterprises that build them. As a writer and editor for Automotive News Europe he has kept a constant watch on the world's top carmakers for many years. Today, Lewin divides his time between journalism and books. He lives in East Sussex, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (September 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076031943X
• ISBN-13: 978-0760319437
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,389,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare for this phenomenon in the United States, March 15, 2006

By 

Ron C. Gaus "asmartcar.com" (Kirkwood, Missouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smart Thinking: The Little Car That Made it Big (Hardcover)

The definitive book on the smart car. For those in the US who have not yet seen this car (but soon will), this will answer all the questions. Fascinating story of a most intriguing car. More drama than a soap opera and it will continue as the car hits the American shores in 2006. You will understand why this car draws the attention of everyone within each new country it is introduced. Well written and difficult to put down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but outdated, December 21, 2007

By 

Tom Lorbeer - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smart Thinking: The Little Car That Made it Big (Hardcover)

This is a good book to inform the reader on the history of Smart, but since its publication in 2004, it's already very outdated. Long gone are the forfour, Roadster, crossblade, and the development of the formore 4x4 vehicles. The book ends without mentioning the new chairman of Daimler, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, or the major changes Daimler made since 2004. Now with the new fortwo (451) model to arrive on the U.S. shores in January 2008, a new book is needed to continue the Smart story by the end of that year.
So if you're looking for a historical account on Smart, this is a great book. If you're looking for current materials... wait till the end of 2008 or later.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes trying to revolutionize the car sales industry isn't so SMART!, December 30, 2007

By 

Bruce Brodnax "L.A. Biker" (Lost Angeles, somewhere out in the smog) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smart Thinking: The Little Car That Made it Big (Hardcover)

This is a revelatory history of the creation of a new automotive marque, and all the trials & tribulations that went into doing so. While complaints of it being "dated" are somewhat valid, it is after all attempting to chronicle in detail the history of a product and company that at the time of publication already had more than a decade of history behind it, yet was still a very young company with much room to grow ahead: it is to be expected that some changes have occurred since then! This book gives the owner or fan of SMART cars the necessary background to fully enjoy the marque for what it is: an honest attempt to change the world as we know it! It is important for the potential purchaser to note that this is *not* a book with technical info on model variations or instructions on performance modifications.