smart: The new fortwo & forfour
Although smart is not exactly what engages our primarily interest – since our "Chromjuwelen Électrique“ documentary (embedded above) we kinda like this little fellow.
Although smart is not exactly what engages our primarily interest – since our "Chromjuwelen Électrique“ documentary (embedded above) we kinda like this little fellow.
smart just presented their brand-new fortwo and forfour. Some say both models look a Cygnet – we have to admit we like the Asiatic Manga-styled face. Finally the car has something that looks like a bonnet!
Life Is Good.
Blåvand, Denmark, April 2014. All toys belong to Helge, I just enjoyed 'em.
Mopar Spring Fling 2014
The Mopar Spring Fling just made it clear: It’s high time to exchange the 1964 Imperial for a plain-Jane Mopar. Btw – thanks for giving me a ride in your HEMI monster, Helge!
The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Hamburg, May 15, 2013. This evening, the new flagship for luxurious motoring landed in Hamburg on board an Airbus A300-600 DHL cargo plane. Mercedes-Benz had the new S-Class flown in exclusively from its birthplace in Stuttgart for its world premiere at Airbus in Finkenwerder.
"Hamburg, May 15, 2013. This evening, the new flagship for luxurious motoring landed in Hamburg on board an Airbus A300-600 DHL cargo plane. Mercedes-Benz had the new S-Class flown in exclusively from its birthplace in Stuttgart for its world premiere at Airbus in Finkenwerder.
At the delivery centre for the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft and a benchmark in travel comfort, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new luxury saloon in front of around 750 international guests from the worlds of politics, industry and media. Flanked by the 20 current Mercedes-Benz models and musically accompanied by the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the new top-of-the-line model from Stuttgart rolled across the tarmac as part of a spectacular show.
In a dazzling display, it took up its position at the head of the Mercedes-Benz family and drove onto the stage with its first passenger, the global superstar Alicia Keys."
BAM!
Even after a couple of days, it's hard to find the right words. Although I am personally not a fan of high tech stuffed cars, the new S-Class with it's three engineering priorities "Intelligent Drive", "Efficient Technology" and "Essence of Luxury", extends the boundaries of technology on many levels.
Not to mention the fact Mercedes-Benz threw a mind-blowing party. Five German star-rated chefs specialising in different culinary styles each cooked their own dish, Alicia Keys had come specially to Hamburg just a few days ahead of the start of her European tour. And with 19 musicians under conductor Prof. Johannes Schild, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra played various pieces that had been specially composed for the world premiere of the S-Class by the internationally successful film composer Marius Ruhland.
Chapeau, Mercedes-Benz.
Two Car Shows On Two Continents In Five Days
Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force
Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force
Wolfgang Würth, smart electric bike
smart electric bikes, Niketown, Beverly Hills
The Jim Henson Company, smart forjeremy
Jet-lagged and tipsy: Mathias "MC Winkel" Winks and some muppet
James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Coupé, LA Auto Show 2012
Decadent lunch with Marcel Winatschek (Amy & Pink), David Fischer (Highsnobiety) and Mathias Winks (Whudat)
"A brand is your friend" — Word.
Slammed W108 with mascara (caption borrowed from Clemens Gleich)
Now, with a Chromjuwelen branding, this Opel Kadett is worth over a million. No — wait: Five millions.
Bon appétit!
Yes, you can. You can visit two car shows (LA Auto Show, Essen Motor Show), three world premieres (Mercedes-AMG SLS AMG Coupé Black Series, Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force, smart forjeremy) and several parties in five days. Here's a quick journal:
Tuesday, November 27th (early): HAM-FRA-LAX
Tuesday, November 27th: Arrival Los Angeles
Tuesday, November 27th: Beverly Hills on smart electric bikes
Tuesday, November 27th: Presentation Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force
Tuesday, November 27th: Presentation smart forjeremy at the Jim Henson Company
Wednesday, November 28th: LA Motor Show
Wednesday, November 28th: Santa Monica
Wednesday, November 28th: Departure (LAX-MUC-DUS)
Tuesday, November 29th: Arrival in DUS
Tuesday, November 29th: Dinner with Chem-Tools
Friday, November 30th: Essen Motor Show 2012, meetings
Friday, November 30th: AUTO BILD Race Night
Saturday, December 1st: Essen Motor Show 2012, meetings
Saturday, December 1st (late): Back in Hamburg
Sunday, December 2nd: BRAINDEAD
Monday, December 3rd: BRAINDEAD
What I learned: You need a really good condition (err ... really?). And some good friends, who help you.
I would like to thank Mercedes-Benz/smart for the hospitality, Klaus Rasch for saving me from the police in Santa Monica, Thomas Backe and Dieter Hofem for picking me up in DUS, Manfred Prescher and Stefan Müller for the wonderful Race Night — and DOTZ/AEZ for gallons of coffee.
And not to forget — thank you David Fischer (Highsnobiety), Mathias "MC Winkel" Winks (Whudat), Marcel Winatschek (Amy & Pink), Michael Kaune (QVEST) and Matthias Arens (Quality) for teaching me lessons in "Lifestyle, Ego-Blogging and Fashion"!
smart forjeremy: Haters Gonna Hate
The smart forjeremy rises
Jeremy Scott: "Few can afford"
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. aka "Missing in Action" aka "Missing in Acton"
Dr. Annette Winkler (smart), Jeremy Scott
Landed: smart forjeremy
Winged smart fortwo electric drive
White
smart electric drive forjeremy
I have to admit I didn't know who Jeremy Scott was when Mercedes-Benz/smart invited me to join their exclusive "smart forjeremy" event in front of the LA Auto Show 2012. A quick search later I learned that he is a fashion designer who has built a reputation for outrageous designs favored by pop stars and celebrities: Madonna, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears — just to name a few.
Shame on me, but I am no fashionista. I may know some things about Winged Warriors, but neither I had heared about "The Wing(ed) High Tops", nor about the "Teddy Bear Shoes". As well I am really awful at things like pop music. After some of my diehard old school petrol heads heared that I would fly over to Los Angeles to watch the presentation, I saw a lot of scrunched up noses. "A guy who is into gaudy fashion is doing a car? And he is doing what — a winged plastic car? Are you kidding me?"
Well, I think the smart forjeremy is cool. And let me explain, why. The fact, that a car manufacturer — in this case: smart — cooperates with an artist — in this case: Jeremy Scott —, impresses me. It is sovereign and courageous, because it creates something new. And for smart it is long overdue to get such a remix, if you ask me.
And regarding those who dislike this project: You know how it is — haters gonna hate. It is always the same. But if you've got haters, you'll probably have done some things right …
Chromjuwelen Électrique: Full Version & Bonus Videos
Not all that long ago we made a self-attempt: we eBay-ed a 1964 Imperial Crown and drove it from Los Angeles to Las Vegas – and back to Los Angeles. As you can imagine, we had a blast. You will find the video here. This time we switched to the other extreme: We travelled in a smart fortwo electric drive from Paris to Le Mans (Classic). Yup. Battery-driven. Of course – we know this electrified fellow isn't made for long distances. Even worse – we knew it will not be easy to find enough charging stations. But hey, that exactly was the challenge. If anybody of us speaks fluent French? Er ... no.
My favorite scene? Arthur's tribute to Stephen Brooks and all the dubstep video jockeys at 09:38.
Chromjuwelen Électrique features:
Music:
La Horse
"Getting Along"
szoll
"broke"
Tarpans
"Rivers"
Advencher Club ft, Kai
"Need Your Heart"
Edvard Grieg
"Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - I. Morning" (performed by Musopen Symphony Orchestra)
EmoShock
"Kaboul"
All filming & editing: Faust & Heisler. For a full (German) Travelogue visit chromjuwelen.com.
Chromjuwelen Électrique: Trailer
We had a blast. Thanks to smart & Mercedes-Benz Classic for letting this happen!
The "Director's Cut" will be released September 2nd. In the meantime – here is our (German) Travelogue and a full loaded gallery.
Chromjuwelen Électrique: Are Friends Electric?
Not all that long ago we made a self-attempt: we eBay-ed a 1964 Imperial Crown and drove it from Los Angeles to Las Vegas – and back to Los Angeles. As you can imagine, we had a blast.
Now it is time for another self-attempt. But this time we will change to the other extreme: We will travel in a smart fortwo electric drive from Paris to Le Mans (Classic). Yup. Battery-driven.
Of course – we know this electrified fellow isn't made for long distances. Even worse – we know it will not be easy to find enough charging stations. But hey, that exactly is the challenge.
Our aim is to shoot another "Chromjuwelen En Route" video. This is why we are accompanied by our friends faust & heisler. If anybody of us speaks fluent French? Er ... no.
Our first appointments will be with our French soulmates from the Blenheim Gang – since we are in France, we have to learn more about "Français Moteur Culture". And if you do not follow the Blenheim Gang yet – do it now.
Btw, "follow" – stay in contact with us via Twitter, Instagram (Chromjuwelen), Tumblr or the time-waster social network!
(Image borrowed from Mercedes-Fans.de)
Continental Extreme: Chromjuwelen En Route Road Movie
And finally — here it is. Our "Continental Extreme" video. The latest Chromjuwelen En Route road movie starring five German blokes on a Motorkultur-expedition. Intention: To draw an analogy between Las Vegas (SEMA) and Dubai (Motor Show).
Co-starring among others not only our 1964 Imperial Crown, but also family and friends like Klaus Rasch (race-dezert.com), Mike Musto (ridelust.com), Ryan Friedlinghaus (West Coast Customs), Sven Gramm (BRABUS), Bear Garcia (Hooligan Customz), Frederik Faidhi (Select Nano), Sam Badawi (1000 Dunes), David Mitri (1000 Dunes) and Phil McGovern (crankandpiston.com).
Thanks to everyone who joined our film premiere at the EAST Hotel in Hamburg. We had a blast!
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