It’s been widely reported already that Fiat is working up a new city car that would revive the old Topolino nameplate in Europe. Now it seems that the Italian automaker is considering launching a completely new marque for that city car along with two additional models that would be based on architecture already used in emerging markets such as Brazil. Of course, style-conscious European tastes would ensure that the new city cars would be completely remodeled. One of the three vehicles would likely be based on a shortened version of the platform that currently underpins the revived Fiat 500 and Panda. This model would go up against the smart fortwo, Toyota iQ and the upcoming VW Up!. A small twin cylinder engine would power the city car, and electric versions are also possible. Fiat would likely undercut its rivals in pricing, with early estimates placing the starting price at just £5,500.

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One reason there are so many versions of the smart fortwo (see: Batsmart, the smart ed, the edit10n) is that the tiny cars were designed to be modular. SoCal’s Smart Madness takes this to the reasonable limit and offers new body panels, rims, accessories, and upgrade parts galore. In fact, Smart Madness’ Rachel Mills (business development and marketing) told AutoblogGreen that Smart Madness that the company has the larest collection of rims available for the fortwo and are the largest smart parts and accessory dealer in the US. Smart Madness brought a pair of tricked out fortwos to the LA Auto Show and we’ve got the picture to prove it. Pretty amazing considering smarts have only been sold in America for a year.

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The BRABUS edition of smart’s diminutive little fortwo is, as we like to say, officially official as of yesterday when the brand pulled the wraps off the new-for-USA model. Unlike the Europeans who have had access to BRABUS smarts for the last few years, we won’t be getting the force-fed 112-horsepower three-cylinder engine here in the States, but that means we get to keep the 41 miles per gallon efficiency of the standard smart fortwo. You win some, you lose some, right? It’s a nice package that definitely stands apart from other fortwo models thanks to its unique alloy wheels, monochromatic paint in either black or silver and numerous BRABUS emblems inside and out. Want one? It’ll cost you $17,990 for the coupe or $20,990 for the cabriolet, which initially strikes us as a fairly steep sum considering it comes with the same 70 horsepower engine of the standard smart. As of right now, only those with fortwo reservations are eligible for the new BRABUS, but that seems likely to change in the near future if the model continues to prove as popular as smart claims it has.

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For the 2009 model year, the Fortwo 61hp and 71hp will feature the firm’s micro hybrid drive system as standard while Smart has also enhanced the minicar’s equipment levels. When Smart says ‘micro hybrid drive’ or MHD for short, what the company means to say is an automatic start/stop start function. The system operates during the engine idling phases and promises to return fuel savings of up to 24% compared to the standard models and lower CO2 emissions to 103 grams per km. If the driver doesn’t want to use the start and stop function, it can be deactivated through a switch on the center console until the next time the car is started.

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Ironically, New York City seems to be packed with cars and yet it’s probably one of the worst cities in America for them. One of the biggest hassles for people who actually choose to drive in Manhattan is finding a place to park your car when you get where you’re going. Given the typical congestion in Manhattan, the Smart ForTwo is probably one of the cars best suited for that city, and it just got a bit better. SmartUSA has cut a deal for owners of its cars that gives them half-price parking at six of the biggest parking garages in Manhattan. The deal includes garages operated by Meyers Parking at Madison Square Garden, Times Square, the Javits Convention Center and the Empire State Building. The discount runs through December 31 and the SmartUSA press release is after the jump. Thanks to Yash for the tip!

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At seven feet and one inches or 2.16m tall, the last car that you’d think Shaquille O’Neal would consider buying is the miniscule Smart ForTwo. Even though Shaq managed somehow to fit in the miniscule Smart–thanks to the fact that’s it’s the convertible version- we fail to see how he could possibly drive it like a normal human being. But then again, when you have money laying around just about everywhere, logic has no place when it comes to spending…

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“Wide-body” is a relative term. An SUV or a supercar decked out with a wide-body kit? Pimpin’. But a smart ForTwo? Well, it’s wider, sure.

Koenigseder is known for modifying big SUVs, but with this kit it’s gone decidedly smaller. The Austrian tuning house’s package for the diminutive Smart car widens the body by over an inch, which we’re not sure is so Smart for a vehicle designed to park sideways in tight spots. The kit also includes 17″ rims, which look positively monstrous on such a tiny car, plus Eibach springs, an aero kit, some subtle floral decals and even environmentally-friendly floor mats. Check the action out in the gallery by clicking the thumbnails below.

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