TONY LEWIN
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 theyre at the wheel of a smart. But it nearly didnt 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 todays leading authorities
- Smart design - today, tomorrow and in 2010
- Not so much a car, more a way of thinking: what the brand experts think
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 business writer and editor of Financial Times Automotive World he has kept a constant watch on the worlds 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.
Hardcover - 6"x 9" - 256 pp - 92 color
"I had high expectations of the format, style and content of smart Thinking . . . to say that the finished product has exceeded those expectations is an understatement. What a superb publication!" - Al Young, Chairman, the smartclub, UK
"This title by Tony Lewin charts the triumphs and tragedies of the whole Smart project, including the cars introduction to the US market, the potential partners who walked away and all the hurdles Smart had to overcome to succeed. And there were plenty of those...Well researched and eminently readable." - Richard Dredge, BBC Gear
