Click the Smart for a high-res gallery from the Ann Arbor stop of the roadshow

By now we all know that SmartUSA is touring the country to introduce Americans to the new second-generation Smart ForTwo. The 2008 model will be the first one officially imported to the US market although small numbers of the first model were imported by individuals after being purchased in Canada or Europe including at least one here in the Ann Arbor. There were also abortive attempts by companies like Zap to import them as well.

But now it's officially official. Smart dealerships will begin opening up in the first quarter of 2008 but potential customers have the chance to drive the cars during the summer roadshow. Smart had five drivable cars setup during the Ann Arbor Art Fair along with a static display consisting of one complete car and a cutaway chassis.

Continue reading my impressions of the new Smart after the jump.

Click on the photo of AEV President Scott Thornton and the Kurrent for a high-res gallery of photos from our visit to the AEV factory

Mix an old non-descript suburban Detroit warehouse with some new Ikea furniture and fixtures, throw in some entrepreneurs with extensive auto industry experience and a plan to attack an environmentally conscious market niche and you have American Electric Vehicles (AEV). AEV President Scott Thornton invited AutoblogGreen to visit their factory in Ferndale, MI to see their production process and drive their first product, the Kurrent neighborhood electric vehicle.

ABG talked to Scott in late December about his company, the Kurrent, but this was the first opportunity to see this Italian-designed NEV in person. The Ferndale warehouse serves as headquarters, engineering facility, parts warehouse and assembly plant for AEV. Most of the staff are auto industry veterans, including Thornton who has 27 years in the business, much of it with Jeep. Right now, apart from the office areas, the build is divided into two main areas, with one being used for parts storage and the other for assembly and testing. As production ramps up through this year, the parts storage area will be switched over to a second assembly area. Continue reading about the assembly process and driving impressions after the jump.