A new segment of sub-subcompacts will emerge when the Mercedes Smart ForTwo microcar arrives in America in January 2008.
The Urban Cargo is a special niche vehicle designed to be used in urban environments where parking is difficult and costly.
The 8-foot 8-inch Smart ForTwo will be a popular choice for those who wish to stand out from the crowd of hybrids. It is more compact than Mini-Cooper, and those calling it a “mini-cooper” are right. “golf cart”They are not offended by anything.
You want to make heads turn? You can drive your Smart car directly to the curb, instead of using parallel parking. A normal parking space can accommodate two vehicles.
Smart cars have a surprisingly spacious interior for 2 and are likely to attract urbanites living in San Francisco, Manhattan, or other dense cities along the coasts.
Most of the smaller vehicles sold in America are cheaply made in Korea.
Mini Cooper, Toyota Scion and others have demonstrated that there’s a market for small quality cars.
ForTwo, on the other hand is very diminutive. Smarts are 1,800 lbs and have a rear-mounted 70 horsepower three-cylinder engine. after considerable coaxing.
2008 EPA Fuel Economy Ratings are 33/40 Highway.
The performance is not impressive: it can go from 0-60 mph in just 12.8 seconds.
Penske Automotive Group is the second largest dealer group and has contracted with Smart to distribute it. 73 dealers have been enrolled nationwide.
Smarts have been owned by Europeans since over ten year. Around 800,000 Smarts were sold to 36 countries during that time.
France will make the final version of the product for export to America.
Penske hopes to sell minimum 30,000 ForTwos by 2008.
This seems difficult considering that the Mini is only 38K in production, but thirty thousand buyers are already making a $99 deposit.
Mercedes designed the roller skate in order to avoid safety hazards faced by mini-cars.
The 4-2’s crash test, which includes video, shows that it is more safe than smaller cars made in China.
The safety cage made of steel around the passenger compartment has held up well to extensive crashes.
This car is affordable and comes with standard safety features such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.
Once the Smart car arrives on the American market, it will be tested by the U.S. Government. It will be awarded four stars out of five in American crash testing, according to builders.
Recent Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), tests have awarded four stars to European cars.
Three trim options are available for the Smart: Pure base, $11,590 without air conditioning; Passion $13,590 and Cabriolet convertible Passion Cabriolet $16,590.
This is hip. Smart has an image that rivals try to sell with advertisements.
Are you tired of your color choice? Simply remove the plastic panel from the body and place it in the color of your choice.
Smart will continue to be profitable after its new owners retire.
It’s fashionable, fuel efficient, and economical. It’s also very affordable. “Smart”It may not be the automobile shape of the future.
Safety standards were met by designers through compromises. In order to make occupants comfortable, they ride at eye-level with the rest of traffic.
This vertical position distributes collision energy under the car. It creates an unbalanced frontal area, which can reduce fuel efficiency.
Smart’s 0.38 drag coefficient causes its fuel economy to decline in proportion with speed.
Although the ForTwo might be a good start to a space-efficient America, its gas mileage does not compare well with Honda and Toyota 4-seat cars.
The 2008 Chevy Corvette’s 505-horsepower asphalt-eating engine is rated at 29 MPG. highway, 40 m.p.g. The progress of a micro-car does not qualify.
For my high school graduation, I bought a 1966 Morris Minor 1000. The original design was in 1948. It was fashionable, affordable, and efficient in fuel consumption.
The 60-year-old design went 40 miles with a gallon gas.