The Smart Car is coming

[xcel]

Is America ready for these new economy-size cars?

ABC Nightline - Jan. 10, 2008

It's here this month and it’s a start … No, it’s a SMART -- Ed.

Dieter Zetsche runs one of the biggest auto makers in the world. Daimler. Making high end luxury Mercedes Benz cars. And now he is bringing a new car to America.

Reporter: This is a Mercedes?

Dieter Zetsch: Not quite, it is a SMART and is a close relative to Mercedes.

A small relative. The Smart Car. Less then 9’ long, room for just two people, three cylinders, just 71 HP, 40 mpg and fits in half a parking spot.

They have sold 800,00 that have been buzzing around European streets for nearly a decade.

And starting next month …

Dieter Zetsch: Everybody who sees the car starts to smile and just like what he or she sees.

Reporter:A Head turner ha?

Dieter Zetsch: Absolutely, absolutely… [Read More]

[Right Lane Cruiser]

That's a fun video.

I'm looking forward to seeing these things out on the road! I still want to test drive a 5MT diesel version...

[atlaw4u]

I first encountered the Smart in Europe and loved the design. I put a deposit down when I heard they were coming to the States but withdrew it when I found out they we would only be getting the gasoline version.

[Robert Lastick]

A three cylinder engine that gets 40 MPG?

Alright, the yellow flag is down on the playing field! Something is defenitely wrong here. Maybeee its the tranny. Maybee it is geared for power and not for MPG.

Whatever the problem, I would need 60 MPG before I would even consider it. I can get 40 MPG any day of the week (except when I am plowing thru snow drifts) with my RRSB Saturn, hardly hypermiling, with the air conditioning on full blast!!!

Its cute tho.

[amann1]

I've seen several of the old ones on the streets in my area. A local used car dealership was importing the Canadian model and selling it to local American buyers.

The Canadian 2006 Smart ForTwo Coupe came with a 0.8L 3-cyl Diesel w/ 6spd manual transmission. On the Canadian fuel economy test, it's rated at 4.6L/100km city and 3.8L/100km highway (that's 61/74 city/hwy in MPG). By comparison, the 2006 Prius gets 71/67 city/hwy MPG on the Canadian test.

[noflash]

I'd like to see a comparison test against the Yaris hatch. Why does the Yaris hatchback create none of the buzz the 42 creates?

Whoa, I never typed out the FourTwo like that! Isn't 42 the anwer to Life, the Universe, and Everything?

[warthog1984]

Originally Posted by noflash

I'd like to see a comparison test against the Yaris hatch. Why does the Yaris hatchback create none of the buzz the 42 creates?

Because the Yaris hatch has 3 major flaws.

* The FE is identical to the larger, more comfortable, less econobox looking Corolla. Which is an excellent car by the same company.

* The Center Gauge Cluster is hazardous and awkward.

* The Rear Seat head space is uncomfortably close to the hatch.

Also, the Honda Fit has really dominated the sub market.

The Smart is like the Mini: you don't get it for the gas mileage, you get it for the look.

[mulad]

Originally Posted by warthog1984

The Smart is like the Mini: you don't get it for the gas mileage, you get it for the look.

Yeah, I've compared its attraction to that of the iPod, though actually the iPod may be a much more well-rounded device than the Smart is...

They increased the size of the engine for the U.S. market--to 1.0L. That probably reduced fuel economy a bit, but that was the only way to get the 0-60 time down to 12-13 seconds (I know that's plenty for everybody here, but it's right at the edge of what'd be acceptable to most people). Apparently the transmission shifts twice as fast as in older versions of the car, but that only means it's half an eternity.

You have to be careful about what you put in the rear cargo space, as the engine is mounted just below. There's some insulation, but it can still get warm back there.

Oh, here's something I didn't learn until just now -- the car uses premium gasoline. Well, it's economical enough that the excess cost of premium is offset by better mileage, but it's still something to consider. On the other hand, it narrows the gap between it and, say, a Corolla.

[stretched_over]

I know that I think its a great looking car even for me being 6'9 and heard of the great mpg it gets over seas, then saw tthe epa rating for it here and saw my jaw just hit the floor.

[-mr. bill]

Estimated 33/41 (EPA 2008).

Let's see. What cars sold in the US that beat that. Toyota Prius. Honda Civic Hybrid.

So this is really really bad because?

(I wish people would quit pining about the dirty diesels that are *NOT* sold in this country. This place is called CleanMPG isn't it? Clean diesels are coming soon.)

-mr. bill