"Smart Cars" Come to America
Normally, big names in the auto industry avoid creating any type of small cars because of the small engines and small profits that go along with them. But, lately, "small" has been a term heard often at DaimlerChrysler. Come 2008, the eight foot long, 60 mpg Smart Cars will arrive in America for the first time. For those of you who have not been to Europe in the past eight years, the Smart is a sub-brand of "micro-class" cars available in basically every nation but the U.S. Even with today's gas prices, the Smart only costs $20.00 to fill up. This mini-car has been said to be "surprisingly roomy", with the passenger seat set back a few inches to make the driver's view more panoramic and the passenger's side a bit more roomy. When riding solo, you can also fold down the passenger seat to form a table top with built-in cupholders. While in the car, one is surrounded by an aluminum and steel safety cage. With a three-cylander, turbo-charged engine, the Smart is an "aluminum miracle" weighing in at 130 pounds. But, flooring it in this car will not do you too much good; the six-speed manu-matic transmission will carry you at a leisurely pace. The Smart Car is modeled after a Mercedes, but carries a much lighter price tag of only $12,500 in Europe.
1 comment:
Bringing smart cars to America would have several benefits, but I wonder how successful they will be in the begining. The trend in the United States now is toward large SUVs and pick-up trucks, even with higher gass prices. Soccer moms and families will be very unlikely to have such small cars for their daily routines, despite the savings in gas money. Since the gas prices have risen there has not been a large trend toward smaller vehicles by consumers, why would they start now with a smart car?
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