Los Angeles, CA, June 5, 2007 -- The smart fortwo (that’s how the company spells the name) is being billed as a “small car with a big urban solution” as it’s taken across the United States this summer on a 50-city road show designed to build buyer interest while the company gears up to get the cars into dealerships for a scheduled early ’08 launch in this country.
The diesel version of this cute super economy car is the world's most economical production car with the lowest CO2 emissions getting approximately 71 miles per gallon. It’s been embraced by the Live Earth concerts and “Save Our Selves – SOS” campaign against global warming launched by Kevin Wall and his Partner former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Unfortunately, this car with its “Open your mind” theme won’t be coming to the US with the first wave. Initially, we’ll have to settle for a 3-cylinder gasoline engine that gets a respectable 40 miles to the gallon but wouldn’t 71 MPG be a real paradigm shifter?
The smart car has attracted more than 770,000 buyers in 36 countries during its almost 10 years on the market but all previous efforts to bring it to the States have stalled. Making a marketing case for micro-mini car when Americans had lost their minds over brutish gargantuan vehicles was a tough sell. But if more and more people turn up their noses at SUVs and shift to fuel-efficient autos timing for a US introduction of this cute, gas sipping, low carbon emitting car may be just right. It’s estimated $15,000 base price tag will also get attention
In just over five weeks smart has received $99 deposits from 12,600 people who are lining up to be in the “first buyers” group of the two-seat fortwo, according to Dave Schembri, President of smart USA, and a former VP of Sales and Marketing for Mercedes-Benz (the makers of the smart). He’s been working for years to bring the smart car to the US. He’s finally done it and is now feverishly spreading the smart gospel around the country as he finally prepares for the vehicle launch next year.
Distribution will be handled by the United Auto Group whose chairman Roger S. Penske is also Chairman of smart USA. His Penske Corporation, a closely-held diversified transportation services company, employs 38,000 people at more than 1,700 worldwide locations which should give them the ability to set up a dealer organization to handle the smart cars.
The first models expected to be available in the United States are a base version, a well-equipped version and a well-equipped cabriolet version. These are not Sport Utility Vehicles. They are utility vehicles designed to get one to two people from point A to point B with a little whimsical style. These are not the cars to haul the soccer team to practice but it appeared that an owner should have no trouble fitting bags of groceries, gym bags and other bits that we commonly schlep around every day. The company claims there’s even enough room for golf clubs.
While you probably won’t be using a smart for that two week get away to Yellowstone there’s room for a couple of suit cases you might take along when you dash to the airport for a day long business trip. The front passenger seat can fold down which frees up additional space for larger items but you will have to ditch the passenger.
The smart fortwo is small on the outside but it’s surprisingly big on the inside. Interior dimensions of the smart fortwo that will be available in the United States:
- 8.8 feet long (you might fit two smart fortwos in an average parking space)
- 5.1 feet tall (the smart fortwo still has as much headroom for someone over six foot, five -- as most luxury vehicles)
- 5.1 feet wide (that’s good for two six foot, five inch plus people sitting side by side with shoulder room to spare)
This isn’t a speed demon but with a top speed of approximately 90 mph you can beat a Vespa, merge with traffic on the freeway and break all known speed laws. And the five-speed manual/auto transmission with paddle shifters can let you dream about being a Formula One driver.
But is this mighty mite safe? The structural safety comes from the “tridion safety cell” made from three layers of steel that are reinforced at strategic points. The egg shaped steel cage and the design of the car are meant to absorb the energy of an impact and redistribution it. The tires and wheels are a unique safety feature. With this tiny vehicle most crashes will also involve one of the wheel which will also absorb energy like big rubber bumpers. One problem is the lack of standard bumper height in this country. It’s easy to imagine the bumpers on a huge SUV or Sedan bypassing the smart’s wheels and heading for the windshield. Steel bars that reinforce both doors and four airbags (two front and two side for head and thorax protection) complete the safety cage. Other features such as esp (electronic stability program) and abs brakes are also standard safety features.
“With the smart fortwo, DaimlerChrysler has set new standards in urban mobility without making any sacrifices in terms of functionality, comfort or driving pleasure,” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management DaimlerChrysler and Head of Mercedes Car Group.
It’s also poised to make Toyota green with envy as the diesel equipped smart fortwo outflanks the Prius to be anointed as the environmental car of choice for the chattering, politico and rock ‘n’ roll class.
If Mercedes-Benz and Roger Penske really want to play the green trump card they should make an announcement to the millions of people who will be watching the Live Earth concerts that will be broadcast in more than 120 countries on TV, the radio and the Internet that it will be accelerating the introduction of the lowest CO2 emitting car into the country that produces the largest amount of greenhouse gases – the US. Why not take it a step further and also work to introduce the electric versions that are currently being tested in London?
Without such a bold move the company is open to charges that its smart car introduction into the US is too little too late.
For more information about Smart USA: www.smartusa.com
For more information about the Live Earth Concert: www.liveearth.org
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