Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, SMART
DCX to redo SMART car before U.S. debut
The SMART car lineup has been trimmed from three models to just one after the cancellation of the forfour and roadster models. So the future profitability of the brand rests on the tiny fenders of the fortwo, which will be coming to the U.S. in 2008. WhatCar? is reporting that the tiny two-seater will be rehashed before it makes its American debut. As you can see from this rendering, the overall look may be largely unchanged, with the biggest difference being the new headlights and front fascia. WhatCar?, however, calls the next fortwo "all-new", so perhaps DaimlerChrysler will be substantially revamping the car inside and out in an effort to make it more appealing to U.S. tastes.
[Source: WhatCar?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
len simpson 7:20AM (7/11/2006)
i bet the hiway safety board will reject at the last minute as too small to be safe. hummer bait!
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Edsel 7:59AM (7/11/2006)
"substantially revamping the car inside and out in an effort to make it more appealing to U.S. tastes."
I think we all know what that means; "we are removing standard features & using uber-cheap plastics in an effort to make it more appealing to our accounting department."
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JT 8:02AM (7/11/2006)
I heard somewhere that the new model would be longer and thus more likely to be eligible under some US safety regulations.
IMHO, making it longer takes some of the spirit away, as it is a key selling point here in Europe.
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Galley 8:50AM (7/11/2006)
That rendering looks nice. I'll even take one in that orangish copper color.
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JP 8:55AM (7/11/2006)
Who the hell would want to drive in such a tiny car? I imagine it's not all that comfortable to drive in.
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MikeInNC 8:56AM (7/11/2006)
I think, for the upmarket price, the US buyers will expect a more upmarket look. This is exactly what it appears to be in the rendereing above. I highly doubt they will make it bigger. I sure wish they would bring back the 4 seater though. I had my heart set on the Brabus 4 door.
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rw 9:33AM (7/11/2006)
It is not going to sell. With the short distance between your head and the back glass a Vespa could kill you or a Metro.
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guy 9:39AM (7/11/2006)
I've been watching these cars for several years in Europe. These along with such cars as the Mini-Cooper are fantastic. With gas at $3 bucks a gallon - these make a ton of sense. If these cars can make it in Europe - as crazy as they drive - why not here?
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rap 10:08AM (7/11/2006)
I have driven one in Europe and it is a great city car but the Civics looked huge there. They are comfortable and roomy with easy entry. I know a guy from Berlin who drives a convertible on the Autobahn but there aren't SUVs and the drivers are better. If I lived in a city here I'd buy one.
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Tim UF 10:17AM (7/11/2006)
still no word on the smart forfour coming to the states... i could really dig on the forfour brabus.
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Tommickx 10:22AM (7/11/2006)
I always find it funny small cars from Europe or Asia are deemed unsafe in the US because of their tiny size compared to big American SUVs.
Yet those tiny cares share European and Asian roads with vehicles far bigger than any American SUV: they're called (freight) trucks/lorries!
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Asurmen 10:57AM (7/11/2006)
@ #11 you are right. Mercedes built the fortwo under condition to make it really safe. And in fakt the Smart fortwo is very safe an got in the year 1999 3 Stars in NCAP-Crash Test. follow link: http://www.adac.de/Tests/Crash_Tests/Automodelle/Crashtest_MCC_smart.asp?ComponentID=4669&SourcePageID=8650
(it is in german)
And the new fortwo would be better in Safety.
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Brendan 11:13AM (7/11/2006)
Big cars are for soccer moms, or people that feel they have something to prove... or soccer moms that feel they have something to prove.
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matt 11:22AM (7/11/2006)
I don't know about the rest of the canadians on here, but I see these cars on the road all the time here in ottawa. At first I thought that they were too small, but you get used to seeing them. I don't know if I'd want to drive one on the highway in a wind storm, but for around town they seem ok.
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CJ 11:52AM (7/11/2006)
You know some of you really need to think a little before you post... getting really tired of the obvious, "these are too small", "they aren't safe", "they will be crushed by a Hummer/Semi/SUV" posts. I bet there IS a market for this car, although not a big one. And the market obviously isnt you. There are a lot of people itching to get their hands on this car, my sister being one of them.
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Tim UF 12:18PM (7/11/2006)
I would absolutely consider this if i lived on manhattan (and drove myself around). It is small enough to fit a couple into conventional street side parking spots, meaning you could split on some of those rediculous parking spot rental fees.
Big City governments that restrict driving in high congestion areas should consider ammendments to their policies to accomodate these, and other, micro cars; similarly to how California offers (offered?) HOV status for hybrids.
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Peter 12:46PM (7/11/2006)
Anyone know if the US is getting the Gas or Diesel model. This is a big difference, because while the Diesel gets great mileage, the gas model is only about the same as a Yaris/Fit.
Also consider climate and driving location. This is pretty much a city only car that will be dangerous trying to merge to a fast freeway (0-60 is 20 seconds). In winter testing, even with the traction control on, there wasn't much traction and the ultra short wheelbase gives this car and high tendency to rotate sideways.
All in all, this is a tiny niche vehicle. More community golf cart than car.
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T-RAVELING 1:48PM (7/11/2006)
I live in phoenix, az and I witnessed a fortwo on the road friday afternoon. I was sitting in a honda fit and i was amazed at how much larger the fit is compared to the fortwo. I wouldnt feel safe in a car that size because as it is I dont feel safe in the fit.
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Craig 3:25PM (7/11/2006)
Suggestion: all those who think the Smart is to small - don't buy it and even more don't bore the rest of us with tales about the things you won't do.
The Smart US and Canadian sites have a lot of info for those interested.
For those with short memories there was a time not long ago when the Mini was considered to small for American tastes. I don't think accident data has declared it a death trap yet.
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AJ Gilbertson 4:44PM (7/11/2006)
The Smart Cars are already available in the US from ZAP. A California based company who is also planning on brining a Brazilian made car to the US, Obvio! 828, that is a hybrid that can run on any combination of ethanol and gas
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