Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[20,000 pre-orders for the Smart fortwo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/11/20-000-pre-orders-for-the-smart-fortwo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/11/20-000-pre-orders-for-the-smart-fortwo/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/11/20-000-pre-orders-for-the-smart-fortwo/#commentsFiled under: , ,



DaimlerChrysler's U.S. distributor for the tiny Smart fortwo has taken more than 20,000 reservations for the upcoming minicar, with customers paying $99 upfront for the privilege of being one of the first in the country to own one. With base models expected to start below $12,000 and rising up to roughly $17,000 for a convertible version, the cost effective model took less than four months to tally up its pre-release orders.

Set to go on sale in January, the new Smart will likely be sold through a network of dealers under Roger Penske's United Auto Group, with a bulk of the cars selling through Mercedes-Benz stores.

The tiny two-seater is, in fact, built by Mercedes and features a 0.7L three-cylinder motor. The car has yet to undergo U.S. crash testing, but it's expected to do much better than the previous model, which scored just three stars our of five in Europe's NCAP tests. There's still no word on whether the recent micro-hybrid Smart will come to the U.S.

[Source: The Detroit News]

20,000 pre-orders for the Smart fortwo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Smart fortwoSmart USASmartFortwoSmartUsaWed, 11 Jul 2007 20:04:00 EST<![CDATA[$300,000 buy-in to sell Smarts in U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/300-000-buy-in-to-sell-smarts-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/300-000-buy-in-to-sell-smarts-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/300-000-buy-in-to-sell-smarts-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Smart USA has begun recruiting North American dealers to sell the diminutive two-seater and is starting with current DaimlerChrysler dealers. While those already selling DC products would not be required to build a stand-alone Smart showroom, they would have to dedicate 2,000 sq feet to the product and provide a separate entrance. Automotive News reports dealers would be expected to invest about $300,000 apiece for the priviledge of selling Smarts. AutoNation, which runs 13 Mercedes dealerships, says it is among 400 candidates hoping to get Smart franchises.

To build U.S. awareness of the Smart brand, three tractor trailers will tour the country this summer, taking Smart cars to the masses in 37 cities. Potential buyers will then have a chance to test drive the ForTwo and find out just how intimidated even the smallest SUV will make them feel. Those still interested in buying, can look forward to the first of 2008, when the cars should actually hit dealer lots.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

$300,000 buy-in to sell Smarts in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smartsmart dealersmart dealerssmart fortwosmart fortwo dealersmart usaSmartDealerSmartDealersSmartFortwoSmartFortwoDealerSmartUsaMon, 15 Jan 2007 09:06:00 EST