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Smart Cars Coming to Canada and U.S.

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the golf-cart-gone-feral dept.

AgniTheSane writes "Most importantly the Smart Car looks cool. It also gets 60 mpg, is four feet smaller than a Mini Cooper (you can park two in a standard parking spot), the plastic panels are easily swappable and one color all the way through (so you can't scratch the paint), the steel frame makes it safe in an accident, and you can get it with in-dash Bluetooth (and in Europe can read and write email via the car speakers and a microphone). The Smart car is coming to the US soon, and will cost as little as $12,000. You can read about it in Wired or on MSNBC, or you can go straight to ZAP who will be selling them in the US soon, or the smart car website in the UK. "

4 of 605 comments (clear)

  1. Safe in an accident? by jrumney · · Score: 5, Insightful
    the steel frame makes it safe in an accident

    Provided the accident is a frontal collision with a Mercedes Benz sedan, like in the publicity video, with the Mercedes' crumple zone absorbing all the impact.

    1. Re:Safe in an accident? by Omega+Leader-(P12) · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The short wheelbase ensures any side inpact will hit an axel and not intrude into the passenger cabin. Far better than many other vehicles. (Like the king of fatal side impacts the Ford F-150)

  2. Style issues by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Many of the style issues that I'm reading on /. are the same ones I heard from European comsumers when the SMART car was first released. Too small, too silly, girly looking bright colors. Just not a macho car.

    A few years later I heard things like great mileage, funky distinct design, low price, reliable, and most importantly able to park it in the tiniest of spaces.

    I don't think that the SMART will ever be the cross country driving car of choice, but as a second car in the city for the 2 parent working family I think its a brilliant idea . . . Why drive a 4000 pound SUV to pick up a gallon of milk at the supermarket if you don't have to?

  3. Re:bah - there is no safety argument by radiotalent · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Everything else aside, this vehicle is safer because it's lighter.

    Which is why we hear of so accidents involving Mack Trucks and Yugos that end badly for the over-the-road truck driver.