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Timothy Lord Looks at Gas and Electric Smart Cars (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the cars-are-now-smaller-quieter-and-more-costly-than-ever dept.

While he was at the International Auto Show in Detroit, Timothy Lord looked at the Tesla Model S, then the CODA electric car. Now he shows us the latest Smart (brand) gas and electric vehicles, including a "concept car" he doesn't think will make it into production.

12 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. I get the feeling... by Tim4444 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    that "smart" will be the adjective of this decade the way "on demand", "extreme" and "turbo" were misused in previous decade.

    1. Re:I get the feeling... by Tim4444 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      *decades - that is the 3 preceding

    2. Re:I get the feeling... by EthanV2 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Only in this case, "Smart" is the name of a company who makes cars.

    3. Re:I get the feeling... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      80s: Turbo
      90s: Extreme
      00s: HD
      10s: Smart

    4. Re:I get the feeling... by VortexCortex · · Score: 2

      Well, as long as they don't misuse "turbo" as they did three decades ago. I mean, depressing the "turbo" button let the CPU run at full speed, but not running in "turbo" mode was actually artificially underclothing the machine. It should have been called a "Slow Switch", not a "Tubo Button."

  2. Drop the videos please by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 3

    If I wanted to watch someone who has nothing to add and only repeats what the marketing driods tell them, I'd watch Fox.

    Seriously /. these videos suck donkey. Spare us.

  3. Smart is the company name by slyrat · · Score: 2

    that "smart" will be the adjective of this decade the way "on demand", "extreme" and "turbo" were misused in previous decade.

    Try this same quote with other brand/company names, and it really doesn't make sense. Smart makes small cars in France and this is just some new cars they are trying out. I've seen the all electric smart, and if it didn't cost around $34,000 I might be interested. When I checked the one out that was at the dealer I found that when you buy it you get to set up a plug in power setup for it and your residence. It is a decent idea except that people that are renting wouldn't be able to do that.
    Anyway, I've gotten off topic.
    Smart is a noun in this case, not an adjective.

  4. Re:Why I will not buy one. by compro01 · · Score: 2

    Ad campaign aside, the American version of the smart is a gimped heap of junk.

    Smart gasoline Europe : 4.7 L/100 km
    Smart diesel Europe : 3.4 L/100 km
    Smart gasoline US : 6.5 L/100 km
    smart diesel US : unavailable

    How the hell did they manage to cut the fuel economy by that much?

    --
    upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  5. I don't get the Smart Cars by pavon · · Score: 2

    I looked into these when buying a car several years ago, and was underwhelmed by both their price and their fuel efficiency. Looking at their specs again, they have gotten a little more competitive, but when you can get a much more versatile economy car such as a Toyota Yaris or a Hyundai Accent for similar price and gas mileage why would anyone I want to buy a Smart car?

    1. Re:I don't get the Smart Cars by Bardwick · · Score: 2

      Was curious about this myself. My Corolla get's 34mpg highway which is 99% of my driving. There is no incentive be it green or financial to own a hybrid/electric. For me though, a car is a car is a car. I do not use it as a status symbol. Folks that do use thier cars as a status symbol may see it different.

    2. Re:I don't get the Smart Cars by tipo159 · · Score: 2

      We have owned a smart since the current 451 model was introduced to the US (2008).

      We have been getting 37-38 mpg driving in city conditions. And I am a "spirited" driver that steps on the accelerator too quickly. I haven't checked the highway fuel economy.

      Why buy a smart fortwo? The city fuel economy is pretty good (it has had the best EPA fuel economy numbers for a gasoline (non-hybrid) car). It is small and easy to park. It is fun. It has a short wheelbase and RWD and is light (though its strong safety structure makes it heavier than its size might lead people to think it is). It is particularly fun in the snow (on winter tires) where you can stay just ahead of the traction control nannies.

      It is not for everyone. If you have a long, daily, highway commute, you probably want something more comfortable with cruise control. I have had no problems with occasional long drives, but I also drive the car hard in the snow and on gravel roads, things that the designers of the car probably didn't intend. Then again, SUVs are not for me, but plenty of people (still) buy them.

      Timothy Lord should learn something about cars before doing car videos. Yes, there were cars back in the 80s that got better fuel economy than the cars with the best fuel economy now. Back in the 90s, fuel got comparatively cheap and it was decided that safety was more important, so cars got heavier.

  6. Re:Why I will not buy one. by itsme1234 · · Score: 2

    I don't know about the "new" "Smarts" but the usual one in Europe is the 2-seater while the US is the 4-seater. The engines surely aren't the same as well.