D/C to bring the "Smart car" to the US
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Administrator / Scooter Bum
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central VA
D/C to bring the "Smart car" to the US
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler will launch its two-seat Smart minicar in the United States in 2008, eager to offer Americans a fuel-sipping vehicle at a time of near-record fuel prices, company sources said on Wednesday.
The world's fifth-biggest carmaker is due to make a formal announcement later in the day, they said.
Smart is already sold in 36 countries. Italy is the brand's biggest market now with annual sales of around 40,000 units.
DaimlerChrysler's business case calls for selling around 20,000 Smarts a year in the United States, especially to urban chic consumers along the eastern and western seaboards. That would be about half of U.S. sales for rival BMW's Mini brand.
Daimler originally planned to launch the Smart brand in the U.S. market via an off-road model, but the plan collapsed as mounting Smart losses triggered radical surgery at the unit.
The world's fifth-biggest carmaker is due to make a formal announcement later in the day, they said.
Smart is already sold in 36 countries. Italy is the brand's biggest market now with annual sales of around 40,000 units.
DaimlerChrysler's business case calls for selling around 20,000 Smarts a year in the United States, especially to urban chic consumers along the eastern and western seaboards. That would be about half of U.S. sales for rival BMW's Mini brand.
Daimler originally planned to launch the Smart brand in the U.S. market via an off-road model, but the plan collapsed as mounting Smart losses triggered radical surgery at the unit.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: MidWest
Safety is paramount in my book.
I'll sacrifice a little mileage to gain safety.
Im not sure Id want to be the firefighter to be first on scene when one of those converted jewelry boxes tries to share the same space as an over-the road truck.
Rich
I'll sacrifice a little mileage to gain safety.
Im not sure Id want to be the firefighter to be first on scene when one of those converted jewelry boxes tries to share the same space as an over-the road truck.
Rich
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Port Deposit, MD
That makes a Honda CRX look like a Excursion. 
Truthfully, if it got much better mileage I would consider one. I run about 500+ miles a week when we are busy. It's all backroad travel though, very little highway. I use a Civic now (34mpg ), I have to down shift to go up hills
Truthfully, if it got much better mileage I would consider one. I run about 500+ miles a week when we are busy. It's all backroad travel though, very little highway. I use a Civic now (34mpg ), I have to down shift to go up hills
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Sussex, New Brunswick
Their already here in Canada, have been for a couple years. I live in a small town and I seen about 2-3 driving each day. I actually got to sit in one in our High School Automotive Class one year, It was so small that it couldnt fit on a 4-arm hoist, but when you sit in it you find yourself unusually comfortable for such a small car. It seems like its alot bigger from the inside...untill you look bedhind you and see the engine, lol
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,278
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From: Christiana,Pa
Its alrady here....Only 5 on the east coast...,most owned by PD and PArk services tho...Friend of mine just bought one, already got 76mpg...
They are illegal from factory in the US, they are built with a glass roof, so the designer has to put in a pad to make it legal here..
They are illegal from factory in the US, they are built with a glass roof, so the designer has to put in a pad to make it legal here..
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 826
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From: Saskatoon, Sk, Canada
There's a few running around town here. Butt-ugly, if you ask me. As far as safety goes, check out this video. Smart Car Crash It's amazing!
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Port Deposit, MD
Originally Posted by berner
There's a few running around town here. Butt-ugly, if you ask me. As far as safety goes, check out this video. Smart Car Crash It's amazing!
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 652
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From: AZ
Originally Posted by P.J
Pretty convincing video there. That was one heck of a hit. I've seen mid size a cars get mangled in accidents at much lower speeds with less violent impacts.