Ravenwood - 12/29/04 06:30 AM
DaimlerChrysler plans to market a two-seater eurocar called the Smart Fortwo in the United States. One look at the thing and you can just tell it is doomed to fail.
But the little car is also exceedingly Euro-looking, with an egg-shaped cabin surrounded by plastic panels that can be swapped out for different colors. It is designed by Swatch Group Ltd., known for watches, and built in France.Red-staters need not apply.
"It's very, very, very small," said George Peterson, president of the California-based auto industry research firm AutoPacific Inc. "It's something that will appeal from a uniqueness standpoint because it looks very different. But generally, Americans opt for something bigger and more substantial. I have driven one in Los Angeles out on the freeways, and it's a real challenging thing to do." Peterson says the car rides so low in traffic that "you're making a study of the lug nuts of the truck sitting next to you."The Washington Post leaves out details such as engine size/displacement and cargo space, but they do mention several times that it gets 60 miles to the gallon.
A look at their UK website says that the version that sells over there comes with either 50 or 61 bhp. The car weighs 1500 pounds and will cost 8,000 pounds (currently about $11,000).
Actually, this car would probably be ideal for strictly inner city driving. You might even see some courier and delivery businesses buying them. But the problem in places like New York or Chicago is going to be parking. I don't think the liberal elites that can afford to drive and park a car in New York City aren't going to be caught dead in one of these.
You are welcome to zip around in this pregnant rollerskate if you want, but I think I'll stick to my SUV.
Toyota's 1970 Corolla was a close match to this car. It weighed 1500 pounds, and though it had a back seat, you wouldn't want to put anyone you really liked back there. Its 1100 cc engine developed 70 hp, and even on a seriously leadfooted day I could get it to travel 40 miles on a gallon of gas.
Those Corollas didn't sell well in the U.S., though they had many virtues. For example, there was very little cleanup required after a collision. If you had to change a tire, there was no need for a jack; you could just have your nine-year-old hold the car up while you did it. And if you got to where you were going but couldn't find a parking spot, you could just tuck it into your shirt pocket. But overall, American drivers wanted something a bit more substantial.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at December 29, 2004 6:12 AMwe saw these around while stationed in germany till recently. they're perfect over there for the small, tight parking and village roads as they can literally turn on a dime. saw some sporting some very wild paint jobs, too. not sure if they'll make it here or not...but they were a huge source of amusement to us until we got used to seeing them around...esp. the 2 door models!
Posted by: me at December 29, 2004 8:23 AMWe never thought they'd sell either - two seats, no luggage space etc. but they really took off for city work. A lot are used by couriers and pizza places, they have a 3 cylinder engine, with a turbo on the sports car - thats right, a 120 bhp sports car variant, which is actually super cool.
Posted by: robert in england at December 29, 2004 9:43 AMMy first car was a Simca 1118 - four cylinder, 1118cc, 56Hp. (0-60? Take a lunch and eat it when you get there.) It would hold four real people, but it only got 30MPG. This thing looks like another of those "fully-faired motorcycle" designs. And it would appear to provide about the same level of protection.
I didn't think those damn Mini-Coopers would catch on here either, and now they are everywhere I look. In fairness, though, I don't think the cars bother me as much as the personalized plates that everyone feels they must put on their Mini - "MY MINI", "MINI ME", etc. The cheesyness of it all makes me want to kill someone.
I think I'll go hug my 4WD S-10 today on my lunch break.
Posted by: roger at December 29, 2004 11:51 AMOne of these might be handy to keep in the back of my Suburban, wouldn't take up much more room than my spare tire.
Posted by: Michael at December 29, 2004 12:41 PMMichael, you could use it to go from the parking lot to the mall stores.
Posted by: Ralph Gizzip at December 29, 2004 6:55 PMVery ugly SUV you have there LOL. I WOULD rather zip around in rollerskates than that cheap piece of junk, but nah, I love my Audi too much.
Posted by: Richard at December 30, 2004 3:28 AMI once backed over a Grand Am, didn't notice it till i heard the tire spin on the hood,
Now if i back over one of these, id would not know it till it passed under the front bumper.
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