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Author Topic: Here come the Smart Cars  (Read 2956 times)

Harold Tuttle

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Here come the Smart Cars
« on: June 28, 2006, 09:44:58 AM »




Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:22 AM ET

FRANKFURT, June 28 (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.

http://www.us.smart.isc4u.net/index.php


60 hp, 3-cylinder, rear-mounted turbo engine
sequential 6-speed transmission
automatic or manual mode selectable
 Tank Capacity: 8.7 gallons

50 MPG
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Nathaniel Firethorn

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« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2006, 09:49:03 AM »


Terry Gilliam already did it in Brazil.

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« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2006, 09:50:59 AM »
Did it have to be so ugly?
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K Frame

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« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2006, 09:54:27 AM »
I want a 3-wheeled Morgan...
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Sindawe

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« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2006, 09:57:11 AM »
Quote
Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
What?  2008?  There is a dealership in Loveland CO. selling the cars.  Not cheap though, priced at around $23k.

Some video of crash testing of the vehicle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&search=Smart%20car
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Harold Tuttle

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Here come the Smart Cars
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2006, 10:02:56 AM »
there was a test 2006 marketing via Zap cars

this announcement is by Daimler Chrysler
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Nathaniel Firethorn

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« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2006, 10:05:31 AM »
Quote from: c_yeager
Did it have to be so ugly?

Nope. It could have been even uglier.

Click here for some more automotive nightmares.

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DrAmazon

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« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2006, 10:50:01 AM »
Quote from: Sindawe
Quote
Daimler to launch Smart car in US in 2008
What?  2008?  There is a dealership in Loveland CO. selling the cars.  Not cheap though, priced at around $23k.

Some video of crash testing of the vehicle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&search=Smart%20car
The crash test footage reminded me of what I-95 in VA must have looked like the past few days-high speed on wet pavement.

I'm not sure the American public will "get" the smart car.  There will be a niche market who will like them, some of whom will be very self righetous about their vehicle choice, but the average buyer probably won't.  No room for packages, no room for a car seat for kids.  Makes me think if a watertight motorcycle-but not as pretty too look at or as fun to operate!
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K Frame

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« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2006, 11:13:09 AM »
Man that bubble car is just FOUL!

Looks vaguely like "The Homer" from the Simpsons episode where Homer bankrupts his brother's car company.

This one, on the other hand, is kind of cute.

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Harold Tuttle

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« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2006, 11:55:20 AM »
corbin Sparrow:


corbin merlin:
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Nathaniel Firethorn

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« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2006, 12:12:53 PM »
That Corbin Sparrow looks like something that needs surgery...

BTW, the "bubble car" is, believe it or not, a Messerschmitt.

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Lo.Com.Denom

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« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2006, 12:44:00 PM »
You guys don't have Smart Cars in the US? I thought that they were everywhere...

I dunno, they sort-of serve a purpose, I suppose -- an economic city ride for singletons. OK if you just want to get from A to B within town, but pretty limited elsewhere. A friend's mother and his wife both have one and seem to be happy with them, but they're both rather undemanding customers and their husbands have bigger cars when they need to hit the motorway or haul stuff about. I strongly suspect that a lot of Smart Car drivers have another car like that.

Now this is a bit more like my cup of tea!  http://www.uniquemotorcompany.co.uk/qtrunner.php

Fugly, but in a good way...
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lee n. field

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« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2006, 01:29:46 PM »
A BMW Issetta for me.  Or a Citroen CV.
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Ben

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« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2006, 01:56:45 PM »
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jefnvk

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« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2006, 02:49:45 PM »
Quote
You guys don't have Smart Cars in the US? I thought that they were everywhere...
I never seen one until I went to Canada last year.  Quite a few around Toronto.

Didn't think much of them.  Two of the guys in our group would have a problem fitting in one.  Didn't seem like they would go too fast, either.
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m1911owner

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« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2006, 02:57:09 PM »
Among my acquaitances, the Chevy Suburban seems to be the vehicle of choice.  I don't think they'll be buying many "Smart Cars."
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Live Free Or Die

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« Reply #16 on: June 28, 2006, 03:00:38 PM »
Quote
60 hp, 3-cylinder, rear-mounted turbo engine
sequential 6-speed transmission
automatic or manual mode selectable
Tank Capacity: 8.7 gallons
50 MPG
To be honest, I'm not sure why these specs are impressive, or even noteworthy.  Obviously the intent is a small, fuel efficient vehicle.  So what?  I could have bought something from GM almost 2 decades ago that was nearly as ugly, almost as impractical, and with the same fuel economy:

1990 Geo Metro

And there are many such econo-boxes that have been made over the past few decades.  Heck, you could get a brand new VW Jetta TDI -- a real car -- with that MPG rating.  It would be slightly more difficult to drive on the sidewalk, but I would much rather get in an accident driving the vee-dub.

Oh well, I guess we'll let the market decide whether this thing succeeds here.
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The Rabbi

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« Reply #17 on: June 28, 2006, 03:22:17 PM »
Quote from: jefnvk
Quote
You guys don't have Smart Cars in the US? I thought that they were everywhere...
I never seen one until I went to Canada last year.  Quite a few around Toronto.

Didn't think much of them.  Two of the guys in our group would have a problem fitting in one.  Didn't seem like they would go too fast, either.
A friend of mine from Germany visiting told me they will do like 120mph.  I'd buy one for my wife just to get to and from work.
Oh, I did see the cars bombed in Germany and Mercedes is pulling them.
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Bogie

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Here come the Smart Cars
« Reply #18 on: June 29, 2006, 04:05:39 AM »
I'd buy one. I drive a 30mpg car to work, and when traveling, I either rent, or drive a 3/4 ton van with a trailer.
 
I think the things were MADE for people who do the RV thing...
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Harold Tuttle

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« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2006, 04:16:23 AM »
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jefnvk

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« Reply #20 on: June 29, 2006, 12:42:17 PM »
Quote
A friend of mine from Germany visiting told me they will do like 120mph.
Huh, although I guess there isn't much weight there.  Don't know that I would drive at 120, whenever I hit that with my Cavalier (which didn't do much worse for mileage, and you could fit four people and luggage comfortably in), it got interesting in regards to vibrations and instability.  That thing looks a bit topheavy as it is.
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charby

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« Reply #21 on: June 29, 2006, 12:44:46 PM »
That car that small should do way better than 50 mpg. There is no weight to it, so put some higher road gears in it or a two speed tranaxle, one for in town and other for highway speeds.

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Iain

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Here come the Smart Cars
« Reply #22 on: June 29, 2006, 01:02:28 PM »
Wouldn't like to do 120 in one. Someone I know has one, seems ok for pootling about the town. Clutchless gearbox is nice.
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Brad Johnson

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Here come the Smart Cars
« Reply #23 on: June 29, 2006, 01:13:38 PM »
Hmmmm...

They are so proud of their "small but very efficient crumple zones and extremely rigid passenger compartment" but lament that the combination mght "transmit more energy to the occupants during a collision".

Sounds a lot like the robin's egg blue '75 Bel-Air station wagon my parent's had when I was in high school. Didn't we just spend the last 30 years in a govt mandated move away from that?

Gimme an Excursion any day. 4x4. Diesel. Black.

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auschip

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« Reply #24 on: June 30, 2006, 09:32:20 AM »
Sweet, a shuttle craft for my truck.
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