2008 SMART FORTWO

While the process of adapting Smartcars for US was a few years in the making, the timing could not be better for their introduction to the market. These sleek gas-saving machines are the answer to rising gas prices and are destined to become the stylish accessories of the green generation. The editors of our sister site, eCityofTravel.com, have admired the Smartcar during their European travels to Paris, Glasgow, Barcelona, London, and other posh spots and wondered if that little engineering wonder would make it the urban jungle of NYC, Miami, Boston, or even LA.

With over 900,000 Smart Fortwos sold in 36 countries, consumers are making a bold statement on energy conservation and innovative thinking, while finding new enjoyment in the simple art of driving. While the motives of ownership may vary for each driver, one thing is certain: This car garners attention from nearly everyone. Now Smartcars will be available in the US and their popularity is sure to soar.

Arriving in the US in early 2008, the Smartcar was on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, only 1 of 6 cars ever to be on display, and the only one still in production and available for purchase.

This little bundle of car is a pure joy to drive. We drove through crowded Manhattan streets to the sounds of horns honking and the sights of many a wave and finger pointing. On the Long Island Expressway we passed slower vehicles with ease.

The Smartcar is deceptively big from the inside. The cockpit is bright, comfortable, and roomy, and with such spacious surroundings it’s easy to forget that you’re the cutest guy on the road. Driving dynamics are equally deceptive. It handles with the elegance of a car twice its size, and feels quite solid doing so.

Planning and preparations for the Smartcar fortwo began in the early 1990s through a Mercedes-Benz and Swatch joint venture. Nicolas Hayek, inventor of the Swatch watch, brought his ideas for an “ultra-urban” car to Mercedes-Benz and the rest is now history.

The challenge of the smart fortwo design started with the approach to safety. The tridion safety cell is Mercedes-Benz’s answer for a small car to meet high US safety standards. The tridion safety cell is a hard shell that surrounds the Smart fortwo’s occupants with an energy displacing system of longitudinal and transverse structural members. Then the engineering team added Electronic Stability Control (ESP) and ABS brakes to make the Smart even more technologically advanced than much larger cars.

With a price that starts above $11,000 and fuel economy above 40 mpg, the Smartcar is a great choice for urban drivers that want the luxury of going on weekends for two. Not smart enough yet? Smartcar has introduced a $99 Reservation Program open to all smart jet-set enthusiasts making owning and driving a Smartcar a very smart idea.

smartusa.com
Photos: David Lewis Taylor