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Europe's 'smart' cars coming to U.S. — in 2 sizes
msnbc.com ^ | 8/31/2004 | Miguel Llanos

Posted on 07/05/2006 7:39:07 AM PDT by Red Badger

The tiny car that won over Europeans with its cute looks and very high mileage is finally coming to America, just not in the way you might expect it to.

The 60-mpg, two-seat coupes are made by a European company called smart, but the DaimlerChrysler division is not the one selling them here anytime soon. True, they will be sold in Canada starting in September, but not so in the United States.

Instead, smart USA is betting Americans won't want the small smarts, at least not yet, and has taken a different strategy: a smart SUV, available here in 2006. The first press release touts not the mileage but that it's "loaded with adrenaline — both off road as well as on."

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: automakers; daimlerchrysler; energy; eurocrap; smartcars; transportation; unsafeatanyspeed
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A little dated, but they are now on their way..........
1 posted on 07/05/2006 7:39:10 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger
"organ donor cars"


Doogle
2 posted on 07/05/2006 7:41:53 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF...8th TFW...Ubon Thailand...408thMMS..."69"...Night Line Delivery...AMMO!!)
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To: Red Badger

I saw one of these on I-295 here in DC on Monday, the guy who was driving it was angry and more than likely a liberal seeking to make a point, but the only point I saw was the one from people pointing and laugh at this clown car. I am sure that gas could go up to $7 a gallon, people would complain, but I doubt that it would be much demand for this thing.


3 posted on 07/05/2006 7:42:18 AM PDT by Trueblackman (Terrorism and Liberalism never sleep and neither do I)
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To: Doogle

Who wants "shredded" organs?.......


4 posted on 07/05/2006 7:43:01 AM PDT by Red Badger (Follow an IROC long enough and sooner or later you will wind up in a trailer park..........)
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To: Red Badger

How old is this story? There are Smart "PlusTwo" cars all over the place up here (around Toronto) and have been for a year or two. Have they not been available in the US? Still wouldn't want one myself, but I can see where they might fit the bill for some people. Personally if I wanted a small, cheap car with good mileage I'd get something like a Toyota Yaris 3-door hatch and still have a real car rather than a motorized grocery cart, but they can't match the Smart for mileage.


5 posted on 07/05/2006 7:43:20 AM PDT by -YYZ-
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To: Red Badger

Just watch: the number of people dying "in" SUV "related" accidents is about to skyrocket.


6 posted on 07/05/2006 7:43:24 AM PDT by Thrusher ("...there is no peace without victory.")
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To: Red Badger

Those aren't cars. They are pocketwatches.


7 posted on 07/05/2006 7:44:11 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("Jack Bauer" is Arabic for "I'm f*cked.")
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To: Trueblackman

No kidding? I was just waiting to see one of these gold carts in the DC area.


8 posted on 07/05/2006 7:44:50 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: Trueblackman

Clown Car! LOL!........I knew I had seen this thing somewhere! Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus!.........


9 posted on 07/05/2006 7:45:04 AM PDT by Red Badger (Follow an IROC long enough and sooner or later you will wind up in a trailer park..........)
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To: Red Badger

Just another "clown car" for clowns that want to be noticed. If they made them look more like Harley's people might be interested.


10 posted on 07/05/2006 7:45:14 AM PDT by rhombus
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To: Trueblackman
They have not yet made a profit. The other 2 models - sportscar and saloon have been dropped form the uk market. Most people think they are overpriced. Driving around with an American - she was fascinated by the things - and thought them very funny indeed.

They do appeal to a certain 'set'.
11 posted on 07/05/2006 7:45:54 AM PDT by vimto
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To: -YYZ-

It's dated 2004, but now they are just getting here........


12 posted on 07/05/2006 7:46:02 AM PDT by Red Badger (Follow an IROC long enough and sooner or later you will wind up in a trailer park..........)
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To: Red Badger
Here we go again.


13 posted on 07/05/2006 7:46:21 AM PDT by martin_fierro (<-- Once shouted "Migra!" in a crowded taqueria)
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To: Red Badger

Ummm, can these things get up to speed for an interstate? Or would they just be unusually large speed bumps?


14 posted on 07/05/2006 7:46:24 AM PDT by Little Ray (If you want to be a martyr, we want to martyr you.)
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To: CholeraJoe

I was going to say that's a cellphone that you can drive.

LOL


15 posted on 07/05/2006 7:46:36 AM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: Red Badger

They've had them here in Canada for a couple of years. No room inside and for the price you could buy a real car like a Hyundai Elantra and get four seats and a trunk. Maybe not quite as good gas mileage, but there's more to life than that.

Every time I see one I think "there's another idiot who bought a Smart."

Cheers
Jim


16 posted on 07/05/2006 7:47:43 AM PDT by gymbeau (Alberta. Bound.)
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To: Red Badger

17 posted on 07/05/2006 7:47:52 AM PDT by Doogle (USAF...8th TFW...Ubon Thailand...408thMMS..."69"...Night Line Delivery...AMMO!!)
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To: Red Badger

Coming soon to a landfill near you.

18 posted on 07/05/2006 7:48:14 AM PDT by martin_fierro (<-- Once shouted "Migra!" in a crowded taqueria)
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To: Red Badger
Heck, didn't the old VW Rabbit Diesel get better mileage than that back in the 70's?
19 posted on 07/05/2006 7:48:16 AM PDT by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: Red Badger

More choices in the market are always a good thing. This car will be just the thing for some folks.

Frankly, if I were in the market for a station car, I would get one of these things, if they were priced right. They take up less room in the garage and driveway, which is a good thing.


20 posted on 07/05/2006 7:49:08 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up two (2) seats in the Senate and four (4) seats in the House in 2006)
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