Monday, September 29, 2008

Smart Car First Impression

At first glance the smart car has a very unique appearance. It resembles a cube with wheels, with a little styling in the front. This design helps the car corner with great stability. The smart car seems like a reasonable, fuel efficient and surprisingly safe replacement for a gas guzzler.

Overall Impression:
The smart car was designed by Swiss watch maker Swatch. The company specializes in making inexpensive, high quality products that can be relied on. They have been in business since 1988 and sell products in 36 countries. The smart car is amazingly economical getting between 40-50 miles per gallon. It is powered by a 3 cylinder gas engine. The gas tank holds 8.67 gallons and the smart car possess both a reflex and manual operation mode. The body reveals a clear, modular design. The frame is made of reinforced steel called the Tridon safety cell. This gives the smart car its inherent strength.

Engine:
The engine is rear mounted in this vehicle. It is a 999cc version that will comprise both normally aspirated and turbo versions of the vehicle. Engineering and testing continue to take place on the US version. This version is designed to achieve 40/45 mpg city and highway respectively according to 2007 EPA standards and 33/41 city and highway respectively according to 2008 EPA standards. Engine development is expensive and the company appears to waiting to see if the gas version is a success before putting too much money into the diesel version.

Price:
Price is relatively low compared with the expected fuel savings. Prices start at $11,960 for a 2-door model with no options and ascend to $16,590 for a convertible model with all the options. It should be noted that the smart car is a strict 2-Seater with limited luggage space. It appears that the eight foot long smart car is certainly affordable.


Final Thoughts:
Even though it is hard to imagine owning a smart car, it does have legitimate benefits. While no one is likely to be jumping at the opportunity to ride with you, rest assured they will be jealous when they see your fuel bill.




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