Environment

Daimler expects huge US demand for tiny Smart car

by nukegingrich | December 4, 2007 at 01:45 pm

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German car maker Daimler said Tuesday that next month's launch of its tiny Smart car in the United States will unleash such stiff demand the company will have trouble meeting it.

"We will not be able to meet demand thus far" for 2008, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said here at a news briefing.

More than 30,000 US customers have put down 99-dollar deposits to reserve one of the fuel-saving, two-seat Smart Fortwo, which will begin arriving in the massive US market in January, he said.

"Down payments are going far beyond the production capacity we have," the chairman said, without providing a sales forecast for the US market.

The Smart Fortwo will be marketed via 70 dealerships in the leading US cities, the company said.

In its most basic version, the micro car will sell for $11,590, excluding tax. The company said that a Smart equipped with all the options was expected to cost some $20,000, including tax.

It is being marketed as an environmentally friendly vehicle, and is targeted toward younger drivers.

I would like to see some of the Insurance Institute crash/safety ratings before I would buy one.

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Herbert Wong

at 19:44 on December 4th, 2007

This car was at a trade exhibition put there by a local bank to promote one of their financial products.

nukegingrich

at 19:47 on December 4th, 2007

I imagine it attracted quite a bit of attention.

Jordan Yerman

at 06:37 on December 5th, 2007

Ask and ye shall receive... Since most modern cars contain lots of fiberglass and plastic, the bigger-is-safer thing is largely illusionary. My theory is that sound-baffling has gotten so good, people just forget that they're hurtling along at 70mph surrounded by other similary-hurtling objects. It's so nice and quiet inside most new cars, but I wouldn't really want to crash in most of them.

Jordan Yerman

at 07:51 on December 5th, 2007

Also, I'm adding my favorite Smart video on the whole entire Internet: A Suzuki GSXR engine transplanted into a mild-mannered Smart! A sick vortex of torque.

cindyt

at 12:06 on December 5th, 2007

Smart in Prague

Villarreal_Paula

at 10:48 on December 6th, 2007

This is a awesome car though I have not had a ride in one...it was amazing how many of these little cars were driving around. They seem economic and fit in just about any parking space. It would be great if these cars were sold in the U.S