It's rare for Canada to be mentioned at the international debut of an important new car; we really are bit players on the world stage. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of DaimlerChrysler, pointed out how successful the car had been in its first two years in Canada.

With a first-year sales estimate of just 800 cars, the little Smart has already made itself at home in almost 8,000 Canadian garages, driveways and apartment parking lots. These might not be Honda Civic numbers, but any time a company beats its projections to such a degree, its management team is happy. And the head-office joy over sales numbers in the Great White North is fuelling hope the success will be repeated with the Smart Fortwo launch Stateside.

The new Smart Fortwo is changed in ways that are likely to appeal to Americans: it's larger, roomier, more stylish and more powerful than its predecessor. The concept remains the same — a transverse rear-engined two-seater with the Magna-built Tridion safety-cell central structure, which provides a level of crash protection that seems impossible given the size of the car.

Smart claims it's more "masculine," whatever that means. Undeniably, the newcomer has a more sophisticated look, more like a real car than a Japanese anime toy. Both gasoline and diesel three-cylinder engines will be offered, presumably in all markets, although details of equipment levels haven't been revealed yet. Canada currently gets the diesel only.

Prices are expected to be equivalent to what they are in Europe, although Penske has been talking about a price starting at $10,000 (U.S.). On a currency-adjusted basis, that's a whole lot cheaper than Smart in Canada, where the cheapest version starts now at $16,700. Then again, the current car requires almost as many hours for refitting to make it comply with Canadian standards, such as daytime running lights, as it does to build it in the first place. With all such issues being built into the new car, maybe our prices will be coming down, too.

The 90-per-cent new Smart Fortwo goes on sale in Europe in April, in Canada next fall and in the U.S. in early 2008.

Ugh I don't like those cars.

The only thing is what happens if there is a car accident. Because of it's size I can see it as a write off and more harm to the occupants. It does not look safe.

that's what i would have thought but
check out the videos of the collision impacts

it apparently stands up much better than many other small cars
and has more saftey equipment than others in it's class

It's okay, I guess.

Now KITT....

that was a smart car.

It looks like it would topple over easily.

coolcat said:

i don't get that feeling when i see it on the streets


ok all you negative nelly's
i get that if you don't like small cars you won't like this one

but if you were thinking of a small car
wanting something fuel efficent for bopping around the city with
or perhaps needing a small second vehicle
this gets milage comperable to a hybrid but is only $10,000
and appears safer than other small cars on the market
then it might be worth your consideration




*i don't claim to be knowledgable about the vehicle
i just know they are going like hotcakes around here
and it will be interesting to see how the vehicle does once it hits the US market

coolcat said:

i don't get that feeling when i see it on the streets


ok all you negative nelly's
i get that if you don't like small cars you won't like this one

but if you were thinking of a small car
wanting something fuel efficent for bopping around the city with
or perhaps needing a small second vehicle
this gets milage comperable to a hybrid but is only $10,000
and appears safer than other small cars on the market
then it might be worth your consideration




*i don't claim to be knowledgable about the vehicle
i just know they are going like hotcakes around here
and it will be interesting to see how the vehicle does once it hits the US market

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_ratings/details.php?id1=6&id2=29

http://www.euroncap.com/c...1=5&id2=56

compare

mdiver said:

they are both chryslers

mdiver said:

they are both chryslers

VelvetNumberTwo said:

The reason for the comparison is to show that most drivers in the USA would automatically say the Voyager is safer because its bigger...standard answer whereas actually the micro car rates better all round

VelvetNumberTwo said:

The reason for the comparison is to show that most drivers in the USA would automatically say the Voyager is safer because its bigger...standard answer whereas actually the micro car rates better all round

mdiver said:

damn, you beat me too it.

mdiver said:

oh, gottcha

I'm so sorry emm, but americans will never buy into that concept. It will find a niche market for sure here, but on a whole, no way.

Really, I heard sales weren't well and that chrysler has lost money on this.

The U.S. needs smart DRIVER.....