I actually saw one of these SMART cars on the road with Massachusetts plates. I recall checking them out about 6-8 weeks ago and seeing that they were available for special order through a dealer in New Hampshire.
That being said, the 50bhp "fortwo" model gets 60 mpg (4.7 L/100km) average. You could get comparable fuel economy from a Toyota Prius (55 mpg) and have seating for four. Also, compare the SMART "forfour" with the 75bhp engine -- a direct comparison to the Toyota Prius (with a 74 hp engine) and we find that the Forfour gets about 50 mpg(5.6 L/100km). Now, if Daimler-Chrysler licensed Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain -- then the SMART's fuel efficiency would be truly remarkable. I'd really like to see that. -John On Jul 2, 2006, at 11:03 AM, Mike Weaver wrote: > Hallo Hakan, > > No offense intended, but I've been all over Europe and there are plenty > of big people there. I was (don't ask) at a Mercedes Benz dealers > convention and most of the men were easily over 6 feet and at least 250 > lbs. Look at Hemut Kohl. He's big and heavy. > > I do agree that Americans are wider than Europeans; we eat ALL the > time, > but I've seen big Germans, Swedes and lots of big fellows in the UK. > "Why, he's twenty stone if he's an oz!" > > I'm 6'1" and 200 lbs and there's plenty of room for me in my VW so > they've clearly figured that they'll be selling to big folks. It's not > a big car but it is cleverly designed. > > I do think they'll have to make the seats wider, though ;-) > > -Weaver > > > > Hakan Falk wrote: > >> Tallex, >> >> The market for 250 pound people is very much smaller in Europe than >> in US and >> I think that it is not a primary target for SMART cars. Do not only >> look at one, try >> it and you will be surprised on how spacious it is for 2 people and >> how well it >> transport/park for urban dwellers. I do however agree on the problems >> in US, >> it is little space for the oversized chip and snack packs, that seems >> to be the >> essentials for US commuters. >> >> I am not a small person 186 centimeter and 96 kilo (which is too >> much), but I >> fit well in a Smart. I did however not consider the image problem. >> >> Hakan >> >> At 09:15 02/07/2006, you wrote: >> >> >> >>> That's great Haken, so if they already have a four seater, >>> it is not to much of a stretch to do a minivan version as well and >>> still >>> be considered a smart car? >>> Also, I've seen the two seater and while really cool, there is no way >>> you are going to fit 2 - 250 pound people side by side, they would >>> look like >>> circus clowns stuffed into the seats. >>> People want utility in their vehicles and still be as efficient as >>> possible. >>> >>> tallex >>> >>> >>> >>> Smart Car Coming to US in 2008 Launch by DaimlerChrysler >>> >>> >>>>> >>>>> < >>>>> http://www.alternate-energy.net/N/news.php?detail=n1151818384.news >>>>> > >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> -------Original Message------- >>>> From: Hakan Falk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> Subject: Re: [Biofuel] smart car coming to US in 2008 >>>> Sent: 02 Jul '06 06:56 >>>> >>>> >>>> They do have a 4 seater model already, it is selling in Europe for >>>> quite a while. >>>> >>>> Hakan >>>> >>>> >>>> At 08:06 02/07/2006, you wrote: >>>> >>>>> Great idea but I think that they better make a four seater for the >>>>> US market. Smart cars have been out for about a year in Canada and >>>>> while really cool, I have a hard time >>>>> imagining 2 average Americans in one ;) LOL, >>>>> >>>>> regards >>>>> tallex >>>>> >>>>> Smart Car Coming to US in 2008 Launch by DaimlerChrysler >>>>> >>>>> < >>>>> http://www.alternate-energy.net/N/news.php?detail=n1151818384.news >>>>> > >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Get your daily alternative energy news >>>>> >>>>> Alternate Energy Resource Network >>>>> 1000+ news sources-resources >>>>> updated daily >>>>> >>>>> http://www.alternate-energy.net >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Next Generation Grid >>>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/next_generation_grid/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Tomorrow-energy >>>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tomorrow-energy/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Alternative Energy Politics >>>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alternative_Energy_Politics/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Biofuel mailing list >>>>> Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >>>>> http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>>> biofuel_sustainablelists.org >>>>> >>>>> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >>>>> http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html >>>>> >>>>> Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives >>>> >>>> >>> (50,000 messages): >>> >>> >>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Biofuel mailing list >>>> Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >>>> http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>> biofuel_sustainablelists.org >>>> >>>> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >>>> http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html >>>> >>>> Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives >>>> >>>> >>> (50,000 messages): >>> >>> >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Biofuel mailing list >>> Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >>> http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> biofuel_sustainablelists.org >>> >>> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >>> http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html >>> >>> Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 >>> messages): >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ >>> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Biofuel mailing list >> Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >> http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ >> biofuel_sustainablelists.org >> >> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >> http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html >> >> Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 >> messages): >> http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ > biofuel_sustainablelists.org > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 > messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
