the Smart Car is going to be available in the US...

[trekbiker]

cant wait to see one up close..

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/04/us_dot_oks_sale.html

http://www.smart.com/-snm-0135145948-1114073588-0000017156-0000001887-1114557288-enm-is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/mpc-uk-content-Site/en_UK/-/GBP/SVCPresentationPipeline-Start?Page=issite%3a%2f%2fmpc-uk-Site%2fmpc-uk%2ecom%2fRootFolder%2fsmart%2fhome%2epage

[Justin54B20L]

1. Sweet. I had the pleasure of driving one while stationed in Germany

those things are pretty sweet.

[Dr.Phool]

2. I never heard of it

What makes it so smart?

[trekbiker]

5. beats me... looks like a good design

could give the Prius a run for the money. Wonder if the prices will be as low as they indicate on the website. Could be a very good car for city drivers.

[Double T]

3. Smart Car Is What This Country Needs To................

.........Reduce Gas Consumption, Air Pollution And Reduce our Dependency On Foreign Oil. It Is Quality At A Reduced Price Featuring A 3 Cylinder Mercedes Benz Engine, Changeable Exterior Plastic Panels And
Is Very Safe. Can't Wait Till They Arrive In America. Canada Has Been Selling Them Since February 2005. Maybe Someday We Will Catch Up With The Rest Of The World.

[Solly Mack]

4. I love them!

a fun car

[Tyler Durden]

6. What is wrong with The Air Car? How about ZERO emissions?

www.theaircar.com

Try ZERO emissions. Think that might meet California standards?

Another Plus: it ISN'T A PRODUCT OF THE DAMNED CAR COMPANIES.

[trekbiker]

7. will you be able to sell a 100,000 air cars??

same thing with the all electric cars. they flopped here in California. Nice but only a fringe market. Dont get me wrong, I love these technologies. But they wont have enough market share to make a difference in energy consumption for a very long time. gas cars that can get 60+ mpg are here now and have the potential to make a difference. Until some sort of miracle breakthru in electric storage technology (batteries) happens, some version of hybrid will rule the ultra efficient auto market.

CalCar is doing some interesting things to the new Prius. Up to 180 mpg at 50 to 60 mile ranges, then normal 50+ mpg after that.

http://www.calcars.org/H2BridgeV3.pdf

[Tyler Durden]

22. This is NOT an electric car: It runs on COMPRESSED AIR.

Have a look: www.theaircar.com

[MercutioATC]

8. I can't believe that thing meets U.S. crash standards...

[Logiola]

9. I am starting to see a lot of the smart cars around my city

They are so cute.. lots of delievery places are using them.. like auto part shops/pizza shops.. and a good handful of personal ones..If i didn't enjoy camping so much i would of loved to get one.. maybe if we need a second car one day.. but my car is still great on gas milage..and has amazing cargo space (pontiac vibe)

[MercutioATC]

15. I have a friend who bought a Matrix (Vibe clone)

She loves it. It has TONS of space.

[Logiola]

19. It is a great car..

super comfy and fun to drive.. i like the fact it is a little higher then the regular car, helps with the whole suv thing/

[smbolisnch]

10. I was thinking the same thing.

I love the idea, but there is no way I would be in one as long as there are hummers and other enormous SUVs on the road. I'll pass.

[Logiola]

11. i wonder if they will make a hybrid smart.. and if so, i bet it would get

like 80 miles to a gallon

[Logiola]

17. holy.. it already gets 85 mpg

or 3.5 litres per 100kms.. that is insane

[RT Atlanta]

12. Follow up - when will deliveries in US start?

Anyone have any info on that?

I am in the market for a new car and have been considering the PRius pretty hard - would love to have some other options though.

[trekbiker]

14. probably sometime later this year.

here's some info on ZAP

http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_smartRegulatoryApproval.asp

[TexasSissy]

13. Cool! nt

[fishwax]

16. that's cool

I'll be buying a new car in a year or two. I hope they're easily available then ...

[Fleshdancer]

18. cool! the roadster is cuuuute too n/t

[Logiola]

20. here is a link to a great little review of the smart.

http://www.mcuniverse.com/The_Smart_Car_Comes_to_Canada.1325.0.html

[trekbiker]

21. great article... thanks.. n/t

[Tyler Durden]

23. Does Smart Car cost LESS than $8K?

That was the projected high end for The Air Car last year.