John Gartner
Gear

Smart Cars in U.S. in 2008

After a lengthy series of stops, stalls, and starts, DaimlerChrysler says it really truly for sure is bringing its micro-sized Smart Car to the U.S. The SmartForTwo will be available in up to 50 U.S. cities in the spring of 2008, according to Edmunds. The two-seater will cost about $15,000 and gets in the neighborhood […]

After a lengthy series of stops, stalls, and starts, DaimlerChrysler says it really truly for sure is bringing its micro-sized Smart Car to the U.S.

Smartfortwo

The SmartForTwo will be available in up to 50 U.S. cities in the spring of 2008, according to Edmunds. The two-seater will cost about $15,000 and gets in the neighborhood of 40 mpg.

I'm not so sure that the cuteness of the car and the ability to slide the 8-foot car into most any spot enough to compete with the new generation of subcompacts like the Honda Fit , Toyota Yaris or Chevy Aveo that get nearly the same fuel economy and have more power than the little 3-cylinder.

You can buy an older Americanized version of the SmartforTwo from Zap, but Edmunds says it will cost nearly $30,000.

Perhaps the SmartFortwo will replace the Mini as the hip urban vehicle. DCX, which has been making Smart cars for nearly a decade, promised and then reneged on bringing the cars to market in the U.S. several times. Depending on gas prices and the competition, it may be too little too late.