At $15,000 and an FE of 40/70, will it sell in the US? Daimler Chrysler is reported to bring it to the US within the next 2 years to hopefully make a profit for the car line. My take -- a step in the right direction, but there are a whole host of vehicles from Europe that equal or rival the SMART's mileage, but doesn't have the "looks".
i think most of the appeal of the car is the "hey look at me I drive a fuel efficient car I'm so cool" type of thing that seems to be popular with all these prius owners that get 40mpg and make no effort to drive efficiently (such as one girl in my class who would get high 30s and be ever so happy).
Anyway, for the people that won't abuse it, it's nice,
I still can't imagine how it'll meet safety standards? Doesn't it have to pass a crash test? Prius owners do tend to not drive efficiently, I must agree. I get passed by them everyday.
I think we are overestimating the ability of safety equipment to compensate for little material between the driver and the front of the car. or from any angle for that matter. I agree my 91 civic feels like a deathtrap, but at least we have a some room.
It actually doen't do as bad as one might think. Still a mess if you hit and Excursion. As 90CivciStandard stated though, probably about as safe or safer than the older Civics (my 92 included).
I saw one of these parked the other day by Home Depot. i'm thinking of driving my n600 there today to see if it's still there. If it is I'll try to get some side-by-side pictures.