Not So Smart for the US?

Jason Hartong Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I'm not sure it would be a smart move. The model pictured above has no real charm. It looks like a funky part silver clad Golf. The Smart brand has little heritage unlike the MINI. The MINI as we all know has a racing heritage with a distinct look. It smiles at you! The Smart cars I have seen in Europe will by no means be a hit in America. Gas is just to cheap here. I could see the roadster version doing well here. It appears to be a real sports car. Smart will have to create something more Mercedes like with a distinct look. Maybe a gullwing roadster would do the trick. Nothing cheap looking…..Scion already owns the cheap but hip look.

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Ian - Ottawa Jan 18th, 2005 Link

There is certainly a lot of interest in Smart (in some places anyway). I was at the Montreal Auto Show this weekend and, by far, their cars had the most people swarming around them. That is partly a reflection of the European-ness of the city – but still. They didn't have the 4 door there, but their was a couple of Cabriolets. (Smart 2 doors are already on sale here)

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Ken Jan 18th, 2005 Link

Ever since the Smart was released in Canada … I've only seen a total of three different SMART TWO out there … I can say they're not popular here and I'm sure there are more than 3 of those out there … but I think the Smart is just little TOO SMALL for Canada … sure It may pass all the safety regulation in CAnada.. but by how much ? everyone I've spoke to about the SMART TWO would general make the following comment : 1) its just will TOO SMALL … its only for city driving … don't drive it on the freeway cause the strong wing will just the strong wind is just going to pick it up and throw it over the curb. 2) Looks like a lego car … or a model car …

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Ian - Ottawa Jan 18th, 2005 Link

It appears D-C is pleased with sales in Canada:

“We launched the Smart Fortwo in Canada in the fall of 2004 and are pleased with the response so far,” Kramer said. “We think it is a vehicle that has a definite segment here in America.”

Smart said that since the Fortwo was launched in October 2004 in Canada, the company has raised its sales expectations there by 50 percent. The car is sold out there through the middle of 2005 with more than 3,000 people having paid a deposit and waiting on delivery. http://www.macombdaily.com/ stories/011205/loc_smartcar001.shtml

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Kurt Jan 18th, 2005 Link

An important point to make might be that tons of people may swarm around a car at an auto show for reasons such as its uniqueness or being really odd, but that doesn't mean that the group as a whole would pay to own one…

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Vince Jan 18th, 2005 Link

This story differs from the recent USA Today story claiming the small TWO was likely to be introduced into the USA. MB dealers claim they are fighting to become Smart dealers. As a many year AutoWeek reader who admits he has cancelled his subscription, I doubt most of what they say. And expecially how they say it. But that is merely my opinion.

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Gabe Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I would trust Autoweek over USA Today in automotive issues any day of the week.

Actually the story comes from the Automotive News, Autoweek's parent company and one of the most trusted automotive news sources in the world.

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Adam S Jan 18th, 2005 Link

Zap Cars is importing the SMART to the US, and for now, may be able to meet demand for the car. That gives Mercedes the best of both worlds: sales to enthusiasts and no investment. They can see how many sell, and make a choice from there.

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Adam S Jan 18th, 2005 Link

Oops: Click on my 'homepage' on this or the previous post to visit these urls:

http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartcar.asp

http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/news_smartorders122004.asp

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Steve Jan 18th, 2005 Link

all of the smart fortwos that have been brought into Canada have all been pre-sold (I think around 1000). There is also about a year long waiting list as well. I would love to get one as a commuter car.

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Amit Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I don't believe the smart would work either in the US or Canada. Besides the metro cities, we live in areas with ample space. smarts seem more designed for the tiny streets of London than for the wide streets of NY. Also gas prices are no way in comparison to Europe.

One may argue that the MINI has sold because of it's size, but the MINI is in a different league. I for one did not buy the MINI for it's size or gas consumption, I bought it for it's performance and styling. The MINI reaches out to a broad range of markets and age groups. The smart is more for the eco-friendly types, it's too one-dimensional.

North America, in my eyes, is too large for the need of a smart. However, make it fun to drive and pretty to look at and you've got a different story. But right now, you won't see me driving around in what looks like a hard boiled egg!

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RB Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I saw my first Smart on my 1st trip to Europe nearly 6 years ago and thought they were very, very kool. I likened them to the Deux Chevaux (2 CV).

I don't know how they would do in the USA but I know the “SUV” design leaves me cold. The original SMART designs were innovative & fun with their paint & interiors, this, from what I have seen, is kinda blah.

Maybe, as some have suggested, it works as a daily commuter, in heavy traffic commutes, a COSTCO buggy or a soccer mom, no slam intended, but for me I'd rather have the original design if I was to buy one at all.

The MINI is a different thing all together. Yes it has “racing heritage” and that plus the styling is why I bought it but I doubt that is why most buy it. Most people I meet who ask me about my MINI are younger and either don't know about it's “heritage” or could Give A S- – T, in fact most glaze over when I start in on the racing bits.

Most of the people I meet, who end up buying a MINI, are drawn in by the MINIs looks, having driven a friends or hoping to get better gas mileage for their commute.

I don't see much of that in the SUV rendition except maybe gas mileage?

+++RB

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James Gaston Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I've seen many cool Smarts in Paris. It would sell well in our cities, though probably not elsewhere. I'd buy one, and I live in the country.

As to safety, a Smart looks safer than a motorcycle, which is seen by many as a reasonable commuter vehicle.

Finally, I don't see why a large country needs large cars. I care about mileage — I'd rather use less energy than send troops to occupy oil-rich countries.

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Mr. Sticky Jan 18th, 2005 Link

The most important piece of the Smart equation is price. If Smart or Zap price these as super cheap yet reasonably stylish cars then they stand a shot.

I don't think consumers view the Smart or Scion brands as anything more than neat looking econoboxes. Mini on the otherhand is viewed as a super premium small car, with desirability beyond price.

I say good luck to Smart finding a balance between a cheap car and one American's would actually want to drive.

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acetonic Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I got a chance to drive some Smart Four Two's around in the Hamptons, NY for a few days last spring as a promotion for Target.

The reaction they got was amazing, as much attention as I got when I had one of the first MINI's in my area. A lot of questions and a lot of people saying they'd buy one if it was available here, and this is the really tiny one, not the For Four shown in the picture.

We had the turbocharged versions, 2 hardtops and 2 convertables. They were fun to drive around that very populated area in, and it took a few hundred miles to get the gas needle off of “full” I would not want one for a cross-country drive but it would be great in the city. Performance wise, it is nowhere near the MINI's league. I was very impressed with the build quality of the car and the power they got from the tiny motor.

Would I trade in my MINI for one? No. Would I consider it as a second car for the city? Absolutely.

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jordan Jan 18th, 2005 Link

the so called ''smart suv'' is called the smart formore and is based on the smart forfour with with new styling cuesa and offroad ablity.

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joe Jan 18th, 2005 Link

consider … Maximum speed 135 km/h Acceleration 0-100 km/h 19.8

Now thats SLOW, obviously its only suited for city driving. I'm surprised that even 1000 sold in Canada, and there's a waiting list?? Hard to believe … myself, i couldn't justify spending about $20K on a car I can't take on the highway, especially when i drive about 150 Km/h regularly ;)

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Wraith Jan 18th, 2005 Link

i saw a smart coupe on my way home from class today and was not impressed. it has a long way to go before it can be considered attractive. all the plastic body pieces looked really really cheap. it might be different it had some kind of performance pedigree, but it doesn't. now if i were living in say NYC, or downtown LA or some major urban area, especially in europe, i think it would be a phenomenal brand; small and cheap to operate and maintain. but it seems DCX can't quite get it to work. i'd be curious to see how a smart would fare on a major highway. the MINI is fine because you can just punch the gas and go, but none of the models in the smart range even come near the power figures of a MC let alone an MCS. we'll see what happens, but i don't anticipate seeing them this side of the pond.

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Ian Cull Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I was driven in a Smart Roadster when I was in England – it was disappointing power wise, and seemed too expensive compared with the MINI. It is also VERY small; I think the MINI is much more practical unless you live in a really cramped city (like some European cities). In USA the roads are too big for such tiny cars.

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TCB Jan 18th, 2005 Link

ZAP motors in Santa Rosa California has taken orders for 5000 smart cars (at $1000 a pop). Also, anyone who drives around the Bay Area can't help but notice the extrordinary number of Pruis Hybrids on the road. Smart will make it in certain green conscious markets (west and northeast coasts) but will fail in the flag waving pipe dragging midwest and south.

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ME Jan 18th, 2005 Link

WHOA, TCB YOU GOT SOMETHING AGAINST THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST. I SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T USE THE WORD REDNECK IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

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Frank Jan 18th, 2005 Link

MINI has not only been an extremely successful small car experiment for BMW but also thier product has created a new standard for which any other “Premium” small car attempting to directly compete with it will be measured against. DCX understands the challenge presented by the success of the MINI brand, not only at a global scale but in the United States alone, previously taught to be one of the most recalcitrant anti-small car and anti-hatchback car markets in the world.

It is ironic that DCX has been the powertrain driving force behind the success of the MINI (The TRITEC engine) to the benefit of their archrival competitor BMW AG.

DCX has had a good thing going on with the Smart, but in my view they haven't been able to truly define the brand, the overall mission of the product and the intended market audience for the vehicles. The Smart has been first and foremost the “Eco-friendly” urban transporation answer for crowded European cities, so in that light one could say that the Smart is more akin to be a competitor of the Pruises and insight of the world than the MINIs.

DCX knows they have a somewhat good enough product in the current Smart line-up but they simply can't compete with the MINI, at any level, because, unlike the funky looking Smarts, the MINI has it all over them in terms of performance, economy, looks, cool factor, resale value and product universal appeal among others.

Time for DCX to go back to the drawing board and re-think their future strategy with the Smart brand and re-focuse it as either a chic, eco-friendly urban transporation alternative or a full fledged car capable of universal recognition and acclaim in terms of performance and looks. In other words, for Smart to succeed here, they need to have a car capable of beating MINI at their own game and that is on itself a pretty daunting challenge for a troubled company such as Daimler-Chrysler. Smart doesn't have anything (Probably close) that matches or surpasses the product BMW/MINI have been putting out for the past 4 years.

If Smart begins their US debut with a small “Cute-ute” they know that their cars will be another dime in a dozen in the likes of Scion and company. Hip looking cars with little substance under the hood, just offering quirky looks, glass shattering factory stereos and ricey neon light interior decorative touches.

Needless to say, MINI has opened the doors to a previously dormant segment in the US car landscape and competitors will be forced to bring out products that are not only “ggod enough” but are capable of surpassing the leader (MINI) in every possible aspect of the equation. So the challenge also rests on MINI to improve the product and always be 2 steps ahead of the game.

Great times for us car nuts, aren't they?

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Dave Stewart Jan 18th, 2005 Link

I will take a good look at the Smart cars at the Detroit Auto Show this weekend. I own a new MINI and the Smart has many of the origional mini's values…not it's looks. I have always been impressed with Mercedes and BMW. The fact is Damler has turned around Chrysler so with a little time and market study I think they could come up with a Smart that would work in the USA. The Smart roadster looks pretty cool. Time will tell.

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Bart Jan 19th, 2005 Link

Well, no matter how cool the black & green body panels look, if Smarts seem overpriced and underpowered I think it's true they won't make it here in the US. However, if they were $10k or under, and at least in the 12 sec range for 0-60, I don't think they could keep up with demand, especially considering how cool the black and green body panels look ;)

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Eric Jan 19th, 2005 Link

The Twofour is nothing more than a motor scooter with a roof, from its engine to its functionality.

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Eric Jan 19th, 2005 Link

Twofor, ForTwo…bloody dyslexia…haha…

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Aaron Jan 19th, 2005 Link

The cool part of the SMART cars I saw in Italy and Paris were that they had special parking spaces at train stations, etc. “SMART car only” The spaces were tiny, but were right up near the door.

They were made for urban drivers who wanted the occasional convenience of having their own vehicle but who would probably take mass transit most places. We Americans generally don't have the infrastructure to rely on public transportation for our day-to-day commutes. We also place this (unreasonably?) huge value on having the ability to haul 100 sheets of plywood in our vehicles or drive off-road on a whim, eventhough the most payload our cars see is the haul home from Sam's Club and the most rural road is the one with the pothole just before you turn into Sam's.

Knowing that I am now way off topic and painting with a very broad brush, Americans are a nation of “Now”. When do we want it? NOW! When do I want to be there? NOW! We live our lives as digital watches… a constant succession of nows. Europeans have a different culture… they live as 'eventually'. When will you get there? EVENTUALLY. I ordered my meal 30 minutes ago… when will it get here? EVENTUALLY. They live their lives according to analog clocks… living time that flows from one point to the next and accepting that things will eventually happen.

Why won't the SMART car work in the US? Because we want to drive across the country NOW. We want to haul 50 cases of Ramen Noodles home NOW. We want to drive across the muddy field NOW. We don't want to wait for the infrequent trains or dirty busses. It's in our culture and history… It's in our infrastructure… It's in the way and time that the US came to be. It is not that it is too different from our current cars, it is that it is too different from our lives… or the way we want our lives to be. It's just not US.

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Gabe Jan 19th, 2005 Link

Well said Aaron.

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Jon Jan 19th, 2005 Link

I would have seriously considered this brand when shopping for my MINI. It's actually cooler in the sense that it's its own concept from design to execution, much in the same way the original mini was, in fact, original. while i live MINI, there's nothing really “MINI” about it, in every sense.

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Paul Bianco Jan 19th, 2005 Link

I like the idea of the SMART car, and was happy to hear that another fuel efficient vehicle was making its way to the US. But one thing I've learned with my 05 MCS is that people here, just make assumptions about cars. For instance, my MINI to most people is “TOO SMALL” or “SOO TINY”. Yes, it is a small car in certain regards, but compared to its competition it's not that much smaller in most aspects (wheelbase, width, height, interior/cargo space). With those remarks come saftey concerns, which boggle my mind, just cause of its size or size of SUVs doesnt mean I'm not driving a “safe” car.

This holds true to the SMART car as well. I think the average US person is going to criticize it's saftey and size without giving it a fair chance. People complain about their horrible gas mileage and hate SUVs, but yet no one does anything about it. People buy to keep up with “everyone else” and gets another SUV. with that, and it's lack in power it's not something i personally would drive. While I do like the idea, it's not a car for me, but I'm not against the car at all, and wish the US would wise up and give something new a chance. :)

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Chris M Jan 19th, 2005 Link

I saw a few smart cars on the side of the road at the NYC Marathon, and got a close look at two of them. My impression was that they were made with much cheaper materials and interior design than Minis.

I would consider buying one of they were correspondingly lower in price, and if they had enough horsepower and safety to be credible highway cars. But the two examples I saw didn't seem up to the task.

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Gregg Jan 19th, 2005 Link

I really REALLY don't mean to sound sarcastic or mean. Honest I don't, but … Jason, What's a gullwing roadster? :)

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Dave Jan 19th, 2005 Link

Gregg asked: What's a gullwing roadster? Answer: 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe and Roadster…a true classic and beautiful. Check out this web site. http://www.gullwinggroup.org

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Gregg Jan 20th, 2005 Link

Dave replied that re: the gullwing raodster thang — 1954 MB 300SL Coupe and Roadster… Yes, true classics both, however, the raodster was a roadster (ie NO permanent hard top) the gullwing was the coupe (ie the doors went into the TOP and opened upwards).

The smart roadster is a roadster (no permanent hard top), therefore could not have gullwing doors.

BTW, the SL Roadster was introduced 2-3 years after the Gullwing

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jordan Jan 20th, 2005 Link

Gregg / January 20, 2005 8:30 AM / Permalink Dave replied that re: the gullwing raodster thang — 1954 MB 300SL Coupe and Roadster… Yes, true classics both, however, the raodster was a roadster (ie NO permanent hard top) the gullwing was the coupe (ie the doors went into the TOP and opened upwards).

The smart roadster is a roadster (no permanent hard top), therefore could not have gullwing doors.

BTW, the SL Roadster was introduced 2-3 years after the Gullwing

OH yeah!! it does have a hard top and you cant have gullwing doors but you can have scissor doors!!!

http://www.smartsrus.com/smartroadsterlambo.htm

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Scott Jan 20th, 2005 Link

Just read the entire thread… I think Smart is going to succeed in the (affluent, diverse) US market (to quote a perceptive poster) “eventually”.

I haven't ever seen their “mission statement” but I would like to suggest that a company (any company) has to BOTH optimize existing markets (where I work, that's “current customers”) AND work to gain “new customers”. Further, and this is where creativity and loads of money comes in, some efficiencies and benefits ought to organically “happen”, for a company that can do both simultaneously. Isn't growth required for any business to succeed over time? I do understand sometimes you have to take a timeout from the marathon, to do “damage control” type things, but… (dang did I have too much rant juice!).

One other thing (well, a few things, topic rescue): The picture reminds me of those capsules you climb into, to ride the ferris wheel at the county fair… That being said, IF everyone has one, and they're hydrogen powered… hmmm… It wouldn't be much trouble to make space for it next to my “S” in the garage.

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Daniel Jan 20th, 2005 Link

I live in London and I have own a smart roadster, but they are tiny cars even for the UK and they cost a lot (£14,000) for a basic roadster model)

They are decent cars made of good materials but they are trying too hard to be something they are not if you know what I mean (a poor man’s Mercedes).

The auto gear box is very very jerky and you have no other option other than an auto, they are also very low to the ground so at night you get blinded by the headlights of the cars coming towards you on the other side of the road.

The fuel economy is good but because they are made by Mercedes parts and servicing costs a fortune and the warranty is well, crap.

I have had my smart roadster for just over a year and I have ordered a MINI Cooper Conv to replace it.

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Bill Lawrence Jan 21st, 2005 Link

To me the Smart is just a very small car. Small is ok, but any car must be compatable with the roads it will drive.

Is the Smart something you want to be driving on a windy day on a snowy Ohio Turnpike, sandwiched between two 18-wheelers? Not me!

Americans want cars with multiple uses. They want vehicles that are overbuilt for their purposes.

One of the appealing things about SUV’s are the fact that they have more uses as far as cargo and people carrying capacity, than a car, even though many people only use them as a car.

The MINI is a small hatchback, but it has the handling and power potential of a sports car. It has many luxury car features standard and optional. These features make it delightfully overbuilt and able to serve more purposes, than just a small car.

The small size and sickly horsepower of the Smart make it incompatable for many uses in the U.S. For Europe it is just enough to get someone from point A to point B. on narrow roads and city streets, with other small cars. For the US, this just does not get the job done.

If Smart can take it’s fashionable, eyecatching style and combine it with some more power, interior features and customizability, then it may work in the U.S.

But, DCX better make up their mind and do something, because the MINI and Scion have beat Smart to the punch and Honda may bring the Jazz and VW may bring the Polo, which may make a niche market pretty crowded by the time DCX gets Smart over here, at the pace they are going with it.

I like what Zap it doing by bringing the Smart over here, for the few folks who want one. I wish someone would do that for the few of us nutters who want other cool European cars, not available here.

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blue-coupe Jan 22nd, 2005 Link

Take one look at the value of the Dollar vs. the Euro, and you know why the Smart can’t come here.

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Joshua Drew Jan 22nd, 2005 Link

Based on the Detroit Autoshow stand I would say that they have a chance. As long as they market the car as a niche product that it is. The stand was SWARMING with people… much much more than even the Ferrari / Maserati stands, and even more than the Mini stand. The car is innovative for a city dweller, and offers quite a bit of safety for it’s size.

Speaking from experience, the car is NOT suitable for driving on the freeway, or at speeds of more than say 70mph. A friend of mine has one in Paris and says that it is positively frightening at those speeds. There is a distinct lack of power at that speed, and it gets blown around by a Peugeot 206!

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Brian Pleasant Jan 23rd, 2005 Link

I’m actually living in Italy at the moment and I see these everywhere. True story…I was walking down a road with a friend when when we saw a newer looking Smart driving from a stop sign too soon. A Fiat hit it in the side. The Fiat wasn’t going too fast. The entire right side of the Smart car was smashed in. This wasn’t just a dent. The Smart quickly changed from a two-seater to a one-seater. Fortunately, the driver wasn’t injured but my friend and I were amazed at how much damage a relatively minor accident had caused. I’ll stick with my Mini no matter how small these parking spots are.

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Dillon Jan 25th, 2005 Link

…the Smart line will come to America;however,its’ date with the states will be pushed back to make room for M. Benz’s Vision B.,due for the fall of ‘05(mbusa.com). That car,along with the GM Solstice and Saturn Sky are the only cars I see that might give MINI competition.

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Dillon Jan 25th, 2005 Link

…also,I almost forgot,…the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Both can be checked out at edmunds.com;then,click to,”future vechicles.”

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SmartMove Feb 15th, 2005 Link

I live about 50 km (30 miles) from Toronto and I commute everyday. I was spending $600 a month on gas. I bought a Smart fortwo cabriolet. My expenses have gone down to $150. It’s awesome. I drive on the QEW every day and can go 120 (70 miles per hour) comfortably. Merging hasn’t been a problem and it’s very environmentally friendly – 70 – 90 miles per gallon. Yes, it gets buffetted in high winds – but so do a lot of other small cars. I’ve taken it on longer trips on our super highways and wouldn’t hesitate to take it on a longer trip.

While inside the Smart, it feels quite big. The design is quite clever. It’s not meant to compete with the MINI (a fine car in its own right). My other vehicle is a 2000 Mercedes ML320, also a fine vehicle. There’s no reason why the Smart shouldn’t do well. It’s a great second vehicle – especially for those of us that spend a fair amount of time in our cars alone. I’ve got air conditioning, it’s warm enough in our bitter cold weather, plus I have leather heated seats. The stereo is decent and there’s an ipod direct connect.

Don’t trash the Smart until you’re experienced the drive.

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Chris Feb 24th, 2005 Link

for this car to succeed, its all about style

they must make it very trendy and edgy–very cool

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mullet Mar 12th, 2005 Link

I saw it in the auto show yesterday. its awesome. i really want one. You would never believe that I’m a typical redneck classic rock listening loser from cowgary with a 80’s style mullet. Note that gas is even cheaper here than anywhere else in canada.

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James R. Franks Oct 20th, 2005 Link

The American city-dweller will, I repeat, will buy the Smart Car. Stop talking about the BIG USA not wanting a small car to drive across this BIG country. We want a urban/suburban car that gets mucho gas miles. We are not planning to haul lumber from Oregon to New York with it.

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Rebecca St. Martin Feb 27th, 2006 Link

I’m ready to buy one of these tiny beauties.

Bring it on.

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G. Zarine Bardic Jul 20th, 2006 Link

When I went to Poland in 2005 I wanted to pocket one of the twofor Smarts and bring it back home to NJ. I’m ready for this car to hit the US market. But I have to have one the is mostly Yellow. Can see yellow better then any other color of car. And I don’t do over 85mpg which is what I heard is the top speed on these. Likely the mileage is better at 60mph then 85mph anyway. Drier then a motorcyle.

But I wonder if when they anouance on the radio no motoercyle or cars with trailers on the highways because of the weather, if Smart would be in the mix too.

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