Assuming they sell it at a reasonable price (looks like the base model will sell for less than $10k) this looks like a good alternative to more expensive hybrid cars. 69 mpg on the highway is pretty nifty.
DaimlerChrysler (DCX:NYSE - news - research - Cramer's Take) plans to start selling its tiny and fuel-efficient Smart brand in the U.S., the world's biggest car market, beginning in 2008.
Word of the plan had been circulating in media reports for several days, but the German-American automaker confirmed the decision Wednesday. The car will be what DaimlerChrysler referred to as a successor to the current Smart fourtwo.
Bumper-to-bumper, the Smart fourtwo sold in the U.K. is about 8.2 feet long. By comparison, the Volkswagen Beetle is around 13.4 feet long, the Ford (F:NYSE - news - research - Cramer's Take) Focus three-door hatchback is roughly 14 feet long, and a Honda (HMC:NYSE - news - research - Cramer's Take) Civic is about 14.5 feet in length.
The Smart fourtwo's three-cylinder engine produces 50 to 74 base horsepower, and the top speed is listed at 84 miles per hour, again using the British specifications. The fourtwo gets about 46 miles to the gallon during city driving, and around 69 miles to the gallon on the highway.
http://www.thestreet.com/...
Another article on the Smart car in the U.S.:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
Pics of car:
Exterior:
http://www.atspeedimages.com/...
Interior:
http://www.atspeedimages.com/...
Convertible version:
http://www.atspeedimages.com/...