While I dont think there are to many here that will be buying one of these things, I thought you guys would be interested in knowing anyway.


Reuters / June 26, 2003

STUTTGART, Germany -- DaimlerChrysler AG will launch the Brazil-made four-seater version of its small Smart car in the United States in 2006, Smart chief Andreas Renschler said Thursday.

The model will be made at its Juiz de Fora plant -- its first Smart car plant outside Europe -- which produces Mercedes A-class cars for the Brazilian market and C-class saloons for North America



Here are some pics from a German car site of the new SMART:

interior of new 4 seat smart - http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/34826.jpg

side pic of new smart - http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/34835.jpg

front 3/4 shot - http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/34823.jpg

 

Here is a really cheap car in the Aveo price range.

Why can't Chevy's have interiors like this?

http://bilder.autobild.de/bilder/1/34826.jpg

 

The problem with the SMARTS is that by the time you add on all the real-world features that people want gets the price gets closer to $20,000 (especially when including tax and license). I would guess the base price will be around $13,000+ but the options that most Americans will want will send the price up at least another $4,000+.

These pricey options the raise the price of the car signicantly also applies to Mini's, Saturn's, Scion's and any of the other smaller/affordable cars. Most people dont want a stripy/base car even if the car is cheap.

Average cost of options (if available) on small cars:

Auto tranny (CVT)- $900
Sunroof- $800
ABS/traction control- $400
Side-curtain Airbags- $300
upgraded stereo- $500
Upgraded Wheels and suspension- $500
upgraded engine - $500
air conditioning- $300
Power windows, door locks, and alarm- $400
Floor mats- $80

If any of these options are standard equipment then usually that drives up the base price of the car anyway.

 

cool...a car more ugly than mine

 

I see those things quite often over here in Germany... I don't know what would prompt someone to waste the money on one. The convertable ones look plain stupid. What scares me (I have yet to see one) is someone taking one of those on the autobahn and having tomake a quick stop.... could get ugly quick.

 

I would suspect that the convertible would be added to the SMART lineup a year or so after the launch of the 4-seater/4-door model.

The base engines in SMARTS are way too anemic for the US market and I would think that most customers would opt for the more powerful engine or DC will make the more powerful engine standard which would raise the base price.

Even Mini doesnt offer the ultra-wimpy "Mini-One" here in the states and instead makes the base engine the 115 HP variant "Mini-Cooper".


Small cars are fun to drive as long as they have the right Weight-to-HP ratio.

 

cant wait till 1 of those ends up splattered on my winshield

 

Ive acutally seen like 2 or 3 SMART cars crusing around my town for at least a couple of months.. not that new model, but still fairly new