There was a time that I would have rolled my eyes if you would have suggested I drive one of those mini-cars you see in Europe or Japan. Not any more. Gas prices rise every other day and filling up the tank puts a big dent in the average pocket book. Enter the Smart Car.

The Smart Car was introduced into the American market this past January. I am beginning to see Smart Cars zooming past my neighborhood and they look small, but they also look practical.  Needless to say, they are easy to park and get good gas mileage.

Daimler-Chrysler previewed the Smart For Two last May through November.  By the end of the preview period, 30,000 Americans had plucked down a $99.00 down payment to reserve one. The company began filling orders this past January.

Since it’s launch on the other side of the Atlantic in 1998, about 780,000 units have been purchased. Seventy dealerships in the U.S. are now selling the pint-sized Smart ForTwo.  The current version has been for sale since March 2007, and through March 30, 2008 100,000 units have been sold. This car is small, but very popular.

The Smart ForTwo is the shortest and most compact automobile currently in production. What about safety in such a small automobile?  The U.S. version of the Smart ForTwo comes standard with two head/thorax (neck) side airbags, seat occupancy sensor and a knee pad. Belt tensioners and belt-force limiters are standard features. 
The smart ForTwo comes equipped with electronic stability program (ESP) as standard equipment. The system ensures that the smart follows the course set by the driver. ESP uses selective brake intervention and throttles the engine power in order to stabilize the vehicle. ABS is a standard feature also.

Some very practical logic went into the design concept of the Smart ForTwo.  Studies show that cars usually carry an average of 1.2 people. Commuters stuck in rush-hour traffic can look around to confirm this claim. In addition to increased urban congestion, vehicles are driven, on average fewer than 18 miles per day.  Vehicles are also parked 90 percent of the time. Finding a parking space can also be a challenge in many cities across the country.  Most drivers can understand the realities of these facts.

The 1.0 liter, 71 hp Smart ForTwo comes in several configurations and pricing points. The Pure model starts at $11,590 (air is extra), the Passion Coupe starts at $13,590 and the Passion Cabriolet is base priced at $16,590.  A number of options are available. Select DaimlerChrysler and Mercedes-Benz dealers carry the car.

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