Smart Cars Take Manhattan

I first saw these bite sized cars in Europe in like 1999 or 2000. We laughed, we cried, we took many photos standing with them. Big greedy American posing eclipsing tiny little Euro machine. It was quite a riot... ya had to be there. In fact, ask any American band that has toured Europe within the last 5 years or so and they've all taken this very same photo seen below.



The car was originally supposed to use innovative features such as a wacky hybrid engine. It was meant to be an affordable car for young people.

Well, most of that all went to shit and now its basically just a car thats super easy to park because its so small. It is short enough to allow it to be parked "nose-in" where a conventionally sized car would have to parallel park.

The car is surprisingly roomy inside despite its minuscule exterior. Its basically like driving a two door sports car sans the bullshit backseat which cramps it. So its perfect for two passengers and thats it.






Its 98 inch length equals the width of a regular parking slot, allowing two or three Smart cars to park in the same space as one normal car if parked side-on to the usual parking direction.

The project idea was originally started by Swatch (the Swiss watch maker) and was nicknamed the "Swatchmobile". The name SMART is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART. The prototype name stuck even though ownership has changed hands a few times since then.



In June 2006, DaimlerChrysler confirmed that smart will be officially launched here in the first quarter of 2008. And that time is now, my friends. Them Germans keep their word.



Jalopnik takes the very first U.S. Smart for a test-drive and park.

2008 Smart Fortwo: First U.S. Drive {Jalopnik}