When it comes to the Smart ForTwo, a little bit of both could amount to a big U.S. debut for Daimler's extra-tiny-micro-compact car next year.
Measuring just over 8 feet in length and capable of squeezing into a parking spot nose to curb, Smart is slated to arrive in January with a sticker price starting at under $12,000
The company said it has already received more than 30,000 registrations from potential buyers, setting Smart up for a rosy start.
Dave Schembri, president of Smart USA, has spent the summer touring U.S. cities to help build a buzz and dispel the notion that Smart might be a little too niche-oriented.
"First time buyers will be attracted to its price tag. Urban dwellers, because of its urban applicability. Baby boomers who want a second or third car. Empty nesters will want it, they don't need a back seat," he told MarketWatch last month in New York.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/smarts-success-rides-more-quirk/story.aspx?guid=%7BE9BEFBFD%2DB803%2D4073%2DBDDF%2D600DA92BA1D6%7DFrom Wikipedia,
Future plans
The Smart Fortwo will be redesigned for 2007, becoming the primary focus for the company as the Smart Forfour is dropped. The new version was introduced on November 10, 2006, growing slightly for crash performance reasons but generally styled similarly.
An all-electric version of the Fortwo, the Fortwo EV, will be released in Europe in 2007, followed by a US release in 2008. It will feature 30 kW (41 hp) output and a top speed of 70mph (112km/h). It will be capable of 0-30mph (0-48 km/h) in 6.5 seconds. <2> The European Fortwo EV can travel up to 72 miles (116 kilometers) between charges. It typically takes around 8 hours for a full charge. <3>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Fortwo