Content provided in partnership with
Now, that's smart: the new Fortwo: think of it as the anti-Hummer
Advocate, The, Dec 18, 2007 by Scott Corlett
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SMART FORTWO
RETAIL PRICE (MSRP) $11,590
STANDARD ENGINE 1.0L 3-CYLINDER
HORSEPOWER 70 @ 5,800 RPM
TORQUE (LB-FT) 68 @ 4,500 RPM
FUEL ECONOMY, CITY (MPG) 34
HIGHWAY (MPG) 40
TIRED OF CIRCLING your favorite restaurant like a vulture over carrion? Sick of blowing a month's gym dues with every fill-up of your gas tank? Done with making car payments that could cover a mortgage on a South Beach condo? Well, urban dwellers, rejoice--freedom is at hand.
- Most Popular Articles in News
- The Ten Best Laptop bags
- Tata plans cheapest-ever car for Indian market
- GLOBALIZATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD WORLD
- Corn is good for you; Corn is not only a tasty treat, but also a cereal that ...
- THE 50 BEST STYLISH HANDBAGS TO CARRY
- More »
In January this freedom whips into your tight parking space in the form of Mercedes-Benz's Smart Fortwo. If you've traveled to Europe during the past decade, then you know the Smart Fortwo-tiny and colorful, like a rolling Swatch, which is no surprise since Swatch's Swiss designers styled the original Smart. In Europe the variety of Smart models rivals that of Swatches; in America we get two versions: a hatchback and a cabriolet, both with two doors, front seats sized for tall Germans, and a rear hold that carries enough groceries to feed said Saxons for a week.
The Smart Fortwo is as cute as a puppy chewing your ex's Manolo Blahniks, but how does it drive? I zipped around San Francisco in a Fortwo, and it was like the gods of parking and traffic were riding shotgun. I shot into gaps heretofore accessible only to steel-nerved motorcyclists; I nosed perpendicular into parallel parking spots (two Smarts fit in the space of one full-size vehicle); I parked alongside stubs of curb that would have barely accommodated a Harley. In short, after New Year's the Smart Fortwo will rule America's city streets.
But what about on the freeway amid all those SUVs reined by cell phone--yapping soccer parents? I drove the Smart 50 miles to San Francisco on a hilly highway at speeds far in excess of the posted limit. Although I never cracked a sweat, the ride was a bit jiggly, and afterward my ass felt as if I had done a few too many squats; that said, for sprints to the airport and modest daily commutes, the Smart Fortwo will compete with any compact car. Moreover, on the freeway this little hottie runs at a hybrid-like 40 miles per gallon.
So how much will command control of the urban street grid cost you? The 2008 Smart Fortwo base price is only $11,590. Now, that's smart.
For more reviews and information, visit www.gaywheels.com.
COPYRIGHT 2007 LPI Media
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale Group
