Lil4X

Smart, that bastion of automotive greenness, is introducing a limited release of its Fortwo Electric Drive that replaces the little three-cylinder with an electric motor and the fuel tank with a high-tech battery good for 80 miles at speeds up to 65 mph. What's not to love?

The silence and the single-speed gearbox fix the problems noted in the gasoline version where the somewhat noisy engine and jerky transmission let you know that you are driving a $12,000 hair shirt of a car. Yes, it's economical. The problem with the electric is that it is being offered only as a $599/mo. lease. You can drive a $45K car for that kind of money, or a $35K car and a WHOLE lot of gasoline.

Worse yet, the Nissan Leaf is coming - a 4-passenger car that will retail for something like $25K, and while it doesn't have the head-turning potential of the Smart Electric, the Scrooges among us will see the Leaf as the real bargain.

Maybe Smart isn't so smart, after all.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2010/...lectric-drive/

IS-SV

Yes, Smart's impact in the US is less that smart so far.

(Cj)

Title of the thread is borderline misleading and confusing

Anyway, I think an electric Smart car would be great, but not at that price...

mmarshall

The automatic in the gas-powered version goes beyond "jerky". While shifting in the lower gears, it actually makes the whole car lurch back and forth, like a kid's rocking-horse. Consumer Reports said it was the worst-shifting automatic they ever encountered. Based on my own review/test-drive, I have to agree.



The Smart is great for manuvering or parking in extremely small or tight urban areas. Other than that, IMO, it is almost worthless for most American driving conditions.

Other than the obvious handling and safety problems associated with its high center of gravity and small size, the Smart has other things going against it. It's 2/24 warranty (including the drivetrain) is insultingly skimpy (courtesy of Mr. Penske), and part of the good gas mileage is eaten up by the need for premium gas.