 |
It's available in a number of different body styles, too. These include the original Smart Fortwo, a sporty roadster style, the Forfour or super mini version with four seats, the hybrid Crosstown, and the proposed Formore - Smart's SUV model. Not all of these styles are available in new smart cars. Some were experimental, or have been discontinued.
In the United States, the Smart car became available officially in 2008. Before that, it was a gray market import - not fully tested for emissions and safety. Now, however, these cars have been officially released. An electric version is intended to be sold by Hybrid Technologies (though this car is fully electric, not a hybrid), and will have a 120 mile range and 80 mph top speed. It will take only five or six hours to charge. Some have criticized conventional Smart cars for not having as high a fuel efficiency as hybrids like the Prius. However, these cars are not hybrids, and are much less costly as basic vehicles than a Prius.
While Smart cars are small, that doesn't mean they're not safe. These cars have been awarded four out of five stars in the Euro NCAP Adult Occupant Protection category, and the original Smart earned three stars. In the US, Smart cars earned four stars for safety for the driver when the car is impacted from the front, and five if the car is impacted from the side.
The car is also top rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety against other cars in its class. This car uses a very small front crumple zone, but accomplishes its safety record by having the engine in the back. The design of the main structure of the car, called the Tridion Safety Cell, creates a very strong zone around passengers if the car is struck.
If you've been thinking about buying a Smart car, you might have trouble finding a dealer. You could order a car directly from the distributor, or look on Ebay for deals on new and used Smart vehicles. This is a particularly good idea if you're interested in one of the older, discontinued body styles. These great little cars are extremely safe for their class, and will help reduce your gas budget. If you'd love to be able to park anywhere, check out a used Smart car.
Copyright © 2009 Used Cars In My Area Sellers ship to many countries and states includi