Diminutive Metropolitan Cruising Champion Maybe Coming Our Way?
Numerous freshly designed urban city cars are popping up all around the world and to the US in growing numbers.
The smart micro hybrid drive (MHD) is very near the top mileage vehicle available for sale in the US, and the price in Europe is only $1500 more than a comparably equipped gas version of the smart fortwo available here!
But, as normal the smart micro hybrid drive has been for sale in Europe since 2008. This smart Micro Hybrid car has been exciting drivers across Europe with its 68 MPG rating with the same 71 horsepower engine that comes standard on all U.S. models.
To add insults to injury smart cars purchased in most counties will be equipped with the MHD technology as standard equipment. The Mercedes-released the smart Fortwo Micro Hybrid Drive in Australia last year, and was awarded five stars by the Australian government’s Green Vehicle Guide.
The smart car fortwo micro hybrid drive utilizes state-of-the-art hybrid-technology to produce the ultra-high-tech start/stop functionality. Their ingenious hybrid-technology allows the engine to completely and safely switch off at speeds of less than 5 MPH.
This multi-step process is completely effortless; the operation is totally seamless and does not require any action on the part of the driver.
This “green-inspired”, engineering design allows the power plant to come to a complete stop at traffic lights or when in heavy traffic congestion like traffic jams.
As soon as the driver’s foot releases the brake pedal, the engine comes immediately to life again.
Best of all, the Hybrid even takes off in first gear, so that your trip can continue – completely uninterrupted and by design.
The environmental benefits of Micro-Hybrid Technologies is enormous. Lighter weight materials, like aluminum alloy engine components, improve fuel uses. While the MHD start-stop system pauses gas consumption throughout idling. Fuel economy is boosted by 12 percent over its all-gas powered sibling in city driving. On the highway, performance is improved to an even higher 20 percent improvement.
This metropolitan smarter smart vehicles can save us money, while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Making the clear winner the environment with resulting lowered fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
With the name of Mercedes Benz firmly in place behind the hybrid smart, this is a model which should gain widespread acceptance in the US and elsewhere. Sales of this unique and versatile inner city urban commuter should exceed expectations.
Hopefully Mercedes Benz USA, now the new USA distributor for sales and service of the fortwo in America, will be clever and up the ante by bring the micro hybrid drive vehicle to their network of smart dealerships incorporated into selected Mercedes dealers across the country.
Though most folks in the US have no clue what these little guys are like, they’ve been in Europe and arnuod the world since 1998. Over 780,000 sold. Designed by Swatch and engineered by Mercedes, it was an unlikely marriage of modern style and proud history of auto manufacturing. Though these new smart cars will be sold in America in mass in 2008, their older brother has been with us about 16 months. In 2003, an auto converter became frustrated by Mercedes’ refusal to bring the smart car to the US since 1998. He went to the Dept of Transportation and EPA and asked for permission to change the European models to meet US safety and emissions standards. After three years of work, he was granted that approval and began selling the Euro Design smart cars in April, 2006. Just two months later, Mercedes announced that they had changed their minds and would introduce an Americanized smart car in 2008. They will be distributed through Penske Automotive Group, not Mercedes. Though the 1000 converted models are now almost all on the streets across the country, their selling prices are significantly higher than the 2008 models. Though the entry level smarts will be offered in 2008 at $12,000 according to their press releases, the currently available higher end converted smarts are at $26,900. The high cost of conversion, as well as the shipping and import costs from Europe forced this higher price. Still, the owners of these cars have all shared their common feedback there is no car, at any price, that will attract the positive attention from passers-by, than the smart car. It is not the miles/gallon. It is certainly not the price. It is the unique style and design, so different from any car on the road, that makes this car magical. As magical as the only prior car in history to bring these smiles to this country the fifties Beetle. The new ones in 2008 will share this attraction with their older, but littler brother. Converted smarts are 8 -3 . The new ones are 7 longer. Current ones have Mercedes engines. New ones have Mitsubishi’s and are more powerful. The looks, however, will cause the same smiles. Get ready for this phenomenon, folks. When you see one in person, you’ll understand. There is no way to understand it until then. Smart cars will change America, one smile at at time.