Author Topic: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US  (Read 2003 times)

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Offline thackney

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Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« on: February 14, 2017, 03:44:59 pm »
Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/smart-will-stop-selling-gas-powered-cars-in-the-us-this-year/
by Andrew Krok February 14, 2017

One of America's quirkiest little automakers is about to carve itself into an even smaller niche.

Smart will stop selling gas-engine vehicles after the 2017 model year, Automotive News reports. The subsidiary of Daimler, which is also Mercedes-Benz's parent company, will only sell electric vehicles beginning in the 2018 model year. Mercedes-Benz spokesman Robert Moran told Roadshow that the company did not make a formal announcement, but it did disseminate its new product strategy to dealers via a short statement.

"Developments within the micro-car segment present some challenges for the current Smart product portfolio," the statement reads. "As a result, Smart will discontinue sales of the gasoline powered Smart Fortwo and Fortwo Cabrio for the US and Canadian markets after model year 2017."...
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Offline Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2017, 03:54:29 pm »
I thought they were neat. I just could never embarrass myself by allowing myself to be seen driving one of those little lawnmower/cars.


Big guys and small cars look silly.

Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2017, 04:03:33 pm »
And no one will care. This car was a punchline the moment it hit the showroom floor. Nobody wants a Eurotrash micro car in North America.

Offline Doug Loss

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2017, 04:08:48 pm »
I considered Smart back in 2012 when I was looking for a new small car.  It was more expensive than its competitors, it didn't get as good gas mileage, and it didn't have as much carrying capacity.  The Smart cars just weren't competitive using any objective criteria.  The only reason for buying one was as a form of virtue-signalling, from what I could see.  I bought a manual Ford Fiesta instead, and am quite glad I did.
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Offline thackney

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2017, 04:10:36 pm »
It was more expensive than its competitors, it didn't get as good gas mileage, and it didn't have as much carrying capacity.  The Smart cars just weren't competitive using any objective criteria.

Exactly.  I always that that buying a "Smart" car was a way of announcing "I'm not".
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geronl

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2017, 05:10:53 pm »
They make those little golf cart cars with the 4-inch rims?

Offline EC

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2017, 05:15:57 pm »
Exactly.  I always that that buying a "Smart" car was a way of announcing "I'm not".

Neighbour has one and loves it. Mind, she's dealing with London traffic - something you can't imagine until you actually sit in it and consider 4 mph to be a good traffic flow.
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geronl

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2017, 05:21:09 pm »
Neighbour has one and loves it. Mind, she's dealing with London traffic - something you can't imagine until you actually sit in it and consider 4 mph to be a good traffic flow.

At least it's not one of these. lol


Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2017, 05:21:37 pm »
I thought they were neat. I just could never embarrass myself by allowing myself to be seen driving one of those little lawnmower/cars.


Big guys and small cars look silly.

I'd rather have a moped.

Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2017, 05:22:59 pm »
At least it's not one of these. lol



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Offline Idaho_Cowboy

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2017, 06:39:17 pm »
Smart cars just never got the mileage needed to make them a viable choice. At some point the aerodynamics start to work against you, a Radio Flyer and a Briggs and Straton strapped to it would probably do better in a wind tunnel.
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Offline Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2017, 06:44:41 pm »
Plus you can't even strap a mower deck to them!

Offline Cripplecreek

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Re: Smart gives up on gas-powered cars in the US
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2017, 06:56:47 pm »
Plus you can't even strap a mower deck to them!

I saw my grandfather pull a gang mower behind an old Saab stationwagon.