Smart car for the tuner crowd:

Randimus Maximus · April 11, 2009, 03:53:35 PM

Quote from: NAKID on April 09, 2009, 02:35:08 PM
Absolutely. Look at where the rear passenger sits in the iQ. Nothing behind him to absorb a collision. With the SMART, the engine is there...

Perhaps that's why it has a rear air bag.

And it has 3+1 seating. The one being storage space in the rear.

Keep in mind, the Smart has an average retail price north of $17K. It also requires premium fuel. And the fuel economy is less than stellar for a car that size.

Randimus Maximus · May 10, 2011, 05:04:59 PM

Just drove the iQ today.

Also drove the Smart Fortwo.

The iQ is the better car from a driving/handling/space perspective.

No pricing released yet.

Heath · May 10, 2011, 05:40:36 PM

Did the one you drive have a CVT? That kills it for me. I need to hear or feel a car shift. Test drove a Civic Hybrid for shits and giggles and the CVT totally killed it for me.

Randimus Maximus · May 10, 2011, 05:43:58 PM

Quote from: Heath on May 10, 2011, 05:40:36 PM
Did the one you drive have a CVT? That kills it for me. I need to hear or feel a car shift. Test drove a Civic Hybrid for shits and giggles and the CVT totally killed it for me.

Yep. They will all have the CVT-i (with intelligence).

Honestly, I didn't know it had a CVT until the next session when I got the technical debrief.

And with tightening emission & fuel economy standards, CVTs will become much more common here in the states (as they already are in Asia & Europe).

Grampa · May 10, 2011, 09:12:03 PM

looks like a lowered IQ to me

stateprez · May 11, 2011, 07:08:48 AM

Looks great getting humped by a St. Bernard as well:
JAMES MAY IS A BASTARD

pennyrobber · May 11, 2011, 07:47:07 AM

Quote from: bobspapa on May 10, 2011, 09:12:03 PM
looks like a lowered IQ to me

Dud dun tishhhh.

Aren't some companies adding fake shift points to make CVT's seem viscerally closer to traditional automatics?

junior varsity · May 11, 2011, 07:49:05 AM

Quote from: pennyrobber on May 11, 2011, 07:47:07 AM
Aren't some companies adding fake shift points to make CVT's seem viscerally closer to traditional automatics?

Wouldn't surprise me - they cam up the gas pedals for the appearance of a responsive, powerful engine, etc.

Monster Dave · May 11, 2011, 09:01:19 AM

I just got this months Motor Trend magazine and it looks like some of the sportier Euro based compacts will be coming to the US soon.

cokey · May 11, 2011, 09:45:21 AM

Id rather have a mini cooper.. only way a smart will be safe is if everyone had one in the city and you weren't allowed to drive on the same road as a truck..

Monster Dave · May 11, 2011, 09:51:31 AM

Quote from: cokey on May 11, 2011, 09:45:21 AM
Id rather have a mini cooper.. only way a smart will be safe is if everyone had one in the city and you weren't allowed to drive on the same road as a truck..

I'd never want a Smart Fortwo - but I'd consider a Smart Coupe:

Tuned of course.

il d00d · May 11, 2011, 12:56:04 PM

Quote from: cokey on May 11, 2011, 09:45:21 AM
Id rather have a mini cooper..

What he said. I am glad we will have a few more options in the coming months and years, but nothing quite touches the Mini, even the NA version. Not the Fiat, not the Fiesta, and certainly not this. Even if I sacrifice a few MPG, I would much rather roll in something that doesn't look like a photoshopped normal-sized car.

News:

Smart car for the tuner crowd: