So, judgment day is here. At least, almost here. Actually, it’s coming in January. And what’s being judged? The most controversial question of our time. Is the U.S. ready for a tinny winny little car?
Of course, we're referring to the Smart car. The little one is doing well in Europe. And now 70 dealerships across the U.S. will have the task of making this infant (in terms of size now) a giant on the American highways.
The Smart is already sold in 36 countries including France, Germany (of course), Malaysia, South Africa, and Canada, our neighbor up north. Now it's coming to the U.S. of A at a time when the cost of gasoline is hitting the roof again. Maybe an ideal time for a car like this to be taking its bow.
Mercedes, which manufactures the Smart, is leaving nothing to chance. It's been pushing this baby hard. There’s been a 50 city road show, test drive events, photo ops for the media and all sorts of other hype.
Anyway, many pundits are dubious. They don’t think that a car this small will fit into America’s psyche. We want things big. We love things big. And we have an excuse. We say we want safety, too. The Smart is tiny. It weighs 1,800 pounds. People say that they fear a crash between this itsy-bitsy little car and those gargantuan SUVs. But the Smart satisfies all safety standards here in the U.S.
But while some think that size is not an advantage as far as safety is concerned (and pundits question that thinking), size is an advantage as far as driving convenience is concerned. Think how much easier it will be to find a parking space and to park. Think also how much fun it will be to scoot in and out and through traffic on the city streets and the freeway.
And there are a few pundits think it will sell well in the U.S. Top reasons being fuel efficiency, ease of handling, and the city car in a fleet of family cars. And it’s cheap too. That’s the price, not the car.
Our take? So judgment day is here. And one guy who knows well America’s psyche when it comes to cars, Roger Penske, the race car driver and billionaire businessman, is impressed. His Penske Automotive Group will be distributing the Smart in the U.S.
Look for the car at Mercedes dealership as well as Smart USA dealerships.
So, as they say, is “America ready to get Smart?”
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