Fuel Economy of the Smart Car

[Antoni Scott]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I can't wait for the smart car to be available in the USA, but I am a bit confused. After a recent trip to France, I see everyother car is a smart car. Upon my return to the USA my immediate call to Daimler-Benz resulted in them telling me the car will only get 40+ mpg.

I can buy a smart car in Canada, but they tell me (the Canadians) that it is illegal to bring it into the USA. Daimler-benz tell me this is true because it doesn't meet USA emmissions or saftey standards.

I hear the car will get 60 mpg but then I hear 40+mpg. I hear the car will sell for $12,000 and then I hear $24,000. Wow, which is it ?

Antoni

[SmartCard]

I can't really see the mileage being too different then what is being reported for the European version - afterall its mainly a hp versus weight issue. (although Americans are typically overw..... oops, better not go there!) So I can't see it being more then 2 mpg off the 40/50/60+ (city/combined/hwy) figures by tweaking for US emission standards - hopefully. Now price, that may be another story, but Smart promises that the dealers are to stick to the MSRP - whatever that will winds up being.

[Felinae]

Antoni,

These are definitely questions we would all like answered.

Perhaps I'll drive back from Canada in a smart when I go up to get my medications at a reduced price. ;)

- felinae

[Guarana81]

If you go to the official smart website www.smartusa.com the prices for the cars will pan out like this for the pure (base) model the car will start under $12,000 for the well equipped coupe under $14,000 and for the cabrio under $17,000. the cars that are on sale now that are being sold for much higher prices are gray market cars that are actually European models that are being imported and converted to reach U.S. emissions standards. The car that will be sold by smartUSA will be manufactured for the U.S. market requiring no conversion which is why the prices are so much less.

[Felinae]

Let's not forget that the MK I smart uses a Mercedes diesel engine, so of course it's going to get better gas mileage, coupled with the lower weight of ~1,553 pounds.

The American version, the MK II smart, will be heavier at ~2,250 (?) pounds, with a MITSUBISHI (trying not to shudder) gasoline engine with a higher hp.

[SmartCard]

Hopefully the US versions don't pork out that much!
The new model is listed 1650 lb for the coupe, and about 1720 for the cabrio.

[slowpoke]

Now mit motors is shut down because of the earth quake

[JEDI 2.0]

Prettymuch with rare exception, you cannot bring a car into the U.S. for daily-driver use, and Mexico/Canada auto imports are almost flat 0%. There are ways to do something like that temporarily, for race/show/etc purposes, maybe ur a rich guy from Italy & are in town for a few weeks & have ur Ferrari, but not as a average-joe daily driver. All states are different, but to my knowledge most, if not all DMVs/BMVs/MVDs, whatever it's called in your state, won't allow that.

Sucks, too, because especially in this case the vehicle doesn't meet US EPA standards. ..IT WILDLY EXCEEDS THEM

You also have to figure like ANYTHING that's new---houses, TVs, stereos, cars---it's listed for one price, but you always pay WAY more than you were supposed to, or was led to, when all is said & done.

[Donniedark]

Originally Posted by Antoni Scott

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I can't wait for the smart car to be available in the USA, but I am a bit confused. After a recent trip to France, I see everyother car is a smart car. Upon my return to the USA my immediate call to Daimler-Benz resulted in them telling me the car will only get 40+ mpg.

I can buy a smart car in Canada, but they tell me (the Canadians) that it is illegal to bring it into the USA. Daimler-benz tell me this is true because it doesn't meet USA emmissions or saftey standards.

I hear the car will get 60 mpg but then I hear 40+mpg. I hear the car will sell for $12,000 and then I hear $24,000. Wow, which is it ?

Antoni

Hi Antoni:
You cannot register a Canadian Smart CDI because the Diesel does not meet your emission standards nor do the Diesels meet our new Canadian emission standards recently implimented. That is why the Diesel Smarts have been discontinued for 2008 and we will get the same gas model 451 that you are getting next year....ours arrive starting in September.
I cannot speak to your cost but I know the Canadian costs will run to the mid-high $20K for a loaded Passion Cab.....
As for mileage, we get 70-80+ miles per Imperial gallon (1/5th larger than a U.S. gallon) so this would be in the neighbourhood of 60+ miles per U.S. gallon.
This is all in the past except for those of us who will keep our CDI Smarts and enjoy better economy than the 451 Gas versions.
The Diesel will hopefully return to our shores but not until Blutek (or other) engineering rids the Diesel of the sulphur emissions.
Hope this clarifys your understanding of the mileage issue
DONNIEDARK

[Donniedark]

My 2005 Smart Pulse Cabriolet weighs 1462 lbs.....soaking wet ! The new 451's will be about 200 lbs. heavier than the old style......
DONNIEDARK
.....soon I'll have enough posts to include Links and Attachments on your Forums.....Tada !