How long will smart last in america??

[WhiteNBlack08]

Originally Posted by andy'smart

Does anyone know if the whole drive train is Mitsubishi?

No it's not, the tranny is built by Getrag, only the engine is Mitsubishi.

[Neonspinnazz]

Oh the Smart will be in Americans for years on end, it doesn't seem to be just a fad like SUVs. It's a lifestyle!

[andy'smart]

Getrag? who's that? is it French? Seems like every componant has been outsourced!! lol.

[Dunerunner]

Getrag is one of the worlds largest transmission manufacturers, building for GM, Ford and many upscale European auto makers like Daimler AG, Fiat, Porsche, BMW (Mini (BMW)), Toyota and the Volkswagen Group.

[rfernatt]

they did have the four door....and it didn't go so well. It was a lot of money, and there was a lot of competition. Mark this one discontinued....

The biggest problem with the forfour was its size and so-so looks. smart tried to take on the Golf, Mazda Protege5, etc. on their terms. They need to 'outsmart' the competition with a model that has unique looks and packaging. Something smaller and more unique than any 4-door competitor can offer.

If the fortwo was sized like, looked like, and didn't offer anything different than a 2-door Toyota Yaris or Hyundai Accent, then it wouldn't be very popular either. The smart name and a Tridion cell stripe stamped on the side of the vehicle doesn't make it a success. (Nothing wrong with the Yaris and Accent...)

So, yes, I think a second gen forfour that has the qualities outlined above could make it. I believe 4-door hatch competitors are doing very well and there's nothing wrong with smart taking a slice of that market with a unique vehicle.

[JPaul]

Originally Posted by andy'smart

Getrag? who's that? is it French? Seems like every componant has been outsourced!! lol.

From an older post:

Originally Posted by JPaul

FYI: Getrag (manufacturer of "our" trany) has the following names listed:
Audi
BMW
Buick
Cadillac
Caterpillar
Changan
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Cummins
Daewoo
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Ford
GM
Harley Davidson
Holden
Jaguar
Kia
Lancia
Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes Benz
MINI
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Opel
Otosan
Pontiac
Porsche
Renault
Saturn
Skoda
smart
Suzuki
Toyota
Vauxhall
Volvo
VW
Source: GETRAG Corporate Group - References/Customers

Note: the shifter box, unique to our NA451, is another issue altogether.

[andy'smart]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

Getrag is one of the worlds largest transmission manufacturers, building for GM, Ford and many upscale European auto makers like Daimler AG, Fiat, Porsche, BMW (Mini (BMW)), Toyota and the Volkswagen Group.

ok, so they are a known company..

[andy'smart]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Americans USED to like big cars. Back when gas was cheap, no one cared about the environment, and the country was wide open. Nowadays, even the "small" cities are packed with traffic and hard to park and maneuver in.

Small cars have been selling in America. The Mini, the new VW Beetle, the Yaris, etc.,.

haha.. traffic. have you ever been to DC??