USA Today reports that the eight-foot, eight-inch Smart ForTwo has the most crush-resistant roof and the Chevrolet Aveo has the weakest among 2009 micro and minicars. The Smart earns the highest rating of good compared with acceptable for the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper and Toyota Yaris. The Aveo is rated marginal, the institute said. (That's the Smart, left, with a metal plate pushing against one side of the roof.)

smart USA is promoting a $99 monthly payment for a 2009 Smart Pure, with the Cash for Clunkers incentive when applied to a Smart Fortwo. But read the fine print. There is a asterisk saying the $99 payment is for a balloon note, an uncommon form of payment for the purchase of a car. According to smart USA the Smart Fortwo is the most economical non-hybrid car available in America getting 33 mpg city and 41 mpg Hwy.

This is one of the nicest RV rigs you'll find on any highway. It's the conception of the Mitchell family and includes a SportChassis by Freightliner, an Elite Suite fifth-wheel by DRV and of course a Smart Passion. Mr. Mitchell, who recently attended and showed his stuff at a Freightliner event, was kind enough to write a great article about his Smart car transformation. Hopefully he'll tell us more about his impressive achievement and his Smart car travels? You'll note he tows his Smart with all wheels on the ground.

To rev-up excitement in the US, smart USA and the Penske Group used a very resourceful and—what many thought—a successful advertising strategy to market the Smart when it finally made its way to the US. They truly created a Smart buzz, using the popular word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing method along their unique cross-country tour. Now, with new concerns about safety from consumers, Smart USA is asking Smart car owners to assist them by, once again, using WOM.