The Way We Live Now: 6-17-01: PHENOMEN; The Smart Way published: June 17, 2001

Americans are proud of our supersize way of life -- from our biggie fries to our gargantuan S.U.V.'s. But with gas prices likely to top $3 a gallon and growing gridlock in our cities, could the time be right for a radically downsized car? MCC Smart GmbH -- a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler -- hopes so. It's considering bringing its ultracompact cars Stateside.

Two and a half years after its introduction, the MCC Smart, a two-seater that's about eight feet long and five feet wide, is already changing the way Europeans commute, drive and park. The whimsical bubble-shaped car is the brainchild of Mercedes engineers and Swatch designers. ''In Paris and Nice, all the women are wearing them,'' says talk-show host Sally Jessy Raphael, who bought a ''psychedelic'' neon green Smart last year. ''And I mean wearing them.''

PRACTICALLY WHIMSICAL: The Smart is based on the idea that the typical driver doesn't need more than a two-seater to get around a city. Nor does he need the same staid color. Drivers tired of ''phat red'' can pull up to their dealers and, a few hours and a few hundred dollars later, drive away in an ''aqua vanilla'' set of wheels. Nine colors are offered. The company originally catered to hipsters by serving them cappuccinos. Now practical drivers are also lured by cheaper ''Smartsize'' parking and discounts on roomier S.U.V.'s at Avis.

CULT OF PERSONALITY: For some diehards, their Smarts have become a way to meet people: swapping color panels on the Internet or making pilgrimages to the eco-friendly factory in France. Conrad Wagner, a Swiss transportation consultant, crisscrossed the United States twice in his beloved Smart to spread the word. Considering that its top speed is about 85 miles per hour, that's dedication. Will drivers in America, where large vehicles have dominated over the past decade, be impressed with the Smart? Who knows -- maybe company officials will start catering to our whims too. Perhaps a red-white-and-blue Smart?

New York Times published: June 17, 2001