smart cars in the USA
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is it just me or a have the states been *really* slow to pick up on the whole smart car thing? i know they've only just been launched there ... 4+ years after they were first launched in europe, but still you would have thought they would have seen it on the radar? |
| Posted 22 October, 2004 - 08:25 |



is it just me or are the states *always* really slow to pick up on cool stuff?
we did get the 2004 Toyota Prius that would parallel park itself and does not require a key (key chain fob and the car will recognize when you touch the handle to unlock the door and the Start button also requires the fob to be near the driver's seat).
but of course, we like huge behemoths that get 8 mpg and take up the entire lanes and will kill everyone in their path (including their passengers).
... and the environment around it :-)
http://www.internationaldelivers.com/site_layout/severe/cxt.asp
why would you want your car to be smarter than you?
All this, and you have to pay extra for a tow-hitch!?! That's pretty severe alright.
What would make sense would be to combine the desires of small dick Americans who want puffed up "extreme" POWER vehicles and limp wrist Euros who want sweet smelling "smart" ECO vehicles.
Perhaps future Hummers will be electric? Perhaps these military vehicles will eventually trickle down to consumer models?
The Shadow may be the step in the right direction: BIG + ELECTRIC
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/shadow/
no its not you the states is always behind when it comes to cool stuff including the whole smart-car thing but look how much further ahead europe and even japan is with mobile....texting is now all the rage in the us!! woo hoo!...lame...
i'm lovin' that "shadow" vehicle tristan, especially this low-rider version:
32K range under battery power only!
Will - they can all "drop" like above, adjustable suspension with flaps in the "bonnet" to accommodate the wheels.
nice. how much and where can i buy one?!
serious party transport
looks like you've found the store tour vehicle then? ;-)
Amazing.... Smart car has become a sensation in the field o automobiles. I really enjoy watching the videos of them. even I have a collection of videos of a number of smart cars.