European Smart Cars - Will They Dominate the Automobile Industry?
The number of cars on the road is increasing every year. The newly emerging middle class in countries like China and India are starting to purchase cars. This trend is leading to an increasing world-wide demand for cars and fuel.
Most large cities are becoming increasingly congested with cars. More and more drivers are looking for smaller more fuel efficient cars. These factors have made demand for the Smart car, the tiny egg-shaped car designed and engineered by Daimler, the parent company of the Mercedes auto group, more and more in demand.
For those of us used to large SUV's, pickups or minivans, the small European cars may seem weird and too tiny to be a real car. But it only takes one test drive to see that the Smart car is much more roomy and comfortable than you;d expect. When you consider that for many families a high percentage of the time many cars are driven with only one or two people in them, the two-seater Smart ForTwo is an ideal choice for a second car. For example, for a family of four, a minivan and a Smart car can usually handle most transportation needs. Dad takes the Smart to work, Mom takes the kids to soccer practice in the mini-van or vice-versa. Stop and think about how often you travel alone or with only one passenger and maybe you'll see that the Smart car would be an ideal second car.
Safety
The 2008 smart fortwo achieved the highest ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front and side crashworthiness.
Safety is achieved using the tridion safety cell, made from high-strength steel, reinforced in highly stressed areas, designed to protect occupants. The reinforced steel and the design of the car, including the wheel bases, allow the distribution of crash energy.
The smart fortwo is equipped with four airbags (two full-sized front and two side for head and thorax protection). Other safety features such as Electronic Stability Program ESP®, Brake Assist and and anti-lock brakes are also standard.
Luggage Space
The smart fortwo has a rear storage area measuring 8 cubic feet of storage space – 12 feet if you load up to the roof line. This area can easily fit numerous bags of groceries, packages and other items, even golf clubs! The rear storage area can also accommodate many sizes of luggage making trips to the airport convenient.
The front passenger seat also folds down creating additional space for other items such as skis.
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