http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20842020/site/newsweek/

There's a guy at my building I work at that has one of these cars. Think it will catch on here in America?

I hope so.

These things are excellent little cars. IMHO, lots of people could be using them, if they are largely city bound most of the time.

40MPG for a car this small is lousy. Some VW diesel cars get better mileage but are bigger. My old Toyota Corolla got 30+mpg around town and 35mpg on the highway, and it was a lot roomier than this car.

These cars are cool-looking, though. I first saw one in Brussels in 2002. I saw one with BC plates a few months ago out on I-5, cruising right along with traffic.

Andrew

These cars are common place in Europe. Many of those old towns have narrow streets and these cars are perfect for that.

We've been looking at getting an electric car for those short hoppers close by when walking just isn't going to get the job done.

Cut little buggers.

Andrew, that's what I was thinking when I read the article. I would have expected around 60 mpg or so out of a car that small.

It would make a good grocery getter, but I don't know if I'd want it to be my sole vehicle. I'm also not sure I'd drive it on the highway. It'd be like stepping on an ant if you got hit in one of those at highway speeds.

They are cool looking. Most all the cars today look the same. Even the SUV's all pretty much have the same shape. These at least have personality.

All that being said, I'd probably have one as my DD. At 40 mpg that's 5X what my Land Cruiser gets!

The limited gas mileage doesn't make them worthwhile.

Somehow, I'd feel a little intimidated and unsafe on a rain soaked freeway between two 18-wheelers.

I have visions of slamming on the brakes and having the things do end-evers down the freeway! If the anti-lock brakes fail, and they sometimes do, is there any danger of it flipping under extreme braking?

I'll bet they do a lot better than the 40 MPG.

I've an old Corolla and it hits 40, when I think about saving gas.

My old Sprint was rated about the same as this car and would hit 50, if I were thinking about it.

"is there any danger of it flipping under extreme braking?"

With the rear engine design, and the placement of the passenger body mass toward the rear axle, I doubt it. I think the Smart is much more substantial than it looks. Hasn't everyone already seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

How does an electric car save energy?
I consistantly get over 30 MPG in my Pontiag G6 (or at least my wife does, I hardly ever drive it).