smart+car

 =The smart car is invented =

= =

(1997)




What is the smart car, you say? It may look goofy, but once you understand just how much this little car can do to save our economy AND the environment, you might just change your mind.

Overview
In 1994, inventor Nicolas Hayek started laying down plans for a tiny, efficient automobile called the smart car. He made a deal with Volkswagen, it fell through, and he then went on to make a deal with Daimler-Benz, which released his version of the "Smart car" in 1997. This version of the Smart car was not made with a hybrid or electric engine, and after 10 years of slow sales, this tiny car was on the chopping block. But after the sudden rise of gas prices in the United States, people started looking to more efficient automobiles- they looked to the Smart car.

Central Issue
The new generation of Smart cars run on a gas engine, making it the most efficient non-hybrid engine in the world. Their most popular version of the car, the 2008 smart "Fortwo" coupe is listed at $11,500. That's not a bad asking price for a car in the 21st century. The car is designed to fit head into a parallel parking spot, allowing for 2-3 cars to fit in 1 curbside slot. This tiny car can fit through the smallest of alleyways and the tightest of spaces.

Conclusion
Now there's the question of safety: How can that tiny thing survive a collision? The answer is, very well, in fact. In the second generation Smart cars, Chrysler Daimler made safety its number one issue. With its signature Tridion safety cage, the car earned itself the highest rating for front and side impact collisions, and the second highest rating for rear end crashes. With fuel efficiency, high safety ratings, ultimate maneuver abilities, enough room for two people, and low cost, the Smart car is expected to become more and more popular not just in the United States, but in the world.

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