Smart USA bets on ForTwo’s big allure
Base price: $11,590 for coupe; $16,590 for cabriolet. Size: 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet wide, 5.1 feet tall. Engine: 1.0-L, 3-cylinder, 70-horsepower Max speed: 90 m.p.h. 0 to 60 m.p.h.: 12.8 seconds Fuel economy: 33 city/40 highway m.p.g. under new 2008 EPA provisions (40 city/45 highway m.p.g. under 2007 testing provisions). Safety: Standard driver, passenger and side air bags; antilock brakes, electronic stability control.
Smart fact: Smart started as a joint venture in 1994 between Swatch and Mercedes-Benz. Swatch watch inventor Nicolas Hayek wanted to create a small city car that could be changed as easily as his watches.