From MSNBC:The 8-foot, 8-inch Smart Fortwo micro car comes to U.S. shores in January, and even with gasoline prices well above the $3-a-gallon mark it remains to be seen whether Americans will flock to buy the tiny, two-seater car.
Ranging in price from $11,590 for the base version to $16,590 for a fully loaded Fortwo Passion convertible, the 1,800-pound car boasts 40 miles per gallon — a big draw for drivers worried about high gas prices.
Smart has already sold more than 770,000 Fortwos in 36 countries, and Smart USA is banking on robust sales in the United States. The Smarts on sale here will be made in France and sold through 73 U.S. dealers, including Mercedes dealers and dealerships that are part of the Penske Automotive Group owned by racing icon Roger Penske. Penske is chairman of Smart USA, a division of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz brand.
Smart says more than 30,000 consumers have put down a refundable $99 deposit to reserve a Smart car. Those deposits do not guarantee sales, but the company is hoping to move at least 30,000 units in the first year, said spokeswoman Jessica Gemmara.
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