About Smart Cars

	smart movies
	Take a look at the smart car in action, thanks to these movies from smart usa:
	The smart Brand	Godzilla
	Roomy Movie	Crash Movie

Drive the streets of Paris, Rome, Barcelona or London and you’ll see the smart car has become more than just fuel efficient transportation – it has become the “it” car in many countries throughout the world.

After years of waiting, the smart car is finally available in the US. Since 1998, when Mercedes-Benz launched the revolutionary fortwo in Europe, more than 750,000 Smart cars have been sold in over 36 countries worldwide. The smart quickly gained a reputation as the most endearing, fun to drive, environmentally friendly and safe micro car in the world. The smart fortwo is on display in the Museum of Modern Art automotive design collection located in New York, NY. It is one of only six cars in the world to achieve this distinction and the only one still in production and on sale today.

	smart car In the News
	Robert Loerzel, Crains Chicago Business, July 30, 2007
	Sara Faiwell , Daily Herald, July 26, 2007
	David Viggiano, My FOX Chicago, WFLD TV News -- July 18th, 2007 (After watching 1st segment, click "videos" in sidebar for 2nd segment)
	Art Norman, NBC News TV 5 Chicago
	KESQ News, Palm Springs, CA: Unique Car
	AutoBeat blog on Smart Car Midwest
	Yahoo! Finance on Smart Car Midwest

The idea for the smart car was devised in the early 1990’s as ajoint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the makers of Swatch watches known for their wide array of colorful designs. Nicolas Hayek, the inventor of the Swatch watch brought his ideas for an “ultra-urban” car to Mercedes-Benz. Full development of the

concept started in 1994 and the smart fortwo debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1997. The response was fantastic. The smart car garnered more print space and TV coverage than any other car at the show. Production began in 1998 in Hambach, France. That same year, smart became a 100% owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG (today DaimlerChrysler).

	The frame for smart cars is made of reinforced steel, and protects like a Walnut shell as seen in this crash test of the smart fortwo vs. a much larger Mercedes. (Larger view)

The challenge of the smart car design started with the approach to safety. The answer was the tridion safety cell, a “hard shell” that surrounds the smart car’s occupants with an energy absorbing system of longitudinal and transverse structural members. Then the engineering team added Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and ABS brakes to make smart even more technologically advanced. Plus, the steering column has been designed to electronically retract

Another happy Smart Car Midwest customer!

telescopically upon impact, minimizing the likelihood of injury. Other innovations like the selection of energy efficient and recyclable materials, the removable door panels (you can change the color of your smart as you desire) and a high driving position for great visibility in a small car combined to make smart a true revolution in driving style.

Next year's 'Americanized' model with the accessories and features of the European model you can get through us now, will cost about the same as the US converted European Smart Cars we're making available right now. These Mercedes engine European models available through us will be very rare, since they are not brought in via dealers. They will likely retain their value as the original European Mercedes engine version. They are imported by an auto conversion company then modified to meet U.S. safety and emissions regulations. This firm is the only DOT licensed importer/converter of smart cars to the U.S. In addition to crash testing, each vehicle is inspected and certified by the EPA, DOT, and NHTSA.