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Smart Two

Mar.27, 2009 in Other Vehicle

Smart Two

Smart Fortwo

In the rush to purchase fuel-efficient hybrid cars, consumers can overlook some of the smaller, lightweight gas cars that can deliver exceptional fuel economy. While hybrids certainly lead the way in efficiency, the premium price consumers must pay for these vehicles can be a real turn off. The most fuel efficient gasoline powered car is the Smart Two or Smart Fortwo, a tiny two seater produced by Germany’s Daimler AG.

The advantage of the Smart Two is in its highway fuel economy, where the car achieves 41 mpg according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That number puts the Smart Two fifth on the list of fuel efficient models, behind several hybrid and diesel models, but at the top of the gasoline powered car heap. The component materials and the manufacturing processes used to produce it clearly demonstrates the ecology of the Smart Two. For example, 95% of the vehicle is recyclable, and the dash material is made from recycled synthetics. The biggest advantage of the Smart Two besides its fuel efficiency is its price.

Size doesn’t matter, says the Smart Fortwo or Smart Two micro car. Measuring 8-feet, 8-inches, the bite-size vehicle will cruise the American roads in January amidst the soaring gasoline prices. The small two-seater’s price ranges from $11,590 for the base model to $16,590 for the jam-packed Smart Two convertible. Safety is another issue why analysts doubt the Smart’s success in the U.S. auto market. The diminutive vehicles measures 45 inches shorter than the Yaris and 40 inches shorter than BMW’s Cooper.

While the Smart Two could be a start towards a spatially efficient America, the gas mileage is not significantly above Honda and Toyota 4-seat cars.With the 505 horsepower asphalt-ripping 2008 Chevy Corvette rated at 29 m.p.g. highway, 40 m.p.g. for a micro-car hardly qualifies as progress.

Take a look another article about hybrid suvs and best suv.