SmartUSA

The first time I saw one of these things in Europe I was almost amused; it is a very small car. But it didn't take long, seeing the narrow, twisty streets of European villages, to realize that the Smartcar is a good thing there. But the need to navigate narrow urban passages isn't the draw for a little car like this -- it's the low price tag and high fuel efficiency.

So I'm very pleased to see that DaimlerChrysler is soon going to begin importing the Smartcar to the U.S. In an age of climbing fuel prices, a small, efficient, low-pollution car is just the thing for urban markets here in the U.S.

The first time I saw one of these things in Europe I was almost amused; it is a very small car. But it didn't take long, seeing the narrow, twisty streets of European villages, to realize that the Smartcar is a good thing there. It can be a good thing here, too. Soccer moms, of course, will not be interested in this vehicle, but it's not aimed at them. It's aimed at urban dwellers and economy-car drivers.

The VW Beetle, and BMW's Mini Cooper, have both done very well here in the U.S. The Smartcar will do well, too. How long will it be before car enthusiasts start tricking these things out with mega-subwoofers, neon-highlighted Sprewheels, and hydraulics?