Anyways, I've been seeing a few of these things around town and thought maybe you have too. They're called Smart Cars, and though you might not know it, this, my friend, is the technology that is going to lead us towards energy independence. The first time I saw one rolling down the highway I thought it looked like a stubbed toe. As I looked some more, however, I changed my mind. With it's cutesy dimensions and bubbly physique, it reminded me of one of those Disney cars. I don't know which one, but you must have seen the movie.The Smart Car is made by Mercedes Benz and apparently is quite popular over in Europe (or so they claim). According to the spec sheet, it's got an all aluminum, fuel injected, 1 liter engine, a 5 speed automated manual transmission (?), and abs with traction control. If you opt for the Passion Coupe you'll get a/c, power doors and windows, heated mirrors, am/fm radio with input jack, and something called a Panorama roof (one of those things that leaks in the rain, I'm guessing) all for a very affordable $13,900 msrp. Mercedes claims a top speed of 90 mph for the Smart Car and it's EPA rated at 33/41, delivering near-hybrid type mileage for about $10,000 less, albeit with room for two only and their carry-on luggage.
Not bad for a practical, efficient, environmentally friendly (many of its parts are recyclable) vehicle, and just the ticket for our resource-depleted, globally warming world. Yes, while the Big 3 are up there in Washington crying to Congress that fate has dealt them a cruel blow, Mercedes is out in the marketplace selling cars for a new era, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this little car doesn't go out there and prove to be a complete and utter failure, because no matter how politically correct it may be, the Smart Car is one goofy looking automobile. Perfect for tree-huggers and liberal arts professors, maybe, but try as I might I just can't see Leroy and Bubba trading in their F150's or Suburbans and driving down to the tractor pull in a cartoon car.
Beyond looks, though, the Smart Car has two major factors working against it. The first is the American diet, which necessitates lots of interior space to accomodate our fat asses. Even if Leroy and Bubba wanted to drive a Smart Car, I doubt if they could wedge themselves in. The second factor is the end of the energy crisis, which, at this point, is pretty much over. It's no secret that Americans like "big" - big cars, big houses, big bikes, and big trucks to haul their big boats to big lakes to have big barbecues and eat lots of big food and drink lots of big beers. As soon as this recession is over and Americans start buying cars again, they're gonna be looking to buy "big". Sure, energy consciousness was easy when gas was over $4.00 a gallon, but now that it's back down around $2.00, itsy-bitsy cars are going to be a mighty tough sell.
Of course global warming will still be with us, so the question for Mercedes Benz is how many of us are going to look at pictures of melting glaciers and decide to go out and buy a Smart Car? A few, but not many, and either way global warming is probably a fait accompli at this point anyway. The only thing left to be decided as far as global warming is concerned is who will get the oil rights to the artic oil fields when the polar ice cap melts. My prediction is that Russia will drill while Canada stands in protest, but that's a topic for another blog.
No, America wants "big", and unless prices force us to go small, the Smart Car will remain nothing more than a novelty. Hybrid trucks and cars like GM's Volt seem to make more sense, but hybrids and electrics are expensive - too expensive for a lot of working class Americans. Instead of the Smart Car, what we really need is a plug-in hybrid SUV for around $14,000. If Detroit can build it, then give 'em the $25 billion. Sheesh, when you're $2 trillion or so over budget, what's the difference?
