Wired has a piece about
the Smart car, the European microcar which is half the length of a regular car, seats 2, has plastic panels which are interchangeable like mobile-phone fascias, has a Bluetooth-enabled dashboard which cooperates with mobile phones, is apparently remarkably safe in collisions for its size and gets better mileage than the Toyota Prius hybrid car. Smarts will soon
go on sale in the US, and Americans (whose love affair with huge cars is legendary) seem to be taking to them better than expected. Though even if they don't, the company is planning a miniature SUV for the US market.
Funny thing, we actually have a love-hate relation to Smarts (there are actually three models: two seats, a slightly bigger four seats model, and a 75 horsepower 'roadster'). Indeed, the cars are 'cute', ecological, small and very practical for urban traffic. They are also, scary as hell. A 40 HP engine mounted to a very light plastic body is like having an old Mini with a rocket engine. Besides, Smart drivers tend to be rich wankers who buy cars with excessive speed and manouverability to scare other drivers rather than the ecologically-minded people one should expect.