A new kind of car is coming
May 27, 2008 (Tuesday)
Designed by Mercedes-Benz, manufactured in France, the 7 1/2 foot long Smart Car’s price starts at $12,000. It seats two, and gets 40/45 miles per gallon of gasoline.
http://www.smartusa.com/smart-fortwo-pure.aspx
Why would Americans give up their big, comfortable cars for a glorified motorcycle? The reason is simple: the price of gasoline, now around $4.00 per gallon, continues to rise. What will it cost in the future? Some say $10.00 per gallon; others $15.00 or more, much more.
The car’s 3-cylinder. 90 hp engine, accelerates 0-60 in 12.8 seconds, and will go as fast as 90 mph.
It has plenty of headroom for big people, and can be equipped with just about any of the amenities offered for large automobiles.
Driving such a tiny car was unthinkable for most Americans when gas was 32 cents per gallon, but will now be seriously considered by many who have rejected the idea in the past. People who want to buy one are put on a waiting list for 6 months in Canada, and that will probably become the case in the USA. There are now almost one million of them on the roads in many countries. It only holds two people. which is not so bad, when you consider that most cars you see on the freeway have only the driver inside, and no passengers.
EPA rates the engine at 36 mph, which is less than the 40 city/45 highway economy that the manufacturer promises, but it seems to me that cars are going to have to do much better than 45 mpg if gasoline reaches the astronomical heights that some predict. In case of a collision with an 18-wheeler, it isn’t likely to come out very well, but most cars already on the road are in serious trouble if involved in a wreck with a large trailer truck.
Life continues to change. We are used to that, aren’t we? The Lord, however, is our rock and never changes. He never gets downsized.
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How about 55 mpg with a scooter?
http://www.vespausa.com/