tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2755999221721153242011-04-21T20:14:59.786-07:00smart carshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17617953067755598723noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275599922172115324.post-59688479104711678372008-08-02T15:43:00.000-07:002008-08-02T15:45:16.341-07:00The idea behind the "Smart car" was to create a vehicle easy to park and short enough to allow "nose-in" parking. Its length of 250 centimetres (98.4 in) would equal the width of a regular parking slot, allowing two or three <a href="http://lowergascosts.net/">Smartcars</a> to park in the space as one normal car.<br /><br />The project, started by Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch, was nicknamed the "Swatchmobile". The name <a href="hhttp://lowergascosts.net/smart-car-smartcar/">Smart car</a> is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART.[1] Intended to use innovative features (such as a hybrid engine) and be affordable for young people, the Smart had similar design objective to the Citroën 2CV of the 1940s.<br /><br />Swatch CEO Nicolas Hayek sought an established car maker to produce his Smart car. After General Motors reviewed and rejected the project as potentially unprofitable, Hayek found a partner in Volkswagen. Due to VW's own financial weakness at the time, plans never reached a final stage so Swatch teamed up with Daimler-Benz. The purpose-built factory complex Smartville in Hambach, France, was established in 1994 as a joint-venture of Daimler-Benz and Swatch.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/275599922172115324-5968847910471167837?l=smartcars60mpg.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>smart carshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17617953067755598723noreply@blogger.com0