Tag Archives: smart

Another Auto Brand Coming to America

Posted on by

Well, Spain is the second-largest auto manufacturing country in Europe. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

From Audi to Volkswagen—and a whole lot in between—automotive brands are not something in short supply in the U.S. market.

So it should come as no surprise that still another European brand wants to make its way to the U.S. by the end of the decade (yes, tongue is firmly planted in cheek).

CUPRA, established in 2018, is a subset of Barcelona-based SEAT. SEAT is a subset of Volkswagen Group.

CUPRA CEO Wayne Griffiths:

“CUPRA’s ambition is to be a truly global brand and expanding into the United States represents one of the greatest milestones on our journey.”

Current CUPRA lineup. (Image: CUPRA)

The company intends to sell ICE, PHEV and EVs in “key states that are aligned with the brand” (whatever that means: the company describes itself as a “disruptor” and an “unconventional challenger brand,” and when a company says that about itself rather than having it said of it, there is the distinct whiff of a marketing team coming up with buzzy descriptors).

Because it recognizes the importance of having good distribution, it is in talks with the Penske Automotive Group, one of the largest automotive dealership groups in the country, with more than 200 stores in the U.S.

Questionably a smart move.

And speaking of smart moves, in 2008 Penske Automotive Group started exclusive distribution of the smart auto brand in the U.S.

That ran until 2011, when Mercedes took in the brand.

Smart ceased to be available in the U.S. after model year 2019.

Isn’t smart Small?

Posted on by

Once small. Not anymore.

By Gary S. Vasilash

When it was first launched in October 1998 the smart Fortwo was small. 2,540 mm (yes, millimeters) long and with a 1,810-mm wheelbase. The name of the car explained the number of people who could fit.

But with time there has been significant inflation.

Speaking of the vehicles offered by the company that is a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes, that is.

(Mercedes designs what are now EV-only models from the marque; Geely does all of the development and engineering.)

And now this. . .

smart has introduced a new model, the #5, a mid-size SUV.

The smart #5. The once innovative purveyor of small city cars is now producing mid-size SUVs like every other company. (Image: smart)

It is 4,705 mm long and has a 2,900-mm wheelbase.

Or nearly twice as long as the original smart.

That increased size is handy in one regard—if you plan to sleep in the #5.

According to smart, the seats can be folded so that there is the ability to create a “king-size, queen-size or single mode sleeping space.”

The #5, which has a range of 740 km (460 miles)—on the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle—could be the ideal choice for Uber drivers who essentially live in their cars.

Given that with the exception of things that have undergone shrinkflation increased size seems to be desirable, perhaps a larger smart is a smart idea. (The necessity of another midsize SUV, however. . .)