First Drive: Smart ForTwo
Filed under: 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Auto Shows/Displays, Smart
I survived the Smart ForTwo. Or, it survived me!
I never imagined myself driving the Smart ForTwo for one simple reason: I can’t stand the car.
Okay, before you jump all over me, it isn’t a car that I could see myself ever owning, let alone driving. Yet, when the opportunity came up to test drive the diminutive two seater from Daimler, I decided to give it ago. After all, if you are going to criticize something, it better be backed up with some solid reasons!
Wes, the representative from Smart who rode with me, was friendly and very helpful. He explained all about the 1.0L I3 powered car and went over its development, much of what I had heard about previously. Still, I didn’t know that the engine was in the back nor did I know that the car had much of a storage area (12 cubic feet). Whenever I’ve seen a Smart in my neck of the woods (Cary, NC), all I could think of was how awful it would be to be t-boned in that thing!
The ForTwo lurched its way out of the parking garage and onto the streets of downtown L.A. Wes explained to me that the car operated that way in first gear, but once I got out onto the road and could pick up some speed, the awkwardness of the gear shifting would ease. Still, I always felt that their was someone else controlling the car to some extent, reminding me of some of the other manual clutches I had dealt with many years ago.
Interior room is generous despite the car’s eight foot length. Since there are only two seats, all of the cabin space benefits the passengers. Wes mentioned that occupants as tall as 6′5″ would feel comfortable in the car which gives the Smart an advantage over most any other compact (or smaller) car on the road.
I forgot to mention that our Smart was the Cabriolet model so we were able to enjoy the sunny California weather as we made the trip around the Los Angeles Convention Center. The soft top rolls to the rear of the car, much like a sheet would roll to the end of a bed — kind of odd, but we’re talking about basic transportation, not one of Daimler’s other brands such as Maybach.
The one fun thing about the ForTwo is the car’s amazingly tight turning radius. We circled a pole when I drove the car back into the parking garage where I quipped, “wouldn’t it be great if all cars were this agile!” Clearly, the one attribute of the ForTwo that I loved.
The Smart ForTwo delivers 33 mpg city, 41 mpg highway — numbers which aren’t terribly impressive, but then this is a gas powered car. What’s more, with a retail price starting around $12,200, the ForTwo offers a compelling reason why someone might want the car. All I know that it isn’t me — then again, I’m not every driver and neither are you.
First Drive: Honda FCX Clarity
Filed under: 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Auto Shows/Displays, Honda
Yours truly standing by the Honda FCX Clarity, the rarest of all Hondas.
When deciding to make the trip to Los Angeles, I knew that there was one event I just had to take advantage of while there: EcoDriving, the chance to drive at least one of the many “green” vehicles on display.
As it turns out, I got to drive two cars — the Honda FCX Clarity and the Smart ForTwo. The FCX Clarity, for those who never heard of the car is a limited production fuel cell vehicle. Currently, only three cars can be found in the US and all three are located in the L.A. area where three fueling stations exist. One of the cars is being leased to actress Jamie Lee Curtis who pays Honda $600 per month which covers leasing and insurance. Within the next year or two another two hundred cars will be built and leased to select customers in California and Japan.
I won’t get into all of the workings behind the FCX Clarity other than to say that it is hydrogen powered, hence its limited availability. The US does not yet have a hydrogen infrastructure in place which limits the car’s range to 280 miles before it must refilled. The FCX Clarity produces 134 horsepower but 189 lb.-ft. of torque. EPA fuel economy is estimated to be an amazing 79 mpg city/68 mpg highway; what’s more, this is a zero emissions vehicle and quiet like you wouldn’t believe.
The ride is smooth, the seats are very comfortable, and the car handles quite well. Overall, the cabin is very luxurious.
We took it out on the streets of L.A., making about a three mile loop around the convention center. At first I was a little uptight, knowing that Honda paid a significant chunk of money to produce the car. Honda refuses to say what the car cost, but I have heard figures of upwards of one million dollars per vehicle tossed around. My Honda representative said that the car is built on its own platform after I remarked that it looks like a stretch Accord.
I’ll be following up with some additional details about the Honda FCX Clarity, a truly remarkable and beautiful car. I like the style so much that it could make a nice gas-electric hybrid model too. But, it looks as if Honda will concentrate on the hydrogen end of things for now.
(Source: American Honda Motor Company, Inc.)
Kia Gets Themselves Some Soul!
2010 Kia Soul
I take back everything bad I’ve said about Kia. Well, not everything.
Today, Kia introduced the Soul – a Scion-like via with plenty of spark and what Kia hopes will be a whole lot of sales. Radically different from any model ever produced by the Korean automaker, the Kia Soul could be the car to single-handedly change the way people perceive the brand.
Box at the rear but rounded in the front and bottom, the Kia Soul has a look as if it is ready to go places.
If you’re surprised by my enthusiasm for the Soul given my dismissive comments made as recently as 2006 that the Kia Rio was a throw away car, as well as my thumbs down to the Kia Sedona minivan, and a general disinterest in the brand, then you’re not alone. Then again, I doubt that I’m the only one who had an epiphany of sorts today during the Kia news conference at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
To describe the Kia Soul you almost have to mention Scion, Toyota’s youth-oriented brand. But, the Soul has its own edge (or lack thereof in parts), a certain look that won’t confuse the car with anything else on the road.
My favorite color configuration on display at the show. I also liked a Soul with a butterscotch paint finish.
Designed with Generation Y in mind, Kia plans to release the car in early Spring 2009, offering several trim levels with pricing beginning in the teens. This will set the car up to compete against the Scion xB and xD as well as the all new Nissan Cube. Fortunately, the five passenger Soul isn’t as boxy as its competitors, a front engine front wheel drive model powered by a standard 1.6L I4 engine paired with a five speed manual transmission. Optionally a 2.0L I4 engine paired with the same manual gearbox or an optional four speed automatic will be offered.
Kia has been using the tagline “the power to surprise” a lot lately and the Soul does just that. The grill, headlight trim, dash stack trim, side mirrors, and wheels can each be customized, with the intent for young buyers to personalize their cars accordingly. Of the eleven, count ‘em eleven Souls on display, several featured custom paint schemes on the sides of the vehicle or on the hood.
Seats were firm, but comfortable. Even the rear seating offered plenty of legroom and support.
Inside, the cabin is clean and comfortable able to hold my six foot frame with room to spare front and back. I couldn’t count the number of interior storage areas (Kia says that there are 14) and the glove box is amazingly big and deep: a two-tier compartment that can hold all of your stuff.
Though some modern cars have cluttered dashboards, the Kia Soul does not. An attractive three-dial instrument cluster, LCD illumination, and a floating center stack design are significant visual features which offer access to the AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service . Standard auxiliary and USB input jacks also can be found in the center console with full iPod controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls.
Imagine the possibilities with the embedded storage compartment area. Arrange all of your tools, carry groceries, stash away personal stuff, keep prying eyes away.
Yes, the Kia Soul is made for the youngest drivers, consumers with not a lot of cash but still wanting a car that’ll take them places in style. I like the storage area behind the rear seat which, when the cover is lifted, reveals a compartmentalized storage area just perfect for putting in gear of various sizes in each compartment.
Kia is still mum about the price, but says that the Soul will be aggressively priced to attract buyers. This should mean that the Soul will be priced from about $16K with higher trim levels topping out in the low to mid 20s.
I got to hand it to Kia on this one. If the Soul is the beginning of a sea change for the brand, then Kia’s position in the global automobile market will only continue to improve. Worse, if they are seeking to appeal to a younger demographic, then they better be careful: this “mature” car buyer wouldn’t hesitate to consider the Soul, perhaps tricking it out too!
(Source: Kia Motors)
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