0-60 in 22 seconds, only $28,000

[Jesda]

Vehicle: 2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Passion

"So it can't do 65, gets a range of 63-98 miles on a full charge and costs $599/month if you commit to a four-year/40,000-mile lease. That's $28,795 for a car you don't own. The Nissan Leaf, for example, runs $32,780.

But price isn't the point here, performance is. Just how poorly did the little Smart do? Follow the jump to find out..."

Specifications:
Drive Type: Transverse, mid-mounted-electric motor, rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Single-speed direct drive
Battery Capacity: 20 kW (30kW peak with "kickdown" function)
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 89 pound-feet
Steering System: Electric-assist rack-and-pinion
Suspension Type (front): MacPherson strut, antiroll bar
Suspension Type (rear): DeDion axle, coil springs, shock absorbers
Tire Size (front): 155/60R15
Tire Size (rear): 175/55R15
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: ContiPro Contact
Tire Type: All-season
Wheel size: 15-by-4.5 inches front 15-by-5.5 inches rear
Wheel material (front/rear): Aluminum alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 2,082


Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 5.6
0-45 (sec): 11.4
0-60 (sec): 22.4
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 22.1
0-75 (sec): N/A
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 22.0 @ 59.5

Braking
30-0 (ft): 32
60-0 (ft): 120

Handling
Slalom (mph): 53.5 (Only the Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch Crew and Mercedes G550 did worse)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.69 (better than the G550)

Sound
Db @ Idle: 39.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 67.7 (62.5)
Db @ 70 62.5 mph Cruise: 66.5

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightlin ... ssion.html

Horrible.

Edmunds doubled its performance by putting it on a trailer attached to a Ford Raptor.

[darens13]

but some idiot will buy/lease one, and it will be so darn cool because they are saving the planet and letting everyone know it!

[Razi]

Yuck.

As for the Leaf, I saw one in person. It actually looks kinda roomy inside.

[Ace2cool]

Edmunds doubled its performance by putting it on a trailer attached to a Ford Raptor.

Ha!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FG5Khrq1kY&showinfo=0[/youtube]

[Jesda]

Yuck.

As for the Leaf, I saw one in person. It actually looks kinda roomy inside.

If I have to cut my balls off, the Leaf is at least a comfortable and practical way to do it. I like that Nissan made the interior nice, even though its butt ugly.

Leaf is a penalty box with much less of a penalty and a somewhat reasonable price.

[hitbychance]

Edmunds doubled its performance by putting it on a trailer attached to a Ford Raptor.

Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FG5Khrq1kY&showinfo=0

WIN!

[carloslebaron]

but some idiot will buy/lease one, and it will be so darn cool because they are saving the planet and letting everyone know it!

Apparently lots of people are not well informed about this fact, that according to Nasa's observations, the ice caps in most of the planets of the solar system are getting lower. So, isn't planet earth alone the one that suffers such a "global warming".

This fact originates a question, is buying an electric car a good way to "save the planet? and if the answer is yes, then...saving it from what?

[Dattebayo]

Afaik, there are only two planets with ice caps, us and mars. So referring to "most of them" would be silly.

[Bubba1]

Vehicle: 2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Passion

But price isn't the point here, performance is. Just how poorly did the little Smart do? Follow the jump to find out..."

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 5.6
0-45 (sec): 11.4
0-60 (sec): 22.4
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 22.1
0-75 (sec): N/A
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 22.0 @ 59.5
.

At last, a car that a stock 240sx can defeat in a drag race....well...should defeat....

[flohtingPoint]

I normally dont care about street cars, they're pretty much all just a mode of transportation to me, but every Smart car I've driven has been a completely miserable experience. It's one of the few cars I've been in that has given me road rage just from driving it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I almost want to say that cars that slow shouldn't be legal. Good for you, you're "saving the earth." Meanwhile, I'm idling off the line in third gear and still hitting 60mph more quickly than 22 seconds. That's RIDICULOUS. The only thing this car is going to do is get in everybody's way. 5.6 seconds to 30? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? The FourTwo doesn't even weight anything. How the Hell do you make 1600lb SLOW?! You could PEDAL the damn thing faster than that!!!!

Warning to all Smart Electric Drive owners: if I get stuck behind you on the road, I WILL put you in a ditch. First the car, then you. Then I'll plug in my LED flashlight and drain your tiny batteries so you can't get home.

What a mess. It genuinely does NOTHING well. Terrible battery range, no power, no comfort, no handling, no room, and it's not even cheap. It seems like this thing is better competition for a Rascal scooter than a Leaf or any real car. The only target audience conceivable for the thing is people who need something to drive down the driveway to the mailbox.

[Bubba1]

I almost want to say that cars that slow shouldn't be legal. Good for you, you're "saving the earth." Meanwhile, I'm idling off the line in third gear and still hitting 60mph more quickly than 22 seconds. That's RIDICULOUS. The only thing this car is going to do is get in everybody's way. 5.6 seconds to 30? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? The FourTwo doesn't even weight anything. How the Hell do you make 1600lb SLOW?! You could PEDAL the damn thing faster than that!!!!

Warning to all Smart Electric Drive owners: if I get stuck behind you on the road, I WILL put you in a ditch. First the car, then you. Then I'll plug in my LED flashlight and drain your tiny batteries so you can't get home.

What a mess. It genuinely does NOTHING well. Terrible battery range, no power, no comfort, no handling, no room, and it's not even cheap. It seems like this thing is better competition for a Rascal scooter than a Leaf or any real car. The only target audience conceivable for the thing is people who need something to drive down the driveway to the mailbox.

I actually know someone who owns a gas powered Smart, (a woman), and she loves it. I was in it once and was surprised how roomy it was given it's size. It was odd being so close to the rear window. Sure it's anemic and slow, it's a city car. She doesn't care about the performance nor does she care about how well it does on an autocross course. She uses it to commute (short local miles for her) and she runs local errands with it, and she loves the size. She has other cars for her other needs. Could a Toyota Yaris do the same more cheaply, faster, and with a better range? Of course. Thats not why she bought it.

Electric vehicles are obviously niche vehicles, and they only appeal to certain people, with some fairly narrowly defined needs. You and I are clearly not their target demographic but there is a market segment that's interested in them.

I would advise against ramming any Smart car, in an act of vengeance (especially her), well, unless you'd like to spend time in jail, with some large angry inmates lining up to become your proctologist. She has some powerful friends.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm not picking on the gas-powered FourTwo. The only issue I really have with it is the transmission. The harsh-shifting and poorly-tuned automated manual is ill suited to the car's purpose. A regular slushbox or three pedals are a much better option. Or some decent tuning of the automanual; but realistically for an econo...er...shoebox the best bet's a torque converter.

[Dittoz7]

For a sec I saw 60 in 2.2 seconds...hopes shattered.

[sbird1]

I have never wanted to destroy a car more than when I see one of these "Smart" cars. They don't even get that good of gas mileage!!! I'm going to run over some of these new electric ones...

[Bubba1]

You know, there are other cars in the modern era that take 20+ seconds to go from 0-60, and one is a Nissan!

For example:
the 1974 Datsun B210 hatchback took 22.6 seconds (interestingly, the sedan was
quicker 17.9)
the 1973 VW Super Beetle took 23.8 seconds
the 1968 Fiat 850 Idromatic took 23.8

Some other notable slow 0-60 cars:
1980 Audi 5000S Diesel 20.4
1968 Fiat 850 Spider 20.0 (though it was a cute car)
1980 Mercedes Benz 240D 4 speed 19.7
1976 Chevy Chevette Rallye 19.7
1980 VW Dasher (anyone remember them?)
and the explosive 1971 Ford Pinto 18.0

[Dittoz7]

LOL at modern...

[Bubba1]

LOL at modern...

Ha, well I suppose if you were born after 1990, something built in the 70's would not seem "modern", but to baby boomers, who bought those cars new, it does.

[alms24sebring]

^^ I didnt know the 240D came MT. Doesnt change a thing, I still hate them and the sound they make.

What the hell is a DeDion Axle?

Earth and Mars are the only planets with Ice caps (besides Europa) Those are 2 completely different climates too so thats stupid.

And lastly, hey its rear wheel drive. Drop a 1000cc or a Busa motor and have fun with it after you make it fit. Then you can use the electric motor for a lawnmower. Other than that its dead to me. Agreed that the biggest problem is that yeah it has great mpg, but its too slooooooooooow, especially for highway merging. Instant road rage!

[asoomal]

^^ I didnt know the 240D came MT. Doesnt change a thing, I still hate them and the sound they make.

What the hell is a DeDion Axle?

Earth and Mars are the only planets with Ice caps (besides Europa) Those are 2 completely different climates too so thats stupid.

And lastly, hey its rear wheel drive. Drop a 1000cc or a Busa motor and have fun with it after you make it fit. Then you can use the electric motor for a lawnmower. Other than that its dead to me. Agreed that the biggest problem is that yeah it has great mpg, but its too slooooooooooow, especially for highway merging. Instant road rage!

Every MB came standard...it's rare to find an auto Benz in Germany lol

The Smart will do fine for the city, like downtown traffic and such. Should be banned from the highways though.

[Bubba1]

[quote="alms24sebring]
And lastly, hey its rear wheel drive. Drop a 1000cc or a Busa motor and have fun with it after you make it fit. [/quote]

I believe you're thinking of the Smartuki Would be fun to have.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ7OtQgEFOI[/youtube]

[Jesda]

Slow city cars should be treated like bicycles and banned from federal interstates.

[bundy26]

They should only be allowed in amusement parks, the performance if you could call it performance is beyond horrible, I'll stick to my gas engine and if I need to go faster I'll ride my motorcycle.

[alms24sebring]

Smartuki... Yes sir!!

[OriginalWheelman]

but some idiot will buy/lease one, and it will be so darn cool because they are saving the planet and letting everyone know it!

Apparently lots of people are not well informed about this fact, that according to Nasa's observations, the ice caps in most of the planets of the solar system are getting lower. So, isn't planet earth alone the one that suffers such a "global warming".

Or the fact the Earth has bee on a warming trend for over 10k years.
Or the fact that Al Gore was the one pushing all this, then made billions of his "green" funds
Or that Al Gore's friend at NASA was the one giving us all this data that said we were at fault

I used to call myself an environmentalist. Since all this "green" s*** has happened I refused to be associated with the pseudo intellectual hipsters that call themselves environmentalists these days so I'm calling myself a conservationist. They are the idiots that kill the planet with industrial process to get a car that gets worse mileage and has more upkeep than other cars sold by the SAME manufacturer, let alone others. All in the name of "saving the planet".

[carloslebaron]

Afaik, there are only two planets with ice caps, us and mars. So referring to "most of them" would be silly.

I love when people corrects me...muaa muaaa muaaaa!

Here is a link

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Polar_ice_cap

Data collected in 2005 from NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an Executive Branch agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's civilian space program and aeronautics and aerospace research...
missions to Mars show that the carbon dioxide "ice caps" are melting. The most widely accepted explanation is that fluctuations in the planet's orbit are causing the changes.

(To me Pluto is a planet regardless of what others now agree that is not, and Pluto also has ice cap. Now, do the math, from three planets with ice caps, two of them are melting or getting slower: "most of them")

Still can't receive the answer to my question made in base of silliness, when driving an electric car, the driver is "saving the planet from what?"

Who is more silly around here?

My regards.

[alms24sebring]

Nice save. So we should stick a giant rocket to the Earth in the right angle to move us a couple thousand miles further from the sun? Hmm.. I like it!

Pluto is not a planet but the largest Keiper Belt object "Officially". 2nd, the last thing I remember about Pluto is that its atmosphere was methane gas and it is believed to freeze completely when it is relatively farthest from the sun in its orbit. It is also unknown if it officially has has ice caps since there are no clear pics from it.

lol at Al Gore. He's still trying to find man-bear-pig.

[Mr1der]

this thread needs to be raptorjacked.