Orlando Sentinel's view

Seventeen years ago this month, the Orlando Sentinel published its first story about the Smart car, then just a business proposal between Swatch, the Swiss watch company, and Mercedes-Benz. The story said Swatch was at work on a tiny, affordable car that would rock the automotive industry.

And that’s what happened. The Smart car has become the definitive answer to cheap personal transportation in Europe, and the sales network has spread to a total of 36 countries.

Finally, in January, that becomes 37 countries. After one false Chicken Little-like start after another, America will finally get Smart. What finally made the difference was the involvement of Roger Penske, the Detroit automotive magnate known more for his racing teams (Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch are his NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers, and Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish drive Penske’s Indy Racing League cars) than for his business connections.

Penske, one of the most powerful men in the auto industry, signed on as the U.S. distributor for Smart, and when that happened, it was not a matter of if the cars would arrive, but when. After all, Penske Automotive Group operates 311 retail automotive franchises, representing 41 different brands.

Production of the Smart began in 1998 at the lone factory in France, and that same year, Daimler-Benz became the sole owner, with Swatch’s involvement essentially over.

Smart has not yet announced its dealer network, but most of the Smart dealers are also Mercedes-Benz dealers. Florida is getting multiple Smart stores — in this area, we’ll have one each in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville — though quite a few states won’t be as well-served: Georgia gets a Smart dealer only in Atlanta, and Arizona’s lone dealer is in Phoenix.

While there are multiple variations of the Smart, powered by a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, the choice in America is pretty simple: We get three variations of the Smart Fortwo (yes, it’s for two people), all with the same gas-powered engine and transmission.

Last month, pricing was announced: The base Smart For- two is the Pure coupe, starting at $11,590, without shipping fees. It is also without air conditioning and a stereo, but those can be added at very reasonable prices — air, for instance, at just $600. You do get the five-speed automatic transmission, a central remote locking system, four airbags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control.

The next step up is the Passion coupe, starting at $13,590. It gets you air and a sound system, plus a clear “panorama roof,” alloy wheels, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with gear shift paddles, power windows and electric and heated side mirrors.

And at the top is the Passion Cabrio, starting at $16,590, featuring a fully automatic soft top that can be easily adjusted with a push of a button, even while under way. It’s the lowest-priced convertible on the market. Both Passion models can be equipped with an optional “comfort package” which, for $850, includes leather heated seats, electric power steering, rain/light sensors, and auto-off headlamps with exit delay.

So what’s under the hood? Well, not much, just a radiator and windshield washer fluid. The engine is in the very back, under the floor of the cargo area. It’s a 1.0-liter three-cylinder, with 71 horsepower. The EPA has not yet rated the fuel mileage, but Smart says to expect it to be more than 40 mpg in the city and on the highway.

The battery is under the passenger-side floorboard, along with a can of flat-tire sealant and a little air compressor. There is no spare tire, one reason being the front tires (P155/60R-15) are a little smaller than the rear tires (P175/55R-15). I checked several of the largest online tire dealers and found none stocking front tires that size, and one with rear tires that size. Smart dealers will keep tires in stock, as well as the three-lug wheels.

The 2008 Smart, offered in six colors, is as small as it looks — there’s room behind the seats for a golf bag, but maybe not with golf clubs inside. This is, after all, a tiny, tiny car: It’s 106.1 inches long, more than 3 feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. The Smart is 61.3 inches wide, 60.7 inches tall. Weight is around 1,700 pounds.

So what’s it like to drive on the streets of Orlando? It actually works pretty well, though you never forget that you are in what amounts to a Shriner’s parade vehicle, including the looks and attention. There’s plenty of head and legroom for a pair of 6-footers, but the lack of elbowroom reminds you that you’re flying coach, not first class. The little engine won’t win many drag races, but there’s all the power you need up to and including expressway speeds. Smart claims a top speed of 90 mph, but excuse me for not trying to duplicate that data.

Handling is, as you’d expect go-kartlike, and I mean that in a good way. The ride is also similar to a go-kart, and I mean that in a considerably less good way. The short wheelbase makes for a choppy ride, but it’s certainly tolerable. As for parking — well, pretty much anyplace.

Smart spokesman Nick Fanelli is part of a traveling road show demonstrating Fortwos across the country, and he says he and his crew drive them from city to city, including across the Rocky Mountains. Still, it’s likely not that many Smart buyers will be planning multiple long-distance trips — it was designed as a city car, and that’s where it works best. In fact, Fanelli says that there has been a lot of interest in the car from residents of The Villages, the retirement community where the main source of transportation is golf carts. “We talked to one man who has put 4,000 miles on his golf cart. This car would be perfect for him.”

But it may not be perfect for everybody. The list price of the base-model Pure with air conditioning, a stereo and transportation fees should be close to $13,000, and there are quite a few small cars that, with the expected discount, can match that.

They can’t, however, match the Smart Fortwo’s presence and personality.

Fanelli says 30,000 customers have already placed orders. The company has an online “reservation” system where, for $99, you can reserve a car, with the $99 applied toward purchase. The Web site: Smartusa .com.

Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smithcan be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com.