A Smart Idea

When I was younger there were certain cars that I aspired to drive when I was older; a Porsche, a Bentley or even a BMW. But driving a Smart car never entered the equation. The shape of the car repulsed me, its lack of speed or power seemed mundane (your average smart car had a top speed of 90 mph and went from 0-60 in 12.8 seconds) and the mere notion of having to operate a car in such cramp and confined conditions seemed awful. However, there is no doubt that the smart car is one of the most influential and practical motor vehicles of the 21st century.

The idea of the smart car was first proposed in the 1940’s, with Swiss watchmakers Swatch behind the idea. The main objective of the smart car was to manufacture a car that was easy to park, with designers claiming that three smart cars could occupy the same parking space that one ordinary sized car would take up on its own. Unfortunately, smart were unsuccessful in securing a partner in the companies informative years, as manufacturers such as Volkswagen thought the concept of the smart car would be unprofitable. The company did eventually get off the ground, officially launching in 1994 in conjunction with Daimler-Benz.

The smart car has dramatically risen to prominence in the 21st century, but it is fair to say that smart car’s are seen more as “city” cars. Its popularity in bustling cities such as London is unprecedented, as many people who live in a city would like something small and nippy, easy to maintain and easy to park. Yes, people who may live in an affluent part of London may wish to purchase the latest model of Ferrari, but because most Londoners have easy access to public transport many people will elect to take the train or a bus to work rather than drive, therefore not needing to use a car that often. People who find themselves living in this type of situation are the main target audience for smart cars, as it would comply with their needs and suits their lifestyle. For example, a farmer living in rural England would not want to purchase a smart car, as they would just not be practical for their lifestyle.

The smart car manufacturers have also designed an electric car, called the eSmart. With all the publicity surrounding climate change and many people now wanting to go green, this is, excuse the pun, a smart move. In pollution laden cities like London, many people could be tempted to purchase an eSmart car as it will fit in with their lifestyle (as I discussed above) and will also give them the self-gratification that they are doing something to help the environment.

To conclude, I am not a fan of the smart car in terms of all of the conventional properties that a car offers i.e. the speed, how it looks and what it is like inside. However, I think that the smart car was an extraordinarily innovative idea. It offers a number of benefits to people who live in urban areas due to its practicality, and I certainly think that it is influential in terms of the amount of city dwellers that now buy a smart car. No, the smart car is not fast, visually inspiring or stylish. But it does exactly what it says on the tin, it is a “smart” car.