Nissan and Smart have announced a 'memo of understanding' that will have small, Nissan-built, Smart-badged five-seat hatchbacks filling out struggling Smart showrooms by 2012.
The move is part of a vehicle and technology partnership between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan brand and is expected to be on the Nissan Micra / March platform.
The new mini compact will be made exclusively for the US and should be on sale within the next 15-months. Roger Penske, distributor for Smart, said, "We are faced with continuing customer demand for a Smart car with more seating capacity. Together with Nissan, we will bring to market a fully equipped small car for our customers and dealers in the USA. It will fit in well with the Smart brand."
Can a re-badged Nissan Micra save Smart in the US?
nickwilcox says:
11:34 AM, 10/ 7/10
talk about your wide loads... this thing is almost as wide as it is long lol
dougtheeng says:
12:59 PM, 10/ 7/10
There already was a smart forfour in europe, but i don't think it did very well.
mazdamike17 says:
01:03 PM, 10/ 7/10
This looks like a very cheap nissan with smart head/tail lights on it. I mean, it could do okay, but I honestly hate smart, and cringe when I see those tiny things on the road. Now we can see a squared off Smart instead, how enticing!
M/M
firstwagon says:
04:14 PM, 10/ 7/10
"but I honestly hate smart, and cringe when I see those tiny things on the road"
Why?
mazdamike17 says:
06:38 PM, 10/ 7/10
They are just irrelevant. You can get a Yaris or Corolla or Cruze or Civic for slightly more, and have a way safer car... not to mention bigger and safer...
firstwagon says:
07:18 PM, 10/ 8/10
You said safer twice (even though the Smart has proven it's very safe) and bigger isn't better.
You should try driving one (if your ego will allow it). They are a fun runabout and the diesel version (which is most of them where I live) uses half the fuel of the cars you mentioned.
wikiwiki says:
12:42 PM, 10/12/10
Looks cool in concept. Nissan rocks!