Production of the Smart Roadster and Coupe will resume 12 months from now, Project Kimber announced today. The British consortium acquired the rights to the two ultra-compact cars from DaimlerChrysler in February. Chrysler decided to sell the rights to the cars after it discontinued them last year. The new cars will be slightly reworked versions of the original models. Production will likely take place in South Wales, the company said. Project Kimber hopes to build about 8,000 cars per year. So far, there has been no word of U.S. availability. Project Kimber was founded by businessman David James. It attempted to acquire the rights to MG last year, but eventually lost out to the Nanjing Automobile Company.
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07/20, 10:30 AM
posted by:
Piablo
Now, I am not trying to throw this in the face of all those who loathe SUVs and big vehicles, but this article is a case in point. If Daimler-Chrysler couldn’t even sell the Smart car in Europe and Asia, what makes you think something like that will sell here in North America? There is a very very small market for tiny cars. The only place I can see these selling are places like Key West, Fl where everyone rides around on scooters and mopeds.
This poor British guy is going to lose his butt.
07/20, 10:47 AM
posted by:
al
actually the market for small cars is growing. Right now you dont really see many but if you pay attention Ford allready is trying to build smaller cars and with the gas prices going up small cars are the answer to the future. Wait another 10 years and you will see that cars will be a lot smaller, most will be hybrids of some sort too, and gass prices will be up on the roof.
07/20, 10:59 AM
posted by:
Adam
#1, This car is slightly different than most small cars includung the “standard” Smart car. This was a pretty impractical sports car that would appeal only to a select few people who are more in tune with Colin Chapman rather than the Sierra Club. There is just not much of a market for that anywhere. I realize that the Smart brand is not a profitable brand, but It think using the Roadster is not a good argument against city cars. All that said…
I am very hapy to hear that this car will be going back into production. I have seen these in person and I am the type of person who would be all about this car. I don’t need horsepower (though it doesn’t hurt), just a light weight, efficeint, simple and good handleing car.
07/20, 11:07 AM
posted by:
Don
Things go in cycles…
Right now, the market is swinging back toward small, 2-seater roadsters that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
I love my MR2 Spyder becausr it’s lightweight, economical at 30+MPG, a screamer through the twisties, and comfortable enough for a cross-country tip as I did last year.
07/20, 11:09 AM
posted by:
posters on this blog are a joke
DAMN DAMN DAMN
i want this car
07/20, 11:24 AM
posted by:
JS
The Brabus in black looks great.
07/20, 12:26 PM
posted by:
Thing2
I think this is a better choice than the no fun two seater Smart ForTwo. While the ForTwo probably gets better mileage by a gallon (not to say this car doesn’t get great mileage either), at least in this, you can have fun and look good. Also, this would be a hit among younger buyers. While the ForTwo may be slightly more economical, people buy cars because they want one over another, and when numbers are close, you buy the one you’re more passionate about even if it may be slightly less in a certain field than the other car.
07/20, 3:19 PM
posted by:
Jimbo — Gulph Mill$
audi a3. bmw 1 series. volvo c30
one of which willl be mine.
play ball.
07/20, 3:44 PM
posted by:
Piablo
#2 and #3, I should have clarified my comment better… I am really talking about ALL small cars. The Fits, the Smarts, The Yaris, as well as this roadster. The market is getting better, I agree. But these vehicles will not make a dent, even a knick in the overall market or overall gas consumption. It’s not so easy to just say, ’since gas costs so much, everyone should buy a smaller vehicle’. The size of the American vehicle goes way beyond simply liking the rumble of a V8, or having a commanding view of the highway, or having the money to buy what you want. It’s society. Ever take a roadtrip? Do you have a 1 hour commute each way from work and home? Do you have a family of 5? And extended family and visiting relatives? Or who tows a boat to go fishing, or jetskiing, or snowmobiling. The only way these small cars will ever take off, is if middle America is able to afford one as a 2nd vehicle. The rich don’t care because they can afford what they want. But the majority of us, the ones who really would make a dent in the market, would only have it as a 2nd vehicle. So it needs to be less than $10k. Not too many vehicles out there for less than $10k with good enough milage to persuade me yet.
It’s mathematics. How much are we spending on gas a year…Then, how much would a car payment be for one of these new cars… then, IF the payments are somehow less than my gas bill, once I am gassing this 2nd vehicle up will I save any $$. So that car payment has to be pretty cheap, because these cars are not going to sell themselves on any sort of fun factor.
07/20, 8:19 PM
posted by:
Rich
I was just in Europe for the first time, and saw an amazing selection of tiny cars. Now that our gas costs is what their was, it would be nice to have a motorcycle alternative for those of us up in snow country. Somthing we could enjoy more than on the dry days three months of the year. I am 6′1″ and could fit in a fourtwo for the 6 1/2 mile commute to work.
I had a Honda 600 (That was a very small car)and drove it ’till it fell apart. Old Hondas did not do well in salt. I hope we get some of these cars past the saftey people so we can save some money.