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Rolling Stone
It is fortuitous that the former American Idol star taking today's test drive in Manhattan is not Ruben Studdard. It would have been impossible for him to fit in the tiny, Swatch-designed, Mercedes-engineered orb known as Smart ForTwo (as in "two seats"). Luckily, today's Idol is Katharine McPhee, this year's runner-up and a petite twenty-two-year-old who could fit comfortably in the car even if she were triplets.
It's curious that Smarts haven't taken off with urbanites the world over. It is the perfect automobile for the city: small, fuel-efficient (more than 40 miles per gallon city and highway) and inexpensive (price starts under $15,000). Although the Smart has undeniable cachet in Europe, the company sold less than 50,000 globally last year. Now, in the wake of megaselling microcompacts such as the Mini and Honda's new Fit, Smart hopes that Europe and the U.S. are finally ready for the ForTwo. The model that goes on sale here in '08 will be a bit larger and faster.
McPhee hops in and surveys the interior, looking over at her passenger. "I forget that we're in a tiny car," she says. "You're a tall guy. You could be six inches taller and you'd be fine." The Smart works a weird kind of voodoo. From the outside, it looks impossibly small. But from the inside, it feels full-size, as if you are piloting a regular sedan -- until you end up next to an actual sedan, and its occupants point and coo as if a baby carriage full of puppies has just pulled alongside.
photo by Justin Borucki
"This is gnarly, yo!" says the L.A. singer, slicing between a delivery truck and a phalanx of cabs. "It feels so good to drive." Today is her first day away from the American Idols tour in weeks. The night before, they played Syracuse, New York; tomorrow it's Hershey, Pennsylvania. When it's over, she'll head back to California and record an album due by Christmas. What will it sound like? "You'll be surprised."
On Eleventh Avenue, McPhee marvels that the car -- propelled as it is by just 60 horsepower -- actually keeps up with traffic. (Though she didn't attempt it, its top speed is said to be 85 mph.) "It drives like a regular car," she says. Soon after, McPhee's publicist notes that Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw would probably drive a Smart. McPhee isn't so sure. "I'm a little high-fashion for this car," she says. "I'd like it with tinted windows, in case people didn't think it was cool." JOSH DEAN
photo by Justin Borucki "This is gnarly, yo!" says the L.A. singer, slicing between a delivery truck and a phalanx of cabs. "It feels so good to drive." Today is her first day away from the American Idols tour in weeks. The night before, they played Syracuse, New York; tomorrow it's Hershey, Pennsylvania. When it's over, she'll head back to California and record an album due by Christmas. What will it sound like? "You'll be surprised."On Eleventh Avenue, McPhee marvels that the car -- propelled as it is by just 60 horsepower -- actually keeps up with traffic. (Though she didn't attempt it, its top speed is said to be 85 mph.) "It drives like a regular car," she says. Soon after, McPhee's publicist notes that Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw would probably drive a Smart. McPhee isn't so sure. "I'm a little high-fashion for this car," she says. "I'd like it with tinted windows, in case people didn't think it was cool." JOSH DEAN http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/12053607/%20wheels06_chamillionaire_rise_against_ben_kweller_tapes_n_tapes_testdrive_the_newest_cars/4 I don.t like that car, because I can.t fit in it,6'3 220lbs, there goes my ride with katharine, car is to small, no protection
Smart Girl, Dumb car! I'm hugely in favour of small, safe, inexpensive, fuel efficient cars. This baby gets one out of 4 - small, way small, and based on how small it is, you'd thing it would be cheaper and more fuel efficient. As to safety? This thing is a death trap. There is no crumple space - nothing to absorb the shock if you hit something in front of you or something hits you from behind. You are dead in this little sardine can.
This is the dumbest car I have ever seen, and I drive an '86 Jeep CJ! (Which is about once a month, the rest of the time I cycle, now there is a smart vehicle, the bicycle.)
Sigh, when is this here album coming out?
IDF posted Kat 's full pic sitting on top of the car in Rolling Stones.