2008 smart fortwo First Impressions

New and improved

The technical specifications of the all-new 2008 smart fortwo have been released for quite some time now. Everyone already knows, for instance, that the turbodiesel engine has been thrown out the window, at least for the North American market. Why? Because diesel is not very popular in the United States, where the car will soon make its debut.

For 2008, the fortwo gets visual and technical upgrades.

The wait is finally over, as the new, second-generation fortwo is about to arrive on our shores. Fans of the tiny city car couldn't be more ecstatic while others still are reluctant to embrace the smart.

Anyone who has ever driven the original cannot help but recall their past experiences, sometimes pleasant, other times not. Let's face it: the trendy but radically-styled smart polarized consumers -- either you loved it or you didn't. Its unique driving dynamics and lunchbox-on-wheels design (as some stand-up comics suggested) did not appeal to everyone.

On the road, the smart had hardcore supporters and, obviously, hardcore critics. The sequential gearbox heavily made its presence felt at each shift. The available power was so meager you could almost use a calendar (instead of a chronograph) to clock accelerations from 0 to 100 kph. And passenger room was average at best. In short, the old fortwo was more of a fashion statement than a driver's car.

Revised styling and new trends
I'm not going to talk much about the design, especially since I broached the subject earlier in February. Suffice to say that exterior changes are aplenty but subtle. Inside, however, things are truly different. The dashboard is more conservative and akin to that of most regular small cars. Of course, it retains a few design cues specific to the little smart, such as the high-mounted gauges. Thankfully, the wheelbase has been stretched to offer more interior space for occupants and their luggage. All this being said, the main evolution of this car can be appreciated under the hood and on the road.

The interior of the new-generation smart is more user-friendly.