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integraguy
integraguy SuperDork
12/7/11 11:25 a.m.

An online news source is reporting that ....sorry, I'm almost not sure I can believe this, but that of all the car companies on the planet that offer their products on the U.S. market, SMART is about to show a pickup truck intended for the U.S. market. The "tentative" name for this truck is Forus (FOR the U.S. get it?). Said product will be unveiled at the Detroit show.

Her's hoping SMART does a better job this time, of judging what will "work" in the U.S. market.

monark192
monark192 HalfDork
12/7/11 11:30 a.m.

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
12/7/11 11:31 a.m.

God knows we would have never bought Smart Roadsters!!!
Tell ya what, just open up that bed cover as shown here and we can call it a pickup. I will take mine with a cap on the back.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
12/7/11 12:17 p.m.

I'm still amazed we never got the SMART Roadster. I remember the 1st one I saw was on the roof of COBO hall. Silver with Manufactor's plates. funny thing is? that was the year they were showing the Roadster inside during NAIAS.

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
12/7/11 12:33 p.m.

I too sat in and touched one at NAIAS that year and was ready to replace the Miata or at the very least, add it to the Miata. It's not arriving was one of my greatest automotive disappointments.

JoeyM
JoeyM SuperDork
12/7/11 12:35 p.m.

They stopped making them because poor build quality made them unprofitable. (Recalls are expensive.) There have been rumors of them resurrecting the roadster using a Renault chassis

N Sperlo
N Sperlo SuperDork
12/7/11 12:36 p.m.

Old news..

MG_Bryan
MG_Bryan Reader
12/7/11 12:39 p.m.
JoeyM wrote: There have been rumors of them resurrecting the roadster using a Renault chassis

In that case, they should just build these again and call them a Smart. I'd be in line to buy it...

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/7/11 12:50 p.m.

The biggest problem with the Renault Spider was the existence of the Lotus Elise

MG_Bryan
MG_Bryan Reader
12/7/11 12:56 p.m.

The biggest problem I have with it is that I can't legally drive a Sport Spider or an S1 Elise in this country.

Vigo
Vigo SuperDork
12/7/11 12:57 p.m.
The biggest problem with the Renault Spider was the existence of the Lotus Elise

And the fact that they somehow competed in price? I would see THAT as the problem, if true.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/7/11 1:26 p.m.

They were direct competitors - stripped down lightweight mid-engined sports cars. Both were introduced in 1995.

The Lotus was significantly less expensive (£18,950 vs £25,000), lighter (1485 lbs vs 2050 lbs), was faster, had a roof and windshield and handled better.

motomoron
motomoron HalfDork
12/7/11 5:04 p.m.
MG_Bryan wrote:
JoeyM wrote: There have been rumors of them resurrecting the roadster using a Renault chassis
In that case, they should just build these again and call them a Smart. I'd be in line to buy it...

Wirewheel has been trying to sell this one for ages. I defy you to find parts...

MG_Bryan
MG_Bryan Reader
12/7/11 5:17 p.m.
motomoron wrote:
MG_Bryan wrote:
JoeyM wrote: There have been rumors of them resurrecting the roadster using a Renault chassis
In that case, they should just build these again and call them a Smart. I'd be in line to buy it...
Wirewheel has been trying to sell this one for ages. I defy you to find parts...

Eh bien mon salaud. If I could register it, I'd take your challenge. As things are I can't have a car I can't keep plates on.

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon SuperDork
12/7/11 5:53 p.m.
N Sperlo wrote: Old news..

Can't get a 4x8 sheet of plywood in it.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/7/11 5:59 p.m.

Can't fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat in the bed of my Dodge 2500 either, but it's not a small pickup.

T.J.
T.J. SuperDork
12/7/11 8:21 p.m.
N Sperlo wrote: Old news..

An El Festiva...nice.

E_AT_me
E_AT_me New Reader
12/8/11 6:28 a.m.

wouldn't be an El Festiva. would be a Festivero..

failboat
failboat HalfDork
12/8/11 6:40 a.m.
N Sperlo wrote: Old news..

I cant tell if thats real or 'shopped.

There is a Geo Metro a few miles away from me with this treatment. A good 75% of the "bed" is taken up by one of those drop in toolboxes for a pickup truck.

Not sure how thats better than a hatchback but whatever.

rustyvw
rustyvw GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
12/8/11 6:45 a.m.

In reply to failboat:

I've seen that Metro around. It doesn't look nearly as good as the Festiva.

N Sperlo
N Sperlo SuperDork
12/8/11 8:43 a.m.
failboat wrote:
N Sperlo wrote: Old news..
I cant tell if thats real or 'shopped. There is a Geo Metro a few miles away from me with this treatment. A good 75% of the "bed" is taken up by one of those drop in toolboxes for a pickup truck. Not sure how thats better than a hatchback but whatever.

Not shopped. The back was rather sloppily chopped. Theres a more impressive Escort somewhere around StL.

m4ff3w
m4ff3w GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
12/8/11 8:46 a.m.

fast_eddie_72
fast_eddie_72 SuperDork
12/8/11 8:47 a.m.
Keith wrote: The Lotus was significantly less expensive (£18,950 vs £25,000), lighter (1485 lbs vs 2050 lbs), was faster, had a roof and windshield and handled better.

Yeah, but other than that...

foxtrapper
foxtrapper SuperDork
12/8/11 9:40 a.m.

The Subaru Baja, the Ford Explorer Sport-trac.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
12/8/11 9:45 a.m.
N Sperlo wrote:
failboat wrote:
N Sperlo wrote: Old news..
I cant tell if thats real or 'shopped. There is a Geo Metro a few miles away from me with this treatment. A good 75% of the "bed" is taken up by one of those drop in toolboxes for a pickup truck. Not sure how thats better than a hatchback but whatever.
Not shopped. The back was rather sloppily chopped. Theres a more impressive Escort somewhere around StL.

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