Of course, it's also the tradename that's been used for several years in Europe for this car. I'd imagine that much of the market demand was started by Americans who saw the thing over there and decided it was very cute (stylish being another meaning of "smart") and-or a good way to solve their mostly-single-pbuttenger urban runabout needs.
The company (which I gather is a scion, not to mention the Scion, of the Benz side of Daimler-Chrysler) has pursued the Eurohipster market with such attributes as interchangeable body panels ("le fresh-up"), some of them in reef-fish colors or grafittiesque patterns. I'd imagine ZAP is hoping for the same demographic here.
British traffic signal lights 1808You're kidding, right? One of the first things any manual tranny driver -should- learn is how to hold a car steady on an incline using JUST the clutch and...
Its other major advantage, besides good gas mileage and whatever ineffable coolitude it does or does not garner in the American mind, is that it can just about park in its own glove compartment.
I don't see it (or the various other high-design urban microcars seen in some foreign countries) really taking over the mainstream of the US market... but I also wouldn't be surprised if, a few years from now, there's a waiting list for the things in urban see-and-be-scene settings and-or anywhere near a college campus.
--Joe
