http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/ Engadget Comments for Keepin' it real fake, part XXXV: China's CMEC duplicates Smart Car design http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/
example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnP6_J3x7kQ]]>Oct 17th 2006 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/You might as well go around telling people to stop buying used cars because they'll all die.
Don't believe me? Just look at the IIHS crash test rating for the old Rodeo/Passport:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/rating.aspx?id=56

Am I saying that Chinese cars are awesome and safe? Not at all, but this nonsensical Chinese bashing has no real basis because Honda and Isuzu were selling the exact same thing back in 1997. And it's not a copycat-it's a legally licensed clone in that video-the Chinese car company bought not only the design but also the tooling used to make the cars to begin with.

You're equally unsafe driving either the Landwind or going to a used car dealer and buying an old Isuzu Rodeo or Honda Passport.

Chinese cars will get safer in time-whether it's because they'll be able to license 2000's designs soon or whether they'll improve safety themselves. But to link to that video as if it's evidence of lousy Chinese engineering is just plain misinformation.

And heck, plenty of US cars of even recent years were deathtraps. Go look at the crash test ratings for something like a Cavalier, or the 5-door Focus' rear seat, or whatever. Does that mean you shouldn't buy any US-built cars just because I can point out one model that is horribly unsafe?]]>Oct 17th 2006 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/
For $5,000 to knock around the city and run errands it's cheaper than pretty much any motorcycle and about the same price as a scooter. Plus you can use it in the rain or snow, which you can't comfortably on a scooter. At $5,000 this would absolutely sell in NYC, Boston, DC, maybe Miami, and pretty much anywhere densely populated that people could use it as a second car.

This is why I think the Smart is going to fail in the US. At the price DCX is talking about it's too expensive for what you get. You can get a Yaris for the same price, and though it's not as cute it's much more useful.]]>Oct 17th 2006 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/
And then again, my friend got a *very* nice motorcycle recently for about 2 grand. Where do you come up with your terrible prices?]]>Oct 18th 2006 4:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 8:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/As far as 34 mph... Its a fancy golf cart / enclosed scooter. Nothing new except that it LOOKS like the smart.]]>Oct 17th 2006 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 6:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/
The thing is when you are in the thing it doesn't feel small in the slightest, and the fact that you are encased in a bubble impact/roll cage makes you feel damn safe.

Course, I still have a weakness for a Mini Cooper S :)

But I think making this electric with such awful performance is really going after too small a niche I think ... I mean, those people comfortable enough with their masculinity, or not really caring, to purchase the thing was small enough group to begin with (even given the incredibly awesome gas mileage).
]]>Oct 17th 2006 5:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=117126#5
You are right - uglier wheels but otherwise almost idetical from the outside. Interestingly, they still have a gas cap!
]]>Oct 17th 2006 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 17th 2006 6:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/
The Smart cars aren't made for teenagers - but for commuters in an urban area, like me, they're just about the perfect thing, combining good mileage, tiny size [more parking spots!] and an ENCLOSED SPACE. It's pretty much the same as a Vespa - but I won't freeze my arse off trying to keep it going in January.

I admit, I wish the real Fortwo cost the same as the knockoff, though.]]>Oct 20th 2006 9:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 18th 2006 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/17/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxv-chinas-cmec-duplicates-smart-c/Oct 20th 2006 1:49AM