TO THE EDITOR:
The departure of Smart from the U.S. is indeed a sad event. As mentioned in Automotive News, there just isn't much of a market for a very small car in America today. But there should be! We don't seem to acknowledge that we are running out of space in this country — on the coasts and in and around all cities.
The second-generation Smart was a real car; too bad it didn't offer more interesting color combos. Also, going all-electric was a mistake — most city dwellers don't have an extension cord that can get to a car on the street. The infrastructure just isn't there yet.
The Chinese may like long-wheelbase cars, but surely they will realize, as will Americans one day, that short-wheelbase is what we need to preserve road space. Good luck to Smart in that country.
ALISTER W. BELL, Managing Partner, Civic Duty, Annapolis, Md. Civic Duty sells vintage Honda parts.
