Freaky Gear: SMART Hybrid

[Peter Korsten]

Andrew Robinson schreef:

> Another dead end for Smart, in my opinion, it's just a PR dodge to avoid taxes.
> 
> The hybrid drive barely makes up for the loss in fuel economy when
> they dropped the original high-tec 600/700cc engine and put in a
> rather unsophicticated 1 litre lump a year or so ago. It doesn't do
> anything clever like regenerative braking, and the whole package is
> still shaped like a brick, meaning it's LESS economical than my 5
> year-old Smart Roadster, which is a far, far nicer car (I owned an
> 'normal' smart too, and the roadster is a million times nicer!).

So how are these new 1.5 diesel engines in terms of economy and 
pollution? Renault, for instance, are sticking them in all of their 
mid-sized cars. (Their petrol engines come from Nissan; Nissan uses 
Renault diesel engines.)

- Peter (still on a 1.4 petrol engine)