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Photo: Take a look at the smart car in Providence

Here’s your chance to check out the smart car which is in town as part of smart USA’s “street smart” road show, a national tour to introduce the iconic two-seater to U.S. consumers.

Mercedes-Benz’s smart car, which has sold 750,000 models in 36 countries since it was launched in Europe in 1998, is stopping in Warwick today and near Waterplace Park in Providence tomorrow and Saturday.

I took a short test drive in one this morning with smart rep Kia Goddard and found the car fun to drive and comfortable, even on the highway where it more than held its own. It did not feel unsafe – it has a host of safety features – and, Boy, does it attract a crowd.

Top speed is about 90 mph, while fuel consumption is more than 40 miles per gallon. And it is so short - just over 8-3/4 feet long by about 5 feet wide - that it can be parked perpendicular to the sidewalk!

The road show features 4 smart fortwo cars for test-drives on a closed course, a mobile smart exhibit with interactive displays and virtual safety demonstrations and a safety display – safety is the number one question this side of the Atlantic, according to smart reps – featuring the “Tridion cell” (reinforced steel cage), dual and side airbags, electronic stability program and anti-lock brakes.

The display is open today at the Mercedes-Benz dealership at Inskip in Warwick and at 5 Moshassuck Street near Stillman Street and Exchange Street tomorrow, 12 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m.

- Peter C.T. Elsworth

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Contract talks may change auto industry

What some are calling the most critical contract negotiations ever for the United Auto Workers union and Detroit's automakers open Friday at Chrysler Group headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., according to an analysis by USA Today.

It's expected that this contract may revamp how the industry deals with big issues such as wage packages and retiree health care, as well as smaller ones, such as work rules and break times.

Posted by   at 9:56 AM to Chrysler , commentary | Permalink | Comments 0

GM Tops Toyota in 2Q Global Sales

General Motors pulled ahead of Toyota in global sales for the second quarter of 2007 but remained No. 2 for the first half of the year, according to preliminary figures released by the rival automakers, according to the Associated Press.

GM said Thursday it sold 2.41 million vehicles worldwide in the April-June period, while Toyota said it sold 2.37 million.

Posted by   at 9:52 AM to GM , Sales , Toyota | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil Prices Top $76 a Barrel

Oil prices rose today after news of new violence in southern Nigeria, where police said a Lebanese businessman was shot dead in his home in an apparent kidnapping attempt, according to the Associated Press.

Kidnappings and oil rig attacks have become common in the southern river delta region of Africa's largest crude producer, where oil giants like Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Eni SpA have large operations. The assailants range from militants demanding political concessions to criminal gangs seeking ransoms.

Light, sweet crude for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 19 cents to $76.11 a barrel by afternoon in Europe.

Posted by   at 9:50 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Chrysler, UAW Formally Open Auto Talks

With handshakes and smiles, negotiators from Chrysler Group and the United Auto Workers formally began contract talks today that many consider to be crucial to the survival of Detroit's three automakers, according to the Associated Press.

In reality, talks between the UAW, Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have been under way for months because there are so many issues to address.

Officials of all three have said they need labor cost parity with their Japanese rivals, mainly Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Studies have shown the Detroit automakers make around $2,000 less per vehicle than their competition, with much of that due to labor costs.

Posted by   at 9:43 AM to Chrysler | Permalink | Comments 0