The tiny Smart ForTwo is quickly becoming a cultural landmark.  4WheelsBlog reports, “Since the end of March 2007, the new model of the innovative two-seater has been purchased by a total of 100,000 customers, representing a sales increase of more than 80 percent.”  The car remains “most popular with customers in Italy and Germany, who account for two-thirds of all drivers of the new ForTwo,” but U.S. sales have been so strong that Smart is struggling to keep up with demand, and many U.S. cities may be forced to change their parking regulations to accommodate the tiny coupe.

The New York Times has auto writer John Schwartz blogging about his experience buying and owning the ForTwo.  He notes, “One of the things I’ve written about is the fact that I’ve been waiting for what seems like a long time without any information from the company.”  After ordering the car last March, the dealer has finally notified him that “the car is out of the factory and on its way west.”  He is looking forward to its arrival, he said, because previously, “I’d only owned one truly distinctive car in my life: a 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe that I got in college.”

And, of course, the little car is inspiring all sorts of automotive highjinks.  Wired notes that British auto outfit Fifth Gear recently tested, “the world’s first double-decker ForTwo,” a pair of Smarts bolted together, one on top of the other, to make a four-seater.  “That would be absurd enough on its face, but the fun really starts when [Fifth Gear] puts the car through a battery of tests, including a 50 mph moose avoidance test.”  Wired offers video.

Tuning specialist RENNTECH had fun with the ForTwo on April Fool’s Day.  Autoblog republishes a RENNTECH press release announcing a “twin-engined, twin-transmissioned RENNTECH smart 7.22.  Powered by a pair of fully independent 1000cc smart 3-cylinders producing an astonishing 91 horsepower each at 11,800 rpm,” the release says, “the AWD micro-supercar does 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and tops out at 138 mph.”  It also “emits only potpourri-scented oxygen.”

Whatever it’s appeal, it isn’t performance.  The Smart tops Motor Trend’s list of the “ten slowest vehicles recently tested,” completing a quarter mile in a leisurely 19.7 seconds.

Read about the Smart, and all its competition, with U.S. News’ rankings and reviews of affordable small cars.

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