Smart Fortwo

The Smart Fortwo was the only model Smart ever sold in North America — across two generations (2008-2015 W451 and 2016-2019 W453). Originally distributed by Penske Automotive Group's Smart USA subsidiary from 2008, then by Mercedes-Benz USA from 2011. Two-passenger, RWD microcar with a steel 'Tridion' safety cell and interchangeable plastic body panels. Two-cylinder, two-seat, two-doors-only — that's where the Fortwo name came from. The W451 (2008-2015) used a 1.0L Mitsubishi-sourced naturally-aspirated three-cylinder gas engine (70 hp), with a notoriously slow Getrag automated manual transmission as the only option in the US. The W453 (2016-2019) finally got a proper twin-clutch automatic and added a real five-speed manual option — too late to save sales. Smart Electric Drive variants (battery-electric) were sold from 2013, becoming EV-only for the final 2017-2019 US market. Daimler killed the brand in North America after 2019 — total US sales were modest from launch and collapsed in the late 2010s. The whole 11-year US run probably moved fewer than 60,000 cars combined. Now firmly cult curio territory; clean low-mile examples are cheap.