Driven to innovation

They were on a waiting list nearly a year and had to drive more than 160 miles to get one, but Martha and Cliff Cempe enjoy their smart car so much they’re using it for 90 percent of their driving.

Sitting at home is their GMC Envoy — literally three times the length of their smart fortwo Passion Coupe, but nowhere near as efficient or able to leave passers-by staring in awe.

“It does cause open mouths,” Cliff said. “That’s why you like to be the passenger.”

Before getting onto the waiting list, the couple first saw smart cars in Paris four years ago.

“I decided right then I wanted one,” Martha said.

After waiting, the Steeles Tavern couple landed what they think is one of the first smart cars in the area (they heard about one purchased sooner in Staunton).

The 98-inch two-seater averages about 40 miles per gallon, which helps the Cempes, who, “live about 20 miles from any place,” Cliff said.

Sales of the smart car began in the early 1990s as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the Swiss watch manufacturer. This year, Penske Automotive Group-owned smart USA began selling the car in the U.S. at 73 dealerships in 35 states. The Cempes bought their coupe in Tysons Corner, near the nation’s capital.

“They gave us about 50 handouts and said there are two options. You stop and talk to the people or give them a handout,” Cliff said. “We’ve run out of handouts.”

He said his wife once “chewed him out” for making a curt list of answers to the questions they always hear. After the gas mileage and comfort questions, many ask about safety and engineering.

“The men hold off until they find out who makes it,” Cliff said.

Martha said their coupe got high marks for safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it top scores for front and side crashes.

The only drawback the couple can pinpoint about the car is how competitive friends and family can be when comparing miles per gallon.

“Nobody,” Cliff said, “has topped us yet.”