Trump says he approved the making of Japanese 'tiny cars' to be sold in the US

[QueerDuck]

39. Lower center of gravity? I know that they are bigger than the Smart Cars in Germany...

... a longer wheel base, I believe. However, I decided to go ahead and check with Google... and here's what I found.

Changes Made for US Street Safety
To be considered street-safe and compliant with US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the US Smart Cars (specifically the ForTwo) underwent several modifications:

Reinforced Door Beams: Aluminum cross beams were added to the doors to improve side-impact protection.

Thicker Crash Bars: The crash bars (impact absorbers) were made thicker to better manage impact energy.

Airbags: The number of airbags was increased, with US models featuring eight dual-stage airbags (front, knee, side/thorax, and window curtain in the coupe) compared to the European versions.

Bumper Standards: The bumpers were modified to withstand 5 mph impacts as required by older US regulations.

Emissions Standards: The engine was adjusted to meet the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards.

Occupant Retention: Modifications were made to address the concern of the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact crash test, which was noted by the NHTSA as a risk for occupant ejection.

Engine & Weight: The switch to a larger 4-cylinder engine and the addition of safety components made the US version heavier and less fuel-efficient than its European counterparts.