The German-US automaker said Wednesday it will launch the car through a partner -- a company headed by racing legend Roger Penske -- in early 2008. High fuel prices and positive responses from consumers drove the decision.

At 2.5 meters long (8.2 feet) and weighing in at a mere 990 kilos (2,180 pounds), the two-seat Smart car is about half the size of a Hummer, Ford Expedition or other large SUV.

But DaimlerChrysler chairman Dieter Zetsche said the Smart -- which will be offered in three models in the world's largest automotive market -- can hold its own against US muscle cars.

"Times have changed, and urban US streets are becoming increasingly congested," Zetsche told reporters during the announcement.

"Gas prices are also increasing, and we may never see cheap gas again," he added.

Some Smart cars are already sold in the US through unofficial resellers, but Wednesday's announcement designates automotive retailer Penske's UnitedAuto Group as the official distributor for the Smart in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Smart cars have been on European roads since 1998

Some have likened the Smart's appearance to a baby shoe

DaimlerChrysler officials hope to promote the urban microcar as offering a fun driving experience, and have been able to place the vehicle in movies like "The Da Vinci Code," where it was used in a chase scene in Paris, and the remake of "The Pink Panther" starring Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau.

"The time has never been better for this -- and I am convinced that the Smart Fortwo as an innovative, ecological and agile city car will soon become just as familiar a sight on the streets of New York, Miami or Seattle as it is today in Rome, Berlin or Paris," Zetsche said.

The Smart brand, which was launched in 1998, has been a laggard for the automotive conglomerate, and the decision over whether to launch the brand in the largest auto market was heavily debated.

The additional sales volume could help Smart meet its target of achieving profitability.

Zetsche said there was never any doubt over whether Smart would enter the US market, pointing out that the next-generation Fortwo was always designed to meet the safety and crash regulations established in the United States.

The issue that needed to be finalized before the announcement was the distribution plan, which will be handled exclusively by UnitedAuto, part of a company headed by Penske with dealers in 20 states.

The distributor said it would select between 30 and 50 dealers in major urban US markets, along with a few select leisure markets.

Success in Canada

While expecting to sell the Fortwo at less than 15,000 dollars per unit, Penske would not comment on volume targets but noted Smart's recent success in Canada, where the brand was expected to achieve 1,500 units in its first year but ended up achieving more than 4,000 sales.

The Smart car would be among the least fuel-hungry cars on the road. The company says it goes about 90 kilometers (56 miles) per gallon (3.8 liters). That translates to consumption of 4.2 liters per 100 kilometers.