Introducing the Pretty But (Not So?) Smart car

Hermès is now in the auto business. Well, at least in the business of making cars look beautiful. Last Thursday, the luxury leather goods company unveiled the tiny Smart Car it designed to celebrate the vehicle's 10-year anniversary. The Fortwo édition Toile cars are available in 10 colours and each is fitted with Hermès leather-covered steering wheels and gear levers, with colours including fuchsia and lime, along with the brand’s original canvas toile H. Prices start at 38,000 euros, or $48,564.

But if you can spend that kind of money on pimping up an economy car, why not put it into something safer? Like a car that won't need to be picked out of the axles of an 18-wheeler should it veer too closely on a rainy day.

Okay, I know they're built stronger than they look, but doesn't a big part of the Smart Car's beauty lie in its financial efficiency as well as its fuel economy? It just seems a little incongruent, is all. Hmm... I guess the luxury brands are finally cluing in that the future isn't going to be about gas guzzling Bentleys. No matter how many Diddy buys. Goof.