Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 


Smart line-up gets the Brabus treatment. Image by Smart.

Smart line-up gets the Brabus treatment
Smart Brabus models have 109hp and 170Nm, and can do more than 100mph.
<< earlier Smart article     later Smart article >>

 


News homepage -> Smart news

What's all this about?

The latest development in Smart's 12-year association with masters of mentality, Brabus. Usually known for turning out 200mph E-Class monsters, Brabus has instead been asked to spice up the Fortwo, Fortwo Cabrio and Forfour models.

What has it done - dropped a V8 in the rumps of all three of them?

Umm, no. Instead, it has got to work on the 0.9-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged motor found in the current most powerful Smarts. A few key upgrades have been enacted though: there's a Brabus Sports exhaust with reduced back-box pressure to help the engine exhale; fuel pressure is up to two bar; and the air supply to that tiny triple is increased. Brabus also recalibrates the steering, the automatic gearbox and the ESP for the extra grunt, while fitting its 20 per cent stiffer Performance Sports springs and dampers, plus a larger front anti-roll bar to reduce lean by up to nine per cent.

Sounds impressive. What sort of power are we talking about?

A thumping 109hp at 5,750rpm and 170Nm at 2,000rpm. This is a 19hp/35Nm increase on that existing 90hp 0.9 already in the range, and it's also 7hp and 23Nm up on the previous-generation Smart Brabus, making these latest models the 'most powerful standard Smarts' yet built. All three are equipped with the Twinamic dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which now has 40 per cent faster response times, shorter ratios and a launch control 'Race Start' function, thanks to Brabus' know-how.

And what's the resulting performance data?

Pacey, for a Smart. The Fortwo hardtop and Cabrio models both do 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds, before topping out at 103mph (that's significant, as no existing Smart can crack 100mph). Looking at the 90hp models, the Coupé takes 11.3 seconds and the Cabrio 11.7 seconds to do 0-62mph, so either Brabus version is around two seconds quicker than its regular equivalent.

How about the Forfour?

Not quite as punchy off the mark, taking a whole second longer to hit 62mph from rest at 10.5 seconds all-in, but it's quicker flat out, with a 112mph top speed.

How does the Brabus work affect fuel economy and emissions?

It's enough to knock all versions of the Smarts out of the sub-100g/km CO2 category that usually makes them attractive in terms of various taxes. However, the Brabus models aren't totally profligate, all sitting in VED Band B: the Fortwo does 62.8mpg and 102g/km, while the Cabrio and Forfour examples are a touch behind at 61.4mpg and 104g/km.

Can you talk me through the styling changes?

The Brabus Smarts have two chrome-finish exhausts spaced either side of a matte grey diffuser at the back, while in the wheel arches are similarly matte grey Brabus Monoblock IX light alloy wheels. On the Fortwo twins, these are 16-inch items front and 17s rear, on 185/50 R16 and 205/40 R17 rubber respectively; for the Forfour, the rear wheels and tyres are identically sized, but the front wheels are 17s also, wearing 185/45 R17s. In the pictures you'll notice all the cars are one colour, with their Tridion safety cells blending into the rest of the Smart's body panels, although whether this is standard or not remains to be seen. Finally, the Fortwo and the Forfour Brabus models get a panoramic roof above the occupants; the Cabrio obviously already has this sort of sunshine-driving covered as it is.

And inside?

Difficult to say. Smart says standard Brabus equipment includes a lockable glove compartment, the Cool & Audio package and the proximity warning function. However, there's an Xclusive trim upgrade available on all three cars and it adds a lot of the stuff we would have expected in a Brabus model anyway, such as Brabus sports seats with perforated Nappa and black leather seats with grey topstitching; a Brabus instrument panel clothed in man-made leather and fabric; Brabus dials in the instrument cluster, as well as for the clock and rev counter pods; Brabus floor mats; Xclusive badges on the outside, in the mirror triangle and on the B-pillar; the LED & Sensor package; heated seats; and, in the Forfour alone, a 'readyspace' function featuring rear seats with a removable cargo box. For this little lot, in Germany it adds €3,000 (around £2,365) to the price of any Brabus.

Ah, prices - will you expand on those, please?

Well, interestingly enough, German prices start at €19,710 for the Fortwo Brabus, rising to €25,970 for the Fortwo Cabrio Brabus Xclusive. That makes all these full-power, fully loaded Brabus models considerably cheaper than the recently announced Brabus Edition limited Smart Cabrio model, of which 200 will be sold at an astonishing €29,950 apiece. So while we're not sure on UK prices as yet, it's clear to see that the 109hp Brabus models should all retail for less than £20,000 once they make it to our shores. On that note, following a Beijing Motor Show debut, the Smart Brabus cars should be in European showrooms by July.



Matt Robinson - 24 Apr 2016


2016 Smart Brabus. Image by Smart.2016 Smart Brabus. Image by Smart.2016 Smart Brabus. Image by Smart.2016 Smart Brabus. Image by Smart.2016 Smart Brabus. Image by Smart.








www.smart.com    - Smart road tests
- Smart news
- images






Smart updates its electric range. Image by Smart.
Updated Smart range
All-electric Smart line-up gets new look and tech.
 
Smart reveals new Forease concept. Image by Smart.
Smart reveals new Forease concept
The Smart Forease marks 20 years of the brand's existence.
Brabus makes 125hp Smart. Image by Brabus.
Brabus makes 125hp Smart
'Pocket Rocket' city car from Merc's mad tuners.

 
 215 Racing
 9ff
 A. Kahn Design
 Abarth
 Abt
 AC Cars
 AC Schnitzer
 Acura
 Aehra
 AIM
 Alfa Romeo
 Alpina
 Alpine
 Amari
 APS Sportec
 Arash
 Arden
 Ares
 Ariel
 Arrinera
 Artega
 Ascari
 Aston Martin
 Atalanta
 Atomik
 Audi
 Austin
 Auto Union
 Autodelta
 Autofarm
 Autosport
 AVA
 Avatar
 Axon
 Aznom
 BAC
 BAIC
 Bentley
 Bertone
 Bizzarrini
 Bloodhound
 Bluebird
 BMW
 Bosch
 Bowler
 Brabham
 Brabus
 Breckland
 Bridgestone
 Brilliance
 Bristol
 Bugatti
 Buick
 Burton
 BYD
 Cadillac
 Callaway
 Callum
 Caparo
 Capstone
 Carlsson
 Caterham
 CCG
 Chang'an
 Changfeng
 Chevrolet
 Chevron
 Chongfeng
 Chrysler
 Citroen
 Climax
 Connaught
 Cooper Tires
 Corvette
 Cummins
 Cupra
 Dacia
 Daewoo
 Daihatsu
 Daimler
 Dartz
 Datsun
 David Brown
 David Brown Automotive
 DDR
 De Tomaso
 Delta
 Detroit Electric
 Devon
 Dodge
 Donkervoort
 Drayson
 DS
 Eagle
 Eagle E-type
 EDAG
 edo competition
 Eterniti
 Everrati
 Evisol
 Exagon
 FAB Design

 
 Factory Five
 Faralli & Mazzanti
 Fenix
 Fenomenon
 Ferrari
 Fiat
 Fisker
 Ford
 G-Power
 Geely
 Gemballa
 General Motors
 Genesis
 Ginetta
 Giugiaro
 Glickenhaus
 GMC
 Goodwood
 Google
 Gordon Murray
 Gordon Murray Automotive
 Gordon Murray Design
 Gray Design
 Great Wall
 GTA
 GTM
 Gumpert
 Hamann
 Hartge
 HBH
 Heffner Performance
 Hennessey
 HERE
 HiPhi
 Holden
 Honda
 Hulme
 Hummer
 Hyundai
 I.D.E.A
 Icona
 IFR
 Infiniti
 Ionity
 Isis
 JAC
 Jaguar
 Jeep
 Jensen
 Jetstream
 JJAD
 Joss Developments
 Kahn
 Kamala
 Keating
 Kia
 Koenigsegg
 KTM
 Kumho
 Lada
 Lagonda
 Lamborghini
 Lancia
 Land Rover
 Lexus
 Liberty
 Lightning
 Lincoln
 Lister
 Loma Performance
 Lorinser
 Lotus
 LupiniPower
 Luxgen
 Mahindra
 Mansory
 Maserati
 Mastretta
 Maybach
 Mazda
 McLaren
 Mercedes
 Mercedes-AMG
 Mercedes-Benz
 Mercedes-Maybach
 Mercury
 Metrocab
 MG
 Michelin
 MINI
 Mitsubishi
 MMI
 Monte Carlo
 Mopar
 Morgan
 Mosler
 MTM
 Munro
 NAC MG
 Nichols Cars
 Nissan
 NLV

 
 Noble
 Novitec
 Opel
 Overfinch
 Pagani
 Perodua
 Peugeot
 Piaggio
 Pininfarina
 Polestar
 Pontiac
 Porsche
 Praga
 Preview
 Prodrive
 Project Runningblade
 Project Velocity
 Proton
 Protoscar
 Qoros
 Radical
 Range Rover
 Red Bull
 Renault
 Reva
 Rimac
 Rinspeed
 RoadRazer
 Rolls-Royce
 Ronn Motor Company
 Rover
 RUF
 Saab
 SAIC
 Saleen
 Saturn
 Scagliarini
 SCG
 Scion
 SDR Sportscars
 SEAT
 Sin
 Singer
 Skoda
 Smart
 Soleil
 Spada
 speedArt
 Sportec
 Spyker
 SRT
 Ssangyong
 SSC
 Startech
 STaSIS
 Subaru
 Suzuki
 Suzusho
 TAD
 Tamiya
 Tata
 Techart
 Tesla
 The Little Car Company
 THINK
 Thunder Power
 Tojeiro
 Tommy Kaira
 TomTom
 Toray
 Toyota
 Trabant
 TranStar
 Trident
 Tushek
 TVR
 TWR
 UKCOTY
 Vanda Electrics
 Vauxhall
 Velozzi
 Vencer
 Venturi
 Veritas
 Vizualtech
 VL Automotive
 Volkswagen
 Volvo
 VUHL
 WCA
 WCotY
 Webasto
 Westfield
 Wiesmann
 Xenatec
 Yamaha
 Zagato
 Zarooq
 Zeekr
 Zenos
 Zenvo



 
 






External links:   | Irish Car Market News |

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©