Smart ROADSTER/ROADSTER COUPE BRABUS
The Revised
Smart Roadster And Roadster Coupe BRABUS Editions Arent Cheap But They Are Fun And Offer A Real Feeling Of Exclusivity - As Andy Enright Explains
Although most would associate BRABUS with monstrously powerful Mercedes models, the German company has also for some time been working its magic on more modest fare. Although smarts roadster and roadster-coupe may not pack quite the punch of their distant cousins with the three pointed stars, theyre in no way deficient when it come to the all-important fun factor.
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Believe it or not, its possible to be a little underwhelmed by a massively powerful car. Even Mercedes 612bhp CL65 AMG seems a little anodyne once the novelty of its warping acceleration has subsided. Some cars however, never get boring. One suspects the
smart roadster and its roadster-coupe sibling fall into that category.
Its all about the level of entertainment the car gives back and these smart models can be bracketed alongside cars like the
Mazda MX5, the
Caterham 7 and the
Lotus Elise in being real world cars that offer a little glimpse for most of us mere mortals into what driving a genuine exotic must be like. The BRABUS editions have been improved of late with a body-coloured front and rear grille and bumper, a re-positioned starter switch integrated at gear level, leather door and cockpit trim, a new central armrest with leather trim and daytime running lights. The engine however, is unchanged, still 23% more powerful than that used in standard roadster or roadster-coupe models, with a power to weight ratio of 120bhp per tonne. Yes, the outright output is still only 101bhp but that all-important power to weight ratio in the same ballpark as cars like a
BMW 320i.
An increase in torque over standard models from 110 to 130Nm has also improved in-gear acceleration times and the top speed jumps from 113 to 122mph. Expect 60mph to arrive in a shade over nine seconds. The extra power gives the roadster and roadster coupe that extra element of satisfaction for the enthusiast driver.
"Drop the roof, savour the vaguely exotic feel of the car and youll have a ball "
You will have to fork out some considerable money for the privilege of ownership, however, the BRABUS roadster opening at £16,995 and the roadster-coupe pitching in at £17,295. Still, in return, you should feel pretty special. The BRABUS versions feature exclusive speed silver paintwork and the package also includes a decent equipment list, with items such as sports suspension, air conditioning and a CD stereo. BRABUS Monoblock 17-inch alloy wheels give the cars an almost cartoonish stance and twin sports exhausts, a deep front spoiler, side skirts and revised radiator grille further distinguish them.
The overall look is akin to the awesome V6 BRABUS roadster prototypes that were recently wheeled out as demonstrators of how much power this chassis was capable of deploying. Inside, the BRABUS models get a leather-trimmed dashboard with alloy effect accents, BRABUS instrument graphics, a leather/aluminium gearknob, an aluminium handbrake handle and pedals and BRABUS monogrammed floor mats. The two cars differ largely in the way they lose their heads. The roadster features an electrically powered soft top along the lines of the smart fortwo cabrio, although a matt hardtop can also be specified.
This model has a notchback boot, in contrast to the roadster-coupe that boasts a high-gloss hardtop with a soft top as an option. Its up to you to decide which you prefer. To this observer, the roadster-coupe looks that little bit more exotic. Dont make the mistake of thinking this is just a smart fortwo coupe with a racy body.
Only 35 per cent of parts are shared between the two cars, although much of the interior will look mighty familiar to existing Smart owners. One thing that is shared is the feeling of space inside. With the three-pot engine behind the driver instead of a pair of useless vestigial seats, cabin room up front is optimised. Elbowroom is the only concern with two burly blokes on board, but otherwise the little smart feels surprisingly, well, big.
Theres more than a hint of old
Porsche 911 from the view ahead, the twin humps of the headlamps allowing you to position the car very accurately. With ESP stability control to save you from the potential embarrassment of planting a 700cc car into the scenery, you soon build confidence in this tiny roadster. The engine whooshes, wheezes and pops behind your left ear and youll need to work the gear lever (or, if you specify them, shift paddles) in order to keep it in that fun zone between 3,000 and 6,000rpm. smart have managed to engineer out much of the ponderous understeer that affects the city coupe quite so drastically, instead concentrating on a more enthusiast-focused set up.
There seems to be hardly any body roll mid-corner and the light weight means that the suspension engineers have been able to reduce the amount of dive and squat when braking and accelerating to create a very fun, stable platform. Perhaps the only fault is that its too good. So intuitive does it feel and so confidence inspiring is the chassis set up that you soon begin to yearn for more power. The
Audi that you left for dust in the last series of bends is soon filling your rear view mirror as the bends turn to straights.
Still, as smart reckon, this is a car where the focus is not purely on reaching the destination but also on the journey there. The smart roadster and roadster-coupe BRABUS editions are enormous fun but are also saddled with a rather hefty price tag. Those looking for white knuckle thrills behind the wheel may well feel that cars like the
Honda Civic Type R and Renaultsport Clio 182 serve up bigger helpings for less. It would be a shame if the BRABUS editions ended up wasted on those buying solely for the aesthetics.
Perhaps a cleverer move would have been to offer the BRABUS styling pack and the BRABUS engine upgrade as options for the standard cars instead of bundling them together as we have here. In summary, fun but pricey.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: smart roadster and roadster-coupe BRABUS editions
PRICES: £16,995 [roadster] / £17,295 [roadster-coupe] on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-14 CO2 EMISSIONS BAND: 126g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.2s / Max Speed 122mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 50mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS, Trustplus, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 2500/1515/1549mm
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