Photo: CarPix
smart may have revealed its all-new generation of fortwo and forfour city cars, but their engine range isn't quite complete yet, not without the all-important Brabus models. Going fast might not be all that important in a car the size of a golf kart, but for some people, the Brabus smart is a lifestyle choice and Daimler is only too happy to oblige.
These are the very first photos of the new hot hatchling, spied while it was undergoing testing in Germany. The prototype looks lower than the regular fortwo and it sit on sporty alloy wheels. Around the back, two large exhaust pipes let us know this pocket rocket means business.
So what's that exhaust system lined to? Most likely, it's a turbocharged three-cylinder developed by Renault (Energy TCe 90). We've already seen it on a number of other vehicles, including the new Clio we tested, the Captur crossover and across the whole Dacia model range. Output should be increased from the current 90 PS to above 100 PS. It's worth nothing that the outgoing Brabus packed a 1-liter turbo engine with 102 hp and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds.
Of course, this is a smart, which means the engine is at the back, not at the front like in all those other cars. For the first time ever, Daimler will allow you to row the gears yourself using a five-speed manual gearbox. That, the rear-wheel drive setup and the wider tracks should mean the Brabus pocket rocket will a lot of fun to drive. Transmission choices should also include the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a visible improvement over the jerky automated manual.
Fun little fact, "smart" is short for Swatch Mercedes Art. "So why is there C on the badge and not an S?" we hear you ask. The C stands for compact and the arrow that follows it represents forward thinking. Buying a Brabus is also going to be about going custom and getting a blinged out ride, so expect plenty of color options, bucket racing seats and a dashboard covered in leather.
So what's that exhaust system lined to? Most likely, it's a turbocharged three-cylinder developed by Renault (Energy TCe 90). We've already seen it on a number of other vehicles, including the new Clio we tested, the Captur crossover and across the whole Dacia model range. Output should be increased from the current 90 PS to above 100 PS. It's worth nothing that the outgoing Brabus packed a 1-liter turbo engine with 102 hp and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds.
Of course, this is a smart, which means the engine is at the back, not at the front like in all those other cars. For the first time ever, Daimler will allow you to row the gears yourself using a five-speed manual gearbox. That, the rear-wheel drive setup and the wider tracks should mean the Brabus pocket rocket will a lot of fun to drive. Transmission choices should also include the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, a visible improvement over the jerky automated manual.
Fun little fact, "smart" is short for Swatch Mercedes Art. "So why is there C on the badge and not an S?" we hear you ask. The C stands for compact and the arrow that follows it represents forward thinking. Buying a Brabus is also going to be about going custom and getting a blinged out ride, so expect plenty of color options, bucket racing seats and a dashboard covered in leather.
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