Ultimate 125 based on smart fortwo Proves Brabus Can Make a 0.9L Sound Good

The 125 is what happens when you have at least €50,000 burning a hole in your bank account. The money needs to disappear immediately, preferably on something that nobody will ever want when you're done with it. So instead of buying the ultra-fast Mercedes-AMG A45, you get a city car with the wheelbase of a shopping trolley that sounds better than some V6 sedans.

With this video, Brabus hopes to demonstrate the difference between how the 3-pipe exhaust system sounds with the butterfly valve open and closed. And yes, there is a big difference. Once the thing gets going, the pops and bangs strongly resemble those of a Golf R32. The tradition of making 3-cylinder engines sound like V6s dates way back to the smart roadster.

Ever since the third-generation model came out, all fortwo models are powered by two engines, either the 1.0-liter, like the one we tested, or the smaller but less powerful 0.9-liter TCe. It's borrowed directly from the Renault Clio, but placed under the trunk with a 60-degree tilt so that it fits.

Under normal condition, the tiny turbo helps it deliver 90 PS and 135 Nm of torque, but Brabus worked tirelessly until the output reached 125 PS. That's more than the recently launched VW Up! GTI.

When matched to a twin-clutch gearbox, the tiny 125 rockets to 00 km/h (62 mph) in 9.2 seconds on its way to a 175 km/h (109 mph) top speed.

It also comes with lowered suspension, fender flares, new bumpers and a full leather interior that wouldn't look out of place in a Benz. The only problem we have is the €52,800 prices. But exclusivity is not necessarily a bad thing.