Dec
smart’s pocket rocket
by admin in FORTWO
THERE aren’t many cars powered only by a 700cc three-cylinder engine that you can justifiably call a pocket rocket.
An exception is the Smart roadster and roadster coupe – particularly when they have been souped up by joint venture company BRABUS. It is their wizardry that manages to transform a modest little two-seater into something able to compete on equal terms with cars twice its size.
According to the company, the BRABUS ethos is “to offer fans of leading edge design and technology the ultimate in exclusive and sporty products”.
Well, it certainly revives the spirit of the small, light, low-cost, low powered roadsters of the fifties and sixties, but with 21st century safety and reliability.
It’s great fun although the steering can be a little sluggish to react and gives too little feedback. The semi-auto gearbox is also a little hesitant in full self-shifting mode.
With just over 100bhp from its mid-mounted turbocharged engine, lightweight construction and high levels of grip, the tiny Smart coupe is a highly entertaining package.
Even before you drive it, it’ll grab your attention with its funky styling, squat looks, and wheels pushed out into the corners – making it unashamedly appealing to those buyers who place fun before everything else on their priority list.
The coupe, which costs just under £17,000, comes with a large glass hatch for luggage, complementing the surprisingly roomy front boot.
The interior is as stylish as the exterior. Oddment storage is restricted but I am not sure where they could add any in.
Performance is brisk rather than sensational but I’ve rarely had such fun at such sensible speeds. A 0-62mph time of 9.8 seconds is hardly orgasmic, nor is a top speed of 119mph, but when you remember that the swept volume of the three-cylinder turbocharged engine is only seven tenths of a litre, the word “impressive” springs to mind..
Even more impressive is the sense of speed generated by the ultra-low driving position and the roadster’s apparent ability to take bends at straight-line speeds. The sports suspension is quite firm but not to the extent of being uncomfortable.
Roof on or off, the sound signature of the lively powerplant constantly assails the consciousness. Most of the noise comes from the 17-inch alloys clad only on thin rubber.
They clatter quite a lot on sharp bumps and they provide a constant backdrop of black noise on all but the smoothest of surfaces so it can be difficult to hear the stereo and conversation with a passenger sometimes has to be almost shouted.
You get plenty of kit as standard, including electronic stability control and braking aids, two airbags, air-con, electric power steering and a good stereo/CD system.
The interior features a leather trimmed fascia, alloy-effect panels, neat instrument graphics, aluminium pedals and BRABUS floor mats
- Alistair Coull
EXCLUSIVITY, especially in the world of cars, is a much-sought commodity – which only a lucky few acquire.
The Smart Brabus models are a case in point, as DaimlerChrysler UK Smart intend only to ship in a few hundred of these very desirable, fun and sporty machines.
Things may change, but for the moment limited supplies in the UK will strengthen the kudos of the Smart roadster Brabus and coup̩ Brabus which have taken pole position in the design scheme of things in this sector.
Their unique profiles, like the Smart forfour, have gone down a storm: individuality rules the day. And when such originality is matched by across-the-board interest, the manufacturer cannot go wrong. Such is the case with the Smart pocket rockets.
While they may not equal the out-and-out 0-62mph dash of close rivals, they provide a verve and zest that cranks up the driving experience in other ways.
The Smart roadster-coupÌ© Brabus on test showed that its three-in-line cylinder engine could deliver the goods. The 698cc unit punches out a commendable 101bhp, but its sprint to 62mph isn’t breathtaking at 9.8 seconds.
Nevertheless, the amazing grip and handling of the coup̩ make up for the less than inspiring sprint figures with an impressive performance that speaks volumes for the agility of this little sporty two-seater.
The electric steering, again, doesn’t over-inspire. It fails to transmit the information you would like to have relayed to the fingertips, but the coupe feels great in other respects.
The semi-automatic sequential six-speed transmission is different. The coup̩ actually responds better, certainly more smoothly, using the manual paddles mounted on the steering wheel and when you become familiar to the system.
The paddles are easy to use and enhance the driving experience. In automated form, progress through the transmission is hit and miss and kickdown often jerky.
Despite these reservations, the Brabus-tuned coup̩ proved a treat to drive. The fun is in the handling and cornering and the rear-wheel-drive Smart felt safe, assisted by the electronic stability program and ABS.
The Coup̩ has a top speed of 119mph, yet it can return an amazing combined fuel figure of 53.3mpg. Even in town it manages 43mpg; on extra-urban cycle it can achieve 61.4mpg.
These kind of fuel returns are rarely seen in a sports model specification and, with its relatively cheap price tag of £17,000, the CoupÌ© Brabus is setting new criteria in this market segment.
Add to this low emissions, which puts the two-seater in the 15 per cent company car tax band, and the whole package is quite amazing.
Sports suspension is firm but not harsh and helps ensure the Coup̩ maintains good road adhesion, along with the electronic stability program and the hydraulic brake assist, which further improves safety.
A high degree of protection is provided by the tridion safety cell but the safety aspects don’t dull down the fun and certainly not the image of the CoupÌ© Brabus.
It is one of the best-looking two-seaters in its class – and beyond – and its two-tone livery and 17-inch alloys make it look every inch the leader of the pack.
The Smart car has pedigree quality from nose to exhaust pipe and, as a limited edition, maintaining high residuals will never be a problem.
- Val Jessop
FAST FACTS
Smart Roadster Brabus
Price: £16,695
Mechanical: 101bhp, 698cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via automatic gearbox
Max speed: 119mph
0-62mph: 9.8secs
Combined mpg: 54.3
Insurance group: 14
CO2 emissions:122g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 6yrs anti-rust
Dec
smartfortwo Grandstyle coupe
by admin in FORTWO
THERE is a section of the market that demands high standards of luxury in smaller cars.
This is not new because BMC did it in the 1960s with the Vanden Plas Austin 1100. But in the rarified atmosphere of the modern marketplace some quite unusual models come in for the grand treatment.
One such is the Smart fortwo, the diminutive little car that started life as a bold fashion statement and set the market agape with its bubble-on-wheels approach to everyday driving.
When the Smartcar fervour died down the market saw this little car being popular to a specific sector and in recent times it has needed a boost to broaden its appeal.
So along came the Smart fortwo grandstyle, yet another way of expressing your individuality on the road.
This is a Smart with the five-star treatment that comes in three colour combinations including racing green.
But it is in the interior that the luxury touch takes off with beige leather seats and a special flow-silver treatment for components.
The grandstyle entered the market in April and is available in coupe or cabriolet forms. I recently took to the road in the coupe which even includes heated seats and is in the showrooms at £8,480. The cabrio is more expensive at £10,280.
It is available with an optional audio package including a radio and CD player with MP3 connection, enabling the connection of external audio devices, additional speakers and a CD holder.
Life with a Smart is unusual. In the vein of Mr Spock of the starship Enterprise: “It’s motoring but not as we know it.”
With wheels at the extreme corners, a fair sized middle, a sharply cut off rear and hardly any front end, the whole car looks the stuff of story books. But the design does work.
Life and soul of the party is the three-cylinder 61bhp turbocharged engine which, linked to the Smart electronic transmission gives this tiny car punch-in-the-back characteristics from a standing start, although the ‘oomph’ tails off the faster you go.
The almost leisurely 0-62.5 mph figure of 15.5 is correct but does not give an indication of the 0-30mph nippiness of this car. The power cuts in instantaneously and it is wise to be ready for it.
I found that this, the most powerful Smart fortwo was leaving most family cars behind at traffic lights – but the startled Fords and the like soon swept past as the Smart’s power started to fall away.
It’s probably the most fun town car on the market, is a doddle to park and takes up a tiny amount of space. Everyday driving is a lot of fun with fresh air ducts resembling Daleks keeping the small cabin well-ventilated.
Even for a fairly large person there is ample room inside the Smart. I was surprised how comfortable it is, but boot space is tiny. Just about right for a briefcase and a carrier bag, it would certainly struggle with luggage for two.
I have no problem with the size of the Smart, but I do wish the manufacturer would give it a slick manual gearbox. The electronic sequential-shift/automatic set up it has just does not do this little car justice.
A ‘hill-holder’ for starting the car on a slope without rollback was just too sticky and there was lack of accelerator feel plus slumps of power on automatic gearchanges.
These are are features I found that held this little firecracker back in a very discerning marketplace.Other than that, the Smartfortwo grandstyle is luxury fun for two on wheels.
FAST FACTS
Smart fortwo Grandstyle coupe
Price: £8,480
Mechanical: 61bhp, 698cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via a 6spd sequential auto gearbox
Max speed: 84 mph
0-62 mph: 15.5 secs
Combined mpg: 60.1
Insurance group: 3
CO2 emissions: 118g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited mileage; 6yrs anti-rust
Dec
How to leave ‘em smart-ing
by admin in ROADSTER
WHEN the Smart car first arrived on the scene, it turned heads for all the wrong reasons – it was not the most attractive thing on wheels and tended to bring a bit of a smirk to the face of onlookers.
But as sales exceeded all expectations, the model with a huge Mercedes-Benz influence has not only become acceptable, but has even branched out into the convertible field.
In fact, the Smart Roadster supplied for the test drive boasted all the mod cons one might expect from a top-of-the-range model, but at an affordable price – £13,513.
It has all the safety kit expected like Electronic Stability Program, driver and passenger airbags, Hill Start Assist and Hydraulic Brake Assist to name but a few.
But there’s no getting away from the fact that despite the big car features, the car does feel small and somewhat cramped at times, which leaves the driver feeling a little vulnerable, especially when belting along the open road next to monster-sized juggernauts.
That aside, this is a fun-sized vehicle with quite a bit of spark and which boasts great acceleration and road-holding abilities. It has sports seats, a CD player and a leather steering wheel, plus the option of a paddle gear change on the steering wheel or fully automatic driving.
Economically, the Smart Roadster is a wise choice with excellent fuel economy due to its compact size and light weight.
And buyers can even purchase special made-to-measure luggage that fits into the nooks and crannies that pass for storage space.
Despite being a little on the claustrophobic side – especially on a dark, wet and windy day – the little Smart is a fun drive and especially buzzy around town. However after a lengthy spell in the cockpit, a visit to the osteopath is advisable!
FAST FACTS
Smart Roadster
Price: £13,513
Mechanical: 80bhp, 698cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via semi-automatic gearbox
Max speed: 109mph
0-60mph: 10.9secs
Combined mpg: 55.4
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: – 122g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles; 6yrs paint; 1yr anti-rust
Nov
Four firsts for forfour
by admin in FORFOUR
THE Smart range has gone from strength to strength with the new forfour
This is the first Smart with four seats and five doors; first Smart with a diesel engine in the UK; first manual gearbox in a Smart and featured in the first UK terrestrial TV advertising campaign
Customers can choose from a range of five powerful engines, including two responsive diesel engines built by Mercedes-Benz.
The lively 1.1-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine in pulse trim is available from £8,995, rising to £12,370, for the three-cylinder 1.5 cdi (95bhp) in passion trim.
The range also features a manual gearbox for the first time, while still offering Smart’s softouch automated gearbox as an option.
As well as offering 30 exterior colour combinations, the Smart forfour’s innovative and versatile interior offers a high degree of functionality combined with the emotional appeal common to all Smart models.
Customers can choose from two design and equipment lines: the entry level pulse version and the top of the range passion model.
In keeping with the high level of innovation customers have come to expect from Smart, all the available engines in the Smart forfour offer a much higher horsepower from a small cylinder capacity engine, than many of its competitors.
For example the Smart 1.1-litre petrol engine gives the same output as some competitors’ 1.4-litre engines, whilst offering better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
Since the Smart brand was launched in the UK in 2000, Smart sales growth has been consistent and is currently 15 per cent ahead of last year, before the launch of the Smart forfour.
Smart forfour joins the range of Smart fortwo and roadster models to complete one of the most innovative ranges on the market.
Nov
Smart’s grand design
by admin in FORTWO
Smart is thinking big by introducing a limited-edition version of its diminutive fortwo model called grandstyle.
The company says it is for those who want to stand out from the crowd and express their individuality.
It comes in a choice of three colour combinations including racing green metallic. The interior has beige leather trim with heated leather seats and a black leather-effect instrument panel.
Prices are £8,480 for the coupe and £10,280 for the cabrio.
Also available as standard is an audio package including a radio/CD player with MP3 connection, additional speakers and a CD holder.