When the Smart Fortwo launched in the U.S. in 2008, the two-door minicar was fitted with only a 70-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, a wimpy powerplant that underscored the cutesy stereotypes that the Smart’s shape evoked.
It was a fitting city runabout, able to squeeze into parking spots where none seemed to exist. But sporty it wasn't.
The new 2016 Smart Fortwo, however, comes equipped with an 898-cc turbocharged inline-three developing 89 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque, which allows the wee two-door to move with a tad more authority. And as with the previous models, spicier versions of the third-generation 2017 Fortwo coupe and cabriolet are now available from longtime Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus.
More From Very Little
We recently drove both of the new Brabus variants on their home turf in Germany, where they get an even more powerful, 109-hp three-cylinder engine that won’t be offered in U.S.-spec models, which will share the regular car’s output. Regardless of the engine’s state of tune, it emits the distinctive purr of a small-displacement three-banger and is accompanied by a pronounced whistle from the turbo. Smart says it would have been too costly to certify the more powerful version for the U.S., but given how pokey the Fortwo is in general, why not just give Brabus engines to everyone?
On the road, the difference between the two engine tunes is noticeable but not massively so. Smart claims the Euro-market cars will hit 62 mph in 9.5 seconds versus the 9.9 seconds we’ve clocked for a regular 2016 Fortwo in the dash to 60 mph; we expect the U.S.-spec Brabus to repeat the latter performance given that its power rating matches that of the regular car. European models also have a governed top speed of 103 mph, whereas U.S. cars run into their electronic limiters at 95 mph, which we’re fine with because the Smart’s short wheelbase can make it feel nervous near its terminal velocity. Both the Brabus coupe and cabrio that we drove were equipped with the Smart’s six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is infinitely better than the clunky, single-clutch automated manual that previous Smarts were saddled with. (The regular car’s standard five-speed manual is not available on Brabus models.) The dual-clutch shifts smoothly and keeps the revs relatively high, and that’s a good thing because there's not much action below 2000 rpm with this engine.
The Brabus tuning also nets the Smart firmer springs and dampers and a stiffer front anti-roll bar. But the setup still isn’t particularly sporty, if one defines that trait by a firm ride. On bumpy roads, you learn to appreciate the compliance, which keeps all four wheels firmly planted on the ground. The Brabus Smart also revises the electrically assisted steering for greater feedback, but the system remains relatively indirect. Yet it’s still possible to have some fun: A reprogrammed stability-control system now lets the tail come out a bit more than in the regular car. The electronic safety net can't be switched off entirely, but with the Smart’s mid-engined layout acting as a pendulum on its short wheelbase, that’s probably for the better.
Completing the Package
The Brabus Smart feels a lot bigger from behind the wheel than it actually is, with an airy cabin decked out with funky materials and far more comfort and convenience features than you'd expect in a car this tiny. The interior also receives a smattering of Brabus details and badges for the leather seats, gauges, and floor mats. There still are some ergonomic quibbles inside, but generally this is an easy car to get used to and live with. The cabriolet is particularly appealing with a fabric top that can be lowered in two stages: stage one retracts it to make a big sunroof, while stage two drops the rear window. And for even more air, you can take off the left and right roof beams and place them in the hatch.
Various exterior tweaks give the Brabus versions a sharper look than their siblings, with attractive 16-inch Brabus Monoblock wheels up front and 17-inchers in the rear. It’s an appearance that finally looks like it is intended to conform to the Smart's general design theme, rather than trying to undo it. Smart has yet to release pricing for the Brabus variants as well as the regular 2017 Fortwo, but the previous Brabus iteration came as a $3500 package on higher trims. With the 2017 Fortwo cabriolet starting at $19,650, expect the Brabus treatment to elevate window stickers into the mid-$20,000s. That’s a lot of coin for such a small vehicle—and is likely to eliminate it from consideration by anyone who doesn’t need to avail themselves of its very specific strengths.
Indeed, as with all Smarts, the Brabus’s domain is in the city, where its diminutive footprint lets it squeeze through tight gaps in traffic and park just about anywhere. The Brits might call such a vehicle a "pocket rocket," but the Germans have another name for it: "rennsemmel," which can be translated as "racing bread roll." We’re just happy for it being a sportier and more enjoyable Smart.
-CarandDriver
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