As South Africa awaits the arrival of the Smart Roadster, Brabus has engineered a twin-turbo 1,4-litre V6 version of the little rocket – with a power-to-weight ratio of 152 kW per tonne!
As South Africa awaits the arrival of the Smart Roadster, Brabus has engineered a twin-turbo 1,4-litre V6 version of the little rocket – with a power-to-weight ratio of 152 kW per tonne!
Speaking to CARtoday.com recently, DaimlerChrysler SA media manager Deon Ebersohn said that the Smart Roadster, which we believe will be launched on the South African market towards the end of the year, would be the most affordable new sportscar in the country. It remains to be seen how “affordable” the Roadster will be, but in the meantime prototypes such as the V6 Smart will do much to stimulate interest…
Eight V6 Smart Roadster prototypes have been built to take part in the Solitude rally, a hill climb event near Stuttgart. The engines, featuring not-too-subtle “Powered by Mercedes-Benz” plaques, are effectively two standard 698 cm3 three-cylinder units joined together to create a 1,4-litre V6, developing peak power of 126,77 kW and 220 N.m of torque.
In the 833 kg Smart, this means a power-to-weight ratio of 152 kW per tonne, better than the Porsche Boxter S – and enough for the zero to 100 km/h sprint time of under six seconds and a top speed of about 220 km/h.
The eight prototypes will compete in each of the upcoming Solitude regularity races on the 4,6-kilometre circuit. Should the V6 Smarts acquit themselves well at the event, a limited number of production models could be on the cards, in addition to other Brabus-tuned Smarts said to be on the way, reported this week.
Smart is also going to present a further prototype at the Frankfurt Motor Show. reports that this is likely to be a 4×4/compact estate crossover, based on the ForFour CARtoday.com featured recently. Although this car will be billed as a concept, it “will almost certainly be produced”, the report said.