Brabus Smart Cabrio

March 2002

For anyone who doesn't know, Brabus is an independent tuner that has made a name for itself offering high-quality performance conversions of Mercedes - from the Smart to the M-Class. It is also one of the few tuning companies whose work will actually add value to your car.

The Smart is, arguably, not usual Brabus fodder. Thanks to cars such as the 212mph EV12, a supercar-bashing E-Class, you're more likely to find the German tuner's badge on the outside lane of an autobahn than in the supermarket car park.

Officially on sale in the UK in October, the Smart is already a common sight in UK cities thanks to the efforts of independent import agencies. And Brabus is the first company to reach the UK market with a high-performance version that offers existing and new Smart custom- ers the chance to improve the looks, dynamics and, most importantly, the acceleration of the cult two-seater runabout.

Although the fake fighter-plane paintwork of our model - complete with false rivets and panel overlaps - met with a mixed response, there's no denying the quality of both the standard car and the conversion. In true Brabus tra-dition, buyers can choose the bits they want. However, providing the backbone to the package are engine tweaks that raise the three-cylinder unit's power output from 55 to 70bhp. Torque also rises from 80 to 100Nm. Achieved by reprogramming the engine management system, modifying the air intake and adding a sports exhaust system, the Smart accelerates harder and boasts an improved top speed.

Brabus also offers owners the chance to shift gears like a Formula One driver, via wheel-mounted paddle gearchanges. Although it sounds gimmicky, the F1 shift is one of the highlights of the package, allowing you to select gears without having to release your grip on the wheel. Wider alloy wheels, meanwhile, improve the car's look and significantly reduce understeer. Thanks to double the tyre-to-road contact at the front, the Smart turns in with new-found vigour and can power out of tight bends with ease.

The Smart's ride quality is something you learn to tolerate. Thanks to its short wheelbase, big wheels and basic suspension, it struggles to deliver a smooth drive. Despite the recent chassis changes that brought longer wheel travel, the Brabus Smart remains inherently bouncy on poor roads.

The only other downside of the Brabus Smart package is its price. Engineering like this doesn't come cheap and if you want the whole package - including the basic Smart - you won't get much change out of

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