Brabus has carved out a heck of a niche for itself
tuning Benzes to epic specifications. But it also customizes Smarts, both for
the manufacturer and on its own. It’s called the Brabus 125R, and
while it may not be quite as potent or fast as some of the tuner’s bigger
projects, it packs a not inconsequential punch into the little city car.
Starting with a Smart Fortwo Cabrio, Brabus has
upped the output from the 898 cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine to 125 PS and 200 Nm of torque. That’s up from the 71 hp and 91 Nm in the stock version, and is said to be enough to send it
scampering to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds and on to an electronically
limited top speed of 175 km/h.
The upgrade comes courtesy of a new intake,
intercooler, recalibrated ECU, and custom, variable, stainless-steel exhaust
system. Along with the power boost, the German aftermarket firm has fitted a
custom aero kit and bigger wheels, measuring 16 inches at the front, 17 at the
back, shod with Yokohama rubber and fitted to a suspension dropped by 30 mm on sport springs. It’s also fitted out the interior to Brabus standards, proving that “luxury” needn’t equate “large.”
Only 125 examples will be made to match the
metric-horsepower output, each carrying a sticker price of € 39,900 (including
Germany’s 19-percent value-added tax), or about US$ 46k at current exchange rates.
