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2005 smart forfour Brabus Concept

Cute and Cuddly smart Gets Racy

Behold the worlds most powerful smart. The forfour (deliberately lowercase) Brabus concept is a full-out racing conversion of the compact forfour, which was shown at this years Essen tuning show in Germany. Its surprising to see such a conversion concept from a firm that, for the better part produces the worlds smallest cars, powered by puttering little diesels that generate two-figure output levels - no doubt the reason the brands DaimlerChrysler parent is unsure about selling them in America. By comparison to smarts anemic production models, this ones a screamer.

In any respect, the forfour Brabus

Behold the worlds most powerful smart. (Photo: Smart)

concept provides an imaginative answer to the question, "What would a smart look like as a racing car?" Brabus, the official tuner for smart vehicles, was in charge of creating this maniacal concept. The German tuner firm was serious about it being a strict competition vehicle, so therefore everything about this one is completely functional and relating to performance.

Corresponding to its mechanical changes (which we will discuss

The German tuner firm was serious about it being a strict competition vehicle. (Photo: Smart)

later), the exterior has been modified, suitably. A purpose-designed front skirt and rear, roof-mounted spoiler aim - and succeed - in creating negative lift. Underneath, and hidden from view, the forfours innards have been covered by aerodynamic aluminum plates which form a diffuser that pokes out from behind the rear bumper. The engines additional demands for oxygen are met through a monstrous, offset hood scoop that creates a direct-feed to the air intake.
To attain the title of being the most powerful of all smarts, the forfour

The forfour Brabus concept features a turbocharged and intercooled version of the top of the line forfour engine. (Photo: Smart)

concept features a turbocharged and intercooler version of the top of the line forfour engine. The tiny, Mitsubishi-designed 1.5-liter motor has been pushed to its absolute limits, producing a Mini Cooper S Works-challenging 210-horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Thats a stately gain from the most powerful production smart, the forfour Brabus that serves up 177-horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque.
Being the most powerful smart also makes this the quickest smart off the line and fastest for top speed. Even when compared against Brabus experimental V6 Biturbo Roadster-Coupe concept, the fourfor is faster. It rockets to 60 mph in under six and a half seconds, shaving

Racing-grade brakes, fitted with larger discs and meatier calipers do a good job at filling up the open space made by the six-spoke Brabus 7x17 and 8x17 inch alloy wheels. (Photo: Smart)

0.4 seconds off the production forfour Brabus time. Top speed is a rather un-smart-like 145 mph.
To deal with the extra boost in power, the forfours manual gearbox (not the clutchless gearbox) has been upgraded to feature a differential lock, a critical component to help put power and torque to the pavement. To counter, racing-grade brakes, fitted with larger discs and meatier calipers provide increased stopping power. They also do a good job at filling up the open space made by the up-sized six-spoke Brabus 7x17 and 8x17 inch alloy wheels.

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