The new 220 km/h smart forfour BRABUS

Up until now, the name smart has been synonymous with compact, parking-friendly, all-round clever cars that offer a particularly intelligent form of individual mobility. In fact, the underlying values – innovation, functionality and joie de vivre – of the smart brand, which has only been on the market for six years and is growing fast, mean that it has achieved a cult image in many of its markets, particularly among younger customers. Nothing’s going to change there. At Geneva Motor Show in March, smart premiered the smart forfour BRABUS and the car has just gone on sale for the first time in Germany . The BRABUS version of the four-seater forfour presented here takes smart to a totally new dimension: with a new turbo engine that delivers 130 kW / 177 bhp, a top speed of 221 km/h and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, the new smart forfour BRABUS is by far the fastest and most powerful smart that has ever been built.

It represents the “high end experience” of the four-seater, as it combines performance and luxury in a compact car in a way that has never been done before. And what’s more, it will get your pulse racing, as it has been developed for sheer driving pleasure – but without losing sight of its traditional virtues: its engine, which, when driven in a restrained manner, is elastic, quiet and economical (standard petrol consumption 6.8 l) meets the demands of Euro 4. In terms of active and passive safety, the BRABUS fulfils the famously high standards of the Mercedes Car Group, with standard features including front, side and head airbags, and with esp and high-performance disc brakes on the rear axle, too.

130 kW / 177 bhp and a kerb weight of 1,090 kilograms make for a remarkable power-weight ratio – that is, the weight of the vehicle divided by the kilowatts (or, alternatively, the bhp) of the engine: 8.4 kg per kW, or just under 6.2 kg per bhp are figures that quite a few sports cars would be proud of. It’s no surprise, then, that the smart forfour BRABUS provides for an all-round thrilling driving experience.

The kilowatts are mobilised by a four-cylinder turbo engine with 1.5 l capacity, which, despite being of a similar size, is not exactly the same as the standard engine for the smart forfour. With a grey cast iron block and an aluminium cylinder head, four-valve technology, two overhead camshafts, roller cam levers, maintenance-free hydraulic tappets and cylinder-selective injection, the engine boasts exceptionally advanced features. The air passes from the turbocharger into the combustion chambers via a charge air cooler (behind the front apron) and a cast aluminium suction bridge.

The cooling system, for example, has been redesigned, making it different from that of the standard engine. The oil-to-water heat exchanger serves, on the one hand, to heat up the oil quickly following a cold start, while on the other hand it reliably prevents the oil temperature from rising too high during long periods of motorway driving. The engine is designed for use with Super Plus (RON 98). Its anti-knock sensor means, however, that it can also be operated with normal premium-grade fuel (RON 95), with only minimally reduced performance. The engine’s control unit even has an atmospheric pressure sensor. This ensures safe, environmentally-friendly operation even at high altitudes, for example when driving through mountain passes.

Maximum power is reached at 6,000 rpm, while the highest possible torque (230 Nm) is attained at 3,500 rpm. It is testament to the elasticity of the engine that 90 per cent of the maximum tractive power is available across the whole of the range from 2,300 to 5,700 rpm.

The engine power is transferred to the transmission – which has been specially developed for this turbo engine – via an enlarged, crisply-engaging clutch. It has conventional H-gear shifting and five speeds. The stepping is such that speeds of more than 100 km/h can be reached even in second gear. Thus standard acceleration from zero to 100 km/h can be achieved with just a single gear change. However the top gear is also capable of providing powerful traction. For example, when making a spurt from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear, the smart forfour BRABUS can hold its own against far bigger and more powerful vehicles. Its low weight compared to other vehicles in its class is certainly a bonus here.

The more powerful drivetrain finds visible expression in a sports rear muffler with chrome-plated tail pipes. A pre-catalytic converter positioned close to the engine as well as an underfloor catalytic converter make quite sure that the Euro 4 limit values are adhered to.

Lowered suspension for even greater agility

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