19 Mar 03
The Brabus modifications to the Smart's turbocharged 599cc unit are substantial and - regardless of whether your Smart has 44, 54 or 61bhp to start with - its output is increased to 70bhp. Although not scaring every cars on the road, an output of 116bhp per litre is impressive (the MINI Cooper S has only 100bhp per litre, for example). The twin exhaust is mainly for show since the note coming from the back still sounds like a miniature 911; but hey, it looks good - and, with little improvement on the standard car's 0-60mph time and a limited 85mph top speed, looking good matters.
The Brabus alloy wheels are a work of art. Standard dimensions for both steel and alloy wheels fitted to Smarts are 4x15 inches at the front and 5.5x15 inches at the rear, but the Brabus items come in at 5.5x16 inches for the front and a slightly excessive 8x17 inches at the rear. Due to the increase in rim diameter, tyre profile has had to be reduced accordingly to keep the overall rolling radius the same, resulting in a profile that's a lower than that of the rubber fitted to a Focus RS.
The larger wheels help and hinder in the same breath - the extra width provides the Smart with extra grip, especially under hard cornering, but the thin rubber combined with the stiffer suspension ruin the Smart's handling. The slightest bump on the road - even cats' eyes - will cause a shudder to run through your spine and trying to tackle some twisty undulating country roads has you reaching for the sick bag. On smooth roads - and we mean smooth - it improves considerably. The steering isn't very quick, but swing enthusiastically on the wheel and the Brabus will change direction with amusing spontaneity, and with sufficient composure that you always wonder how easy it would be to tip the whole thing over. In reality, of course, the standard-fit ESP anti-skid control is going to keep you well clear of such antics. But though it's entertaining, purists aren't going to be shortlisting the Brabus as a machine in which to tackle the twisty open road. Or motorways, come to that. Even the most hardened city dweller will have to venture beyond the city limits at some point, but unless you're feeling particularly alert, it's not recommended, as full concentration is required to keep the twitchy back-end from skipping out of line.
