by: Matt Prior, Road Test Editor Power hike Half a 911 Close to greatness

The 0-62mph time drops to 9.8 seconds, down from 11.5. And while that figure still doesn't look outstanding, don't be fooled. All Smarts get that automated manual gearbox, with no clutch pedal, and while they don't shoot off the line very quickly, they feel quicker in-gear than those figures would suggest. Shame it doesn't shift between gears particularly quickly though, or all that smoothly. Smart could sort out that standing-start time and the feeling of urgency if it just gave the Roadster a proper manual gearbox.

That's one area where we suspect Brabus, given more time, would have changed things a little. Instead, changes are limited to the engine (the turbo, cooling system, ECU, clutch and exhaust are different), wheels, some exterior changes and a few interior details. Company execs also reveal they would have liked the Brabus Roadster to have an adjustable steering column, but the standard fixed position isn't too bad, though the steering wheel should be smaller. And the steering's over-assisted, too.

Thrilling exhaust note

But the steering, and the gearbox, are really the only complaints we have about the Brabus Roadster. Otherwise it's a truly lovely machine. The 698cc engine revs with enthusiasm, and there's a great throbby exhaust note with the roof down, which is more muted with it up, but then you instead hear better the turbo's chuckle on throttle lift-off. It sounds like half a 911.