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

Half an hour into my drive in the Smart Brabus Roadster-Coupé, climbing the mountainous roads around Monte Carlo, I came across a dawdling Peugeot 306 Sedan - as if there's any other kind. I lined up an overtake coming out of a tight right-hand hairpin, and floored it up the short straight. Blimey.

Passenger Hans and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows: a Smart with significant overtaking urge, now there's a novelty. By the time it would have taken a regular Roadster to draw alongside the 306's front axle, our Brabus version was back on the right side of the road and contemplating the next left-hander.

Power up by 17%

Thank a 17 percent power hike for that, courtesy of some tuning trickery by Smart's official tuning house, Brabus. Peak power is up to 100bhp, from 86bhp on the standard Roadster (or Roadster-Coupé, depending on which bodystyle you prefer, and we prefer the latter, which has a glass hatch). It's the first time a production Smart has topped the three-figure mark. Torque has risen usefully too, up to 69lb ft. And because the Smart's little three-cylinder engine is turbocharged, that's all available from a handy, low 2500rpm.