Brabus ForTwo XClusive

The new smart fortwo BRABUS heralds the second round and sixth year of the successful cooperation between smart and BRABUS, the tuning specialist from Bottrop in Germany. Once again, each partner is bringing a valuable "dowry" into the joint venture: smart the new smart fortwo with its larger body, longer wheelbase, new suspension and further improved safety; BRABUS its expertise as a worldwide renowned specialist for exclusiveness on wheels.

This congenial partnership has once again resulted in a car that is unsurpassed in terms of performance and exclusiveness in its vehicle class: the new smart fortwo BRABUS:

In fact, customers can choose between two models with the striking double B logo - the smart fortwo BRABUS or the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive. In addition to sportiness and exclusiveness, the BRABUS models boast a third component that is increasing in importance as a buying factor: individuality. Drivers can choose the smart BRABUS model that best suits their personal taste and lifestyle. Whereas the focus of the smart fortwo BRABUS is primarily on sportiness, in the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive this is supplemented by a touch of luxury.

In addition to this, both versions of the smart BRABUS are available as a coupé or a cabrio - giving smart customers even more options and allowing them to choose between the "open air" version with an electrically operated soft top or the coupé with a newly developed polycarbonate panoramic roof.

smart BRABUS: Sporty down to the last detail

One look is enough to see and understand the message of the new smart fortwo BRABUS. Wide tyres measuring 175/50 R 16 (front) and 225/35 R 17 (rear), bright-finish "Monoblock IV" alloy wheels and wider rear wheel arches clearly mark the two-seater as a sporty character that is proud to flex its muscles. The BRABUS sports exhaust system with its dual tailpipe and the BRABUS sports suspension with specially configured sports shock absorbers lowering the body by ten millimetres as against the production model, add to this impression.

The interior also focuses on sportiness. The instruments, pedals and main controls bear the signature of the smart-BRABUS experts. Specifically, the speedometer, rev counter and clock are characterised by specially designed dials, the pedals attract attention with stainless steel and black rubber nubs and the gear knob and hand-brake handle are made of a high quality combination of leather and aluminium. The leather-covered three-spoke sports steering wheel has also been specially developed for the smart fortwo BRABUS.

Brabus ForTwo XClusive (2008)

BRABUS Xclusive: When only the best is good enough

The name "Xclusive" says it all for the second model version of the new smart fortwo BRABUS. Here, sportiness is coupled with an unusually exclusive design and equipment for this vehicle class. Distinguishing features of the Xclusive include the striking front apron with an integrated spoiler and larger air inlets, the side skirts and the distinctive rear apron. All styling parts are painted in the colour of the exterior, giving the body a harmonious look in terms of colour and design.

The front headlights are a further eye-catching feature of the new smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive. Not just because of their halogen projection technology, but also because of the titanium-coloured inner surrounds that clearly distinguish them from other headlights. Monochrome bulbs are used for the indicators and only appear yellow when the indicator flashes.

In the interior of the Xclusive passengers can enjoy the feel of the soft leather that covers the seats and the BRABUS sports steering wheel. The Brabus double B logo is embossed at the top of the leather seats. The silver leather seams are a further exclusive highlight. The seats are heated and come with head/thorax side airbags as a standard feature.

The leather-effect instrument panel and interior door trim harmonise with the leather of the seat surface in style and colour. The fine silver seams of the instrument panel, which take up a design element of the seats, are a special detail. Aluminium-look trim components frame the cockpit instruments, upgrade the tunnel trim and lend highlights to the door trim. Floor mats made of fine velour are a further standard feature.

Engine: More turbo power coupled with even lower consumption

Both versions of the new smart fortwo BRABUS are powered by a high-performance athletic heart. The smart-BRABUS engineers have improved the rear-mounted three-cylinder turbo engine in a number of details and have boosted the power by more than 30 percent. The engine develops 72 kW/98 bhp at 5500 rpm and this together with the maximum torque of 140 Newton metres from 3500 rpm enables quick intermediate sprints. The sporty two-seater accelerates from zero to 60 km/h in 4.1 seconds and reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 155 km/h.

The weight/power ratio of the 780 kilogram smart fortwo BRABUS is just 7.95 kg/bhp - 24 percent lower than that of the predecessor model.

A look at the consumption and emission figures of the new two-seater BRABUS shows that environmental compatibility and economy on the one hand, and sporty driving fun on the other hand, are not a contradiction in terms. Despite the clear power increase of more than 30 percent as against the predecessor model, the consumption of the smart fortwo BRABUS is still around the five litre mark: The overall consumption in accordance with NEDC is just 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres. The CO2 emissions are equally exemplary at 124 grams per kilometre. The most important engine and performance data of the new smart fortwo BRABUS at a glance:

*NEDC overall consumption

The new engine controller is largely responsible for the spontaneous power development coupled with low energy consumption. The maps controlling ignition, fuel injection and turbocharger are stored in its electronic memory. This enables the three-cylinder engine to fall back on the most suitable data in every driving situation and to precisely regulate the injection quantity, injection timing and charge pressure. The maximum charge pressure of 443 millibars is reached at 3500 rpm.

Transmission: Shifting times reduced by up to 20 percent As before, the smart fortwo BRABUS features an automated manual transmission that drivers can comfortably operate with shift paddles on the steering wheel. A specially developed transmission controller enables even faster gear shifting than with the other engine versions of the smart fortwo; the shifting times in gears 1 to 4 are reduced by approximately 20 percent - a further important contribution to dynamic driving pleasure.

The clutch is opened and closed by an electric motor which means that there is no clutch pedal in the new smart fortwo BRABUS. A kick-down function that is activated with the accelerator makes quick intermediate sprints possible. This enables the driver to spontaneously change down by one or two gears and to make even better use of the engine's low-speed torque.

The gearbox modified by smart-BRABUS differs from the standard transmission on account of the shorter ratios of the first and fifth gears. This is manifested in better acceleration and elasticity. For reliable transmission of the higher torque the transmission has been strengthened at various points - for example the transmission shafts and the toothed gear root - with complex surface treatment. The clutch has a diameter of 200 millimetres and has a stiffer torsional spring than the smart fortwo with a 62 kW/84 bhp engine. The final drive and gear ratios of the smart fortwo BRABUS at a glance:

Suspension: Sports shock absorbers for agile handling

Like the transmission, the suspension has been adjusted to the agile character and higher performance of the new smart fortwo BRABUS. In line with the sporty character, gas-filled sports shock absorbers with special characteristics and coil springs with specially configured spring rates are fitted that lower the body by ten millimetres.

The wheelbase of 1867 millimetres that is 55 millimetres longer than that of the predecessor model and the wider track of 1270 / 1363 millimetres guarantee high directional stability and safety in conjunction with the stiff suspension setup. The main suspension data of the new smart fortwo BRABUS at a glance:

Like all models of the new smart fortwo, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and an electronic stability programme (ESP®) are included in the standard spec. The dual-circuit brake system with tandem servo assistance is fitted with disc brakes on the front axle and drum brakes on the rear axle.