The Smart ForTwo has proven to be a runaway success for Mercedes-Benz in the United States, with the official distributor Penske Automotive Group forced to boost sales forecasts for the diminutive hatch earlier this year. The company now plans to capitalize on the soaring demand by expanding the lineup with a new Brabus-enhanced model.

Brabus is a specialist when it comes to drawing more power from Mercedes Benz vehicles, laying claim to the title of manufacturing the world’s fastest saloon on several occasions with its V-12-powered Bullit line of cars. However, when the Brabus Smart ForTwo goes on sale in the U.S. next February it will only come equipped with a custom bodykit and alloy wheels. In other markets the Brabus Smart ForTwo comes with a 98hp (73kW) output and a 0-100km/h time of 9.9 seconds – 3 seconds faster than the standard model.

For those U.S. customers who have already reserved a ForTwo, Smart will offer them the chance to upgrade to the Brabus model first. Only 1,500 models will make their way Stateside. The deal is available for customers who have not selected the specs for their cars, and will begin from Thursday October 23.

The U.S. market will soon play a bigger role in the future of Smart, with the company planning to start official testing of an all-electric version locally at the start of next year. If the tests prove successful, Smart says the zero-emissions vehicle could enter production very quickly.

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