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Brabus Smart ForTwo confirmed for U.S.

 
7 4,247 views Oct 23, 2008

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Only 1,500 Brabus-enhanced Smart ForTwos are destined for the U.S.

Only 1,500 Brabus-enhanced Smart ForTwos are destined for the U.S.

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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 V12-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.

Brabus Smart ForTwo 2008

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Comments (7)

  1. ma_HECTOR avatar HECTOR Posted: 10/24/2008 3:42am PDT

    It's absolutely true what they say about a fool and his money.

    I have seen a handful of Smarts here in Miami. Each of them is selling for between $22-$25K. Now I would see a show of hands from people who would pay that kind of money for this kind of car. I just can't believe they can be so utterly stupid as to drop so much dough on so little.
     
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  2. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 10/24/2008 6:57am PDT

    So Smarts are selling for $8K to $10K over list in Miami? I seriously doubt that. Now people may be asking for $25K but they aren't getting it.

    Just take a look at completed listings on Ebaymotors. There are 124 completed items and many had buy-it-now listings in $20K to $25K range. 5 cars sold and the going rate for a Smart is $1000 to $1500 over list depending on trim level. (Pure = $12K MSRP / Passion = $14 MSRP / Convertible = $17K MSRP)

    $1K over list isn't bad considering that my local dealer has a 9 month backorder.
     
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  3. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 10/24/2008 7:22am PDT

    Here in NoVA they're selling for just about list. Although I've seen the 'verts go for over $20k with all the options. Too bad they're not gonna give us the real Brabus version:(
     
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  4. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/24/2008 1:14pm PDT

    They should bring the diesel here, and make the gas version run on regular
     
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  5. ma_HECTOR avatar HECTOR Posted: 10/24/2008 5:17pm PDT

    @ JSH.

    If your local dealer has a 9 month back order they'll charge you $1000 just for talking to you.

    I'm too lazy so I didn't bother to look in the local Miami market. But here's a webpage with Fortwos for sale in places where (I hope) people are less stupidly fashion driven than in Miami. Nowhere near the prices you mention my friend.

    http://www.myride.com/search/used/results.html?make=Smart&model=Fortwo

    And by the way. Even at $12K you'd be paying waaaaay too much for this glorified golfcart.
     
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  6. ma_Roy avatar Roy Posted: 10/25/2008 9:43am PDT

    I've actually driven the regular kind of Smart car, and they are too clever by half. Stupid "features" abound, such as a glass roof that lets heat in but an air conditioning system best described as completely inadequate, a manumatic gearbox that shifts in exactly the wrong way, door handles that are harder to use than those on a TVR, passengers that you can't talk to because they're 4 inches further back (McLaren F1 style, but there isn't any room for your mistress, too). And the list goes on and on. I was really surprised. I understand the US versions have had some of these flaws corrected, but it doesn't surprise me to see so many of these on the second-hand market. As for the Brabus version, why aren't they upgrading the engine? That's beyond silly. The Honda Fit gets similarly great mileage, better acceleration, and has FOUR seats and a lot less fuss. No brainer? There's only one thing with no brain around here, and it's supposed to be Smart.
     
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  7. ma_Roy avatar Roy Posted: 10/25/2008 9:45am PDT

    On a related note, these things did not sell at all well in the EU, perhaps because there are so many other better competitors around. That should be a big hint to other car makers that there is a market for this sort of thing in the US, although I hope it lasts longer than the latest oil crunch.
     
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