Monday 20th June 2005

Smart launches racy roadster

Brabus-modelled car boasts 111bhp per tonne

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Smart RCR with Brabus inside

Smart has launched a Brabus-imaged, 111bhp per tonne version of the Roadster-Coupé. This follows Mercedes-Benz's announcement that the Roadster will no longer be made for economic reasons. It's a last-of-the-line model.

The company reckons that the RCR 'pays homage to Brabus' V6 bi-turbo roadster', which never actually made it into production.

The engine of the RCR gets a retrofit Brabus SB2 power upgrade kit, bumping power output to 111bhp per tonne. With only 50 individually-numbered versions available worldwide, the RCR is modelled on Brabus' prototype with bespoke racing red body panels and silver tridion and the front and rear grille and rear roof spoiler also finished in red.

The hand finished interior of the RCR includes Brabus leather and Alcantara sports seats, trimmed with stitching to match the racing red exterior. Brabus has added an aluminium gearshift, handbrake handle and pedal pads, three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shift, floor mats and red accent parts.

Smart's UK boss Jeremy Simpson said, "Smart’s relationship with Brabus allows us to build bespoke tailored vehicles and bring them to market at the best possible prices. The RCR is a thrilling and desirable special edition and pays homage to the V6 bi-turbo, which we were inundated with requests to buy even though the car was never officially on sale."

More than 1,000 roadster models have been sold in the UK this year, taking the total since launch to 5,561, according to Smart. But since the announcement that roadster production will end prematurely, one experts predicts that it will become a classic, collectable sports car.

Glass’s Guide Senior Editor Jeff Paterson said, "The roadster is innovative and will be quite sought-after and collectable now. It could creep up in classic status because it has been withdrawn so early in its life."

Simpson said, "The roadster has captured the hearts of many sports car enthusiasts and models have been selling better than ever since we announced production was stopping at the end of the year. There are now under 1,000 new cars left to sell and we have already seen prices of used roadsters rising this year."

The 50 RCRs go on sale in June, priced at £17,295 OTR.

[Roscabezas]

My standard roadster has 82 bhp and it weighs 790kg. That's about 103bhp/Tonne. So, it's not a great icrease, if my numbers are correct.

Anyway, it's a great car. I use mine everyday and love it.

[klassiekerrally]

Rather nice looking version of the Roadster.
Drove a 'normal' version once, but couldn't get used to the gearbox. I wanted to keep my foot down, but that wasn't the best way to get smooth gearchanges

[AndyWoodall]

I love this car, really loved the one I test drove. Had planned to buy one in a few years as a second car for the g/f. Would have loved this model, but I don't get whats better about this than the standard Brabus model?

[robinoz]

What a joke they don't even give a power output 111 bhp is sad but 111hp/ton is nothing to brag about FFS!

[d_drinks]

That's just the Brabus remap taking the engine output up. I had a Pulse Coupe with Smarts R Us remap, K&N induction kit, reworked turbo and wastegate and stainless exhaust this increased the BHP to more than the 111BHP/Tonne for this Brabus and for only a couple of hundred quid.

The extra price I guess covers the bespoke interior plus the monoblock wheels that are a Brabus feature why they won't up the power is bit weird the car could handle it and it would really bring the best out of the car and mean it more of a classic.

[J500ANT]

Ive got a smart BRABUS with 166bhp/tonne (its a forfour) but have had a roadster BRABUS. This new model is just a bespoke trimmed version of the standard car, whereas the BRABUS Exclusive roadster has much more engineering work done to it. Thats the one to get! (a whole 101bhp!)

Tony

[mel]

The advert in the paper today quotes 121bhp/tonne ?

[J500ANT]

I think the proper BRABUS has 121bhp/tonne from memory, was the ad for the RCR or the standard "proper" BRABUS?

Tony

[dinkel]

Don't ask . . . Keith Black maybe

[lanciachris]

Did they ever sort out the leaks and tridion cracks with these cars?

[Twincam16]

I love the Smart Roadster-Coupe - the fastback version has cues of baby Gallardo about it. I see it as a modern take on the Fiat X1/9 - itself a sort-of baby '70s Italian supercar.

However, I'd love to see a Smart Roadster with a paddleshift, rather than tiptronic, gearbox. That would make this Brabus truly special and enhance the 'scaled-down supercar' experience.

[lap_time]

Too bad they didn't sort out the gargantuan turning circle and S L O W steering.

[whittaker52]

Well the leaks have been solved on my Roadster Coupe, and the cracks in the tridion havent come through, so i assume mine must be a one off.

As for the gearbox (its the same sort as fitted in all smarts) a 3 speed, up down dog box (similar to the sort of thing you find in a motorbike, to keep the space it takes up to a minimum) with a computer controlled clutch, which is all electronically actuated. Personally i find the gearbox great, but if it was a little less electrically actuated, and more manual actuated it would be much better, and would certainly allow for faster and smoother gear-changes.

I never find the steering a problem either, i dont usually find it too slow, or that it has a large turning circle.

[havoc]

Even a rep diesel can top 111bhp/tonne, FFS. And this is a SPORTS car?!?

[adetri]

I find my 80BHP Roadster coupe a fantastic car - it may have less BHP/Tonne than a diesel repmobile, but it is still a good sports car in my opinion - it feels fast and is a sports car because it doesn't pretend to be anything else - performance is just one part of the equation.

I also love the styling of the coupe (not too keen on the std. smart roadster though). The coupe has all sort of styling bits which hark back to great cars of the past, but somehow it knits together well.

Having taken mine up Prescott Hillclimb @ one of their excellent driver's schools - I did find the gearbox and steering very frustrating.

Back on the road, its normal domain, the gearbox is fine, fun to work around and is a learning experience - it takes time and trouble to reach a good standard with it - but worth sticking at. However, even on the road I do find the steering slow witted - it's no MX5 here. In compensation, its one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven - the seats and driving postion are spot on.

So, in summary - almost perfect - but its a shame it won't be developed further by Mercedes. I think had it been marketed differently - perhaps not called a smart at all (even though I have a smart roadster I still think of smart for their city car). If it was called the "Mercedes Roadster" or similar - It may have sold in bucket-loads.

[Beedub]

my little roadster was rejected i had a brabus which suffered terrible leaks and had so many problems it was unbelievable i paid full wak for it as well, the last straw was when me and my girl friend got stuck in a very secluded motorway services after the key failed to open then car and also woudnt start the car, this happened about 4 times in the end i rejected it and im very happy with my decision with the terrible residual values i see now! in the cars favour it handled very well and felt like a little elise, i do miss the car but certainly not the problems, i hav since purchased a new golf GTI mk5 which was only 3 grand more and in performance terms in another league, sad to see the roadie go as if this product was given teh time it desperatley needed it would have been a stormer, get a manual in their keep the fiesty three pot and it would have been an instant hit!