April 2003 will see the launch of the much-awaited Smart 'Roadster-Coupe'.
Whilst it may not excite die-hard sportscar fans, it's a significant development
that will see plenty of these compact sports cars on the roads in the years to
come. With their success we may see further innovations in the sector.
The car will come with around turbo charged three cylinder engine chucking
out around 80 horsepower - not a lot in absolute terms - but the car will only
weigh 790kg.
Smart promise direct handling, excellent cornering ability and yet still good
comfort levels. The smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé are equipped with
ESP (electronic stability program) as standard.
With a roof system consisting of a soft top and a hardtop which can be used
together or alternatively, the smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé offer
their owners good choice of open-air driving versus roof-on snugness. As well as
a two-piece removable plastic hardtop that can be stowed and transported in the
rear luggage compartment, an electrically operated folding soft top is available
as an option for both the smart roadster and the smart roadster-coupé. This can
be fully opened and closed even when driving at top speed.
The launch of the smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé next year is a
first step towards extending the smart product range and also the brand itself.
Expect to see more innovation - and even if you don't like the cars, it's worth
recognising that the new ideas being introduced will certainly give other
mainstream manufacturers a kick up the backside.
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