Brabus takes Smart Fortwo to ‘a new level’

LOS ANGELES | The new Smart USA Distributor LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group Inc., has raised the bar in the world of micro-cars by introducing the new 2009 Smart “Fortwo” Brabus edition.

“Building on the success of the Smart Fortwo in the United States, we are excited to take the Smart brand to a new level by introducing the Brabus model and Brabus accessories to Smart Fortwo enthusiasts,” said Dave Schembri, president of Smart USA.

“This car has always been about personal expression, and as we approach our first anniversary of sales in the United States, Brabus adds a new dimension, extending our brand into new areas of customization and personalization.”

The Smart Fortwo Brabus edition builds on the revolutionary Smart Fortwo design with a model that enhances the vehicle’s performance and styling.

Brabus is world renowned for providing exclusivity on wheels, and the Smart Fortwo Brabus lives up to the expectations by offering exclusive design elements in a sportier package that maintains the Fortwo’s hallmark fuel-efficiency, fun and functionality.

Drivers can choose between two Brabus models that best suit their personal taste and lifestyle - the Smart Fortwo Brabus coupe or Smart Fortwo Brabus cabriolet.

The Smart Fortwo Brabus is the first vehicle offered in the United States from a partnership between Smart and the German tuning specialist Brabus. The Smart Fortwo Brabus will have a limited production run in early 2009.

Building on the existing Smart Fortwo platform, the Smart Brabus has been tailored for enhanced appearance and handling. A sportier exhaust tuning along with a sports chassis and suspension components have been designed to offer a smooth ride and added comfort. The vehicle’s body has also been lowered by 10 millimeters to enhance the appearance and handling of the vehicle.

The Brabus is powered by the same state of the art, compact, three-cylinder gasoline engine as the current Fortwo that has a capacity of 61 cubic inches, producing an output of 70 hp (52 kW). The vehicle’s five-speed automated manual transmission has been tuned for improved shifting, especially in the stop-and-go traffic of urban driving.

The Brabus enhances the Fortwo’s exterior appearance with exclusive design elements that are unique to the brand. The vehicle’s Brabus “Monoblock VII” alloy wheels measure 15 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear. With one glance at the Smart Fortwo Brabus, onlookers can clearly see the Fortwo has developed a bold and sporty character and is proud to flex its muscles.

A striking double “B” Brabus emblem proudly accentuates the fuel-fill door and the Brabus name is spelled out on the front and rear of the vehicle. The Brabus front skirt reduces the front axle lift force to improve the driving experience and comes equipped with Brabus side skirts that add a sporty appearance to the tridion safety cell.

To accommodate the Brabus sport exhaust system, the rear skirt of the Brabus model has a cutout in the center to accommodate dual chrome-plated tail pipes.

Consumers are able to match their Brabus model to their choice of lifestyle by selecting between the “open air” cabriolet with a fully automatic convertible top or a coupe with a panoramic roof. The vehicle is available in two colors: metallic silver and deep black. The metallic silver comes with a metallic silver tridion safety cell, and the deep black with a deep black tridion safety cell.

To complete the exterior’s aggressive look, the Brabus features halogen projector-beam headlights, side indicators in yellow and exterior mirror trim matching the tridion safety cell.

The Brabus model has sports pedals made of brushed aluminum. The vehicle features stylish velour floor mats embroidered with the Brabus logo to accentuate the overall look and feel of the vehicle. The vehicle also comes standard with heated leather seats, power steering and additional dashboard instruments (all are options on the standard Smart Fortwo).

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