QUOTE
The ForFour is set to leave its rivals smarting! Take a look at these pictures and you will see how the Brabus version of the practical new hatchback will look when it joins Smart's expanding line-up next year.
Picture Clicky
The model shown here is actually the limited-edition Sportstyle, but these pictures reveal how muscular the new Smart's quirky shape can become with only a few minor styling changes. The aggressive Sportstyle will not be made available to UK buyers of the ForFour, but the accessory pack gives the biggest clue yet as to how the hot Brabus range-topper will look when the wraps are finally taken off in 2005.
As with tuned versions of Smart's ForTwo and Roadster, the hot ForFour will get unique, large-diameter chrome-finished alloy wheels, a sporty exhaust and a bodykit. However, Brabus editions are far from simple cosmetic makeovers, and the ForFour will also boast impressive performance.
With the Smart model based on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Colt, insiders have suggested that it's not out of the question for a performance flagship to use the Japanese company's 150bhp, 1.5-litre turbocharged powerplant, which will feature in the Colt CZT.
That would give the ForFour the kind of pace required for Smart to enter the hot hatch market for the first time, and would open the DaimlerChrysler-owned brand to a whole new set of buyers. To cope with the extra power, Brabus will also rework the suspension so that it provides a sportier driving experience, while the brakes are likely to be uprated, too. However, with previous performance models from Smart having been criticised for their harsh ride quality, company engineers will be keen to ensure that the latest Brabus isn't too much of a compromise in terms of comfort.
The rest of the ForFour range will go on sale in the UK next month, with prices starting from £7,995 for the entry-level model and rising to £12,370 for the flagship. As a result, when the hot Brabus edition joins the line-up, it is expected to cost around £14,250. Chris Thorp
Article from: Auto Express
Picture Clicky
The model shown here is actually the limited-edition Sportstyle, but these pictures reveal how muscular the new Smart's quirky shape can become with only a few minor styling changes. The aggressive Sportstyle will not be made available to UK buyers of the ForFour, but the accessory pack gives the biggest clue yet as to how the hot Brabus range-topper will look when the wraps are finally taken off in 2005.
As with tuned versions of Smart's ForTwo and Roadster, the hot ForFour will get unique, large-diameter chrome-finished alloy wheels, a sporty exhaust and a bodykit. However, Brabus editions are far from simple cosmetic makeovers, and the ForFour will also boast impressive performance.
With the Smart model based on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Colt, insiders have suggested that it's not out of the question for a performance flagship to use the Japanese company's 150bhp, 1.5-litre turbocharged powerplant, which will feature in the Colt CZT.
That would give the ForFour the kind of pace required for Smart to enter the hot hatch market for the first time, and would open the DaimlerChrysler-owned brand to a whole new set of buyers. To cope with the extra power, Brabus will also rework the suspension so that it provides a sportier driving experience, while the brakes are likely to be uprated, too. However, with previous performance models from Smart having been criticised for their harsh ride quality, company engineers will be keen to ensure that the latest Brabus isn't too much of a compromise in terms of comfort.
The rest of the ForFour range will go on sale in the UK next month, with prices starting from £7,995 for the entry-level model and rising to £12,370 for the flagship. As a result, when the hot Brabus edition joins the line-up, it is expected to cost around £14,250. Chris Thorp
Article from: Auto Express
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