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Brabus Utimate E brings unlikely machismo to the Smart EQ cabrio

German tuner Brabus typically works its horsepower-enhancing magic and visual, ah, ministrations on already-muscular machines such as the Mercedes-Benz G-wagen and the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door. But Brabus also has put its special touch on other Daimler models, up to and including the Smart Fortwo. The latest Smart to get the Brabus touch is the newly updated 2020 Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio, which becomes the Brabus Ultimate E. If you're thinking 800 horsepower, like in the Brabus versions of those other two models, think again. The Ultimate E has 92 horses in its corral, but that's better than the 80 horsepower in the regular version. Naturally, with 92 horsepower, the two-seat city car can't quite match the sub-3-second 0-to-62-mph time of the Brabus 800 (although that would be fun). Instead, how about a sub-11-second time? The Ultimate E reaches 62 mph in 10.9 seconds, which beats the standard car's 11.9-second run. The Brabus-tuned electric motor also spins out 133 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 15 lb-ft over the standard version. Brabus claims a range of 78 miles. Characteristically, the Brabus treatment extends beyond the mechanicals. The Ultimate E presents a more pugnacious face to the world with its redesigned front bumper treatment with a honeycomb mesh pattern and red lower splitter. The restyled rear bumper incorporates a diffusers look, again with red accents, and there is a red lower skirt along the bodyside. Wider bodywork allows for 18-inch wheels with ultra-low-profile 205/35 front and 235/30 rear tires, and Brabus has retuned the suspension accordingly. Open the door and you're greeted with "Brabus" illuminated door sills, and more badging on the seatbacks, floor mats, and shifter. The seat feature red contrast stitching in a honeycomb pattern and red accents appear elsewhere in the cabin. This mean, green electric machine is destined to stay in Europe, as Smart has given up on the U.S. market. Maybe a Brabus-ized ForTwo could have turned things around, although Americans seem more likely to embrace the 800-hp Brabus G-wagen. Related Video:    

Mind-boggling 2012 Smart ForTwo off-roader listed on Cars & Bids

Smart recently marched into the crossover segment by releasing the #1, but the electric four-seater doesn't look like something you'd want to take off-road. If you're in the market for a go-anywhere Smart, there's a second-generation ForTwo that features an astonishingly long list of off-road-focused modifications (including an eight-inch suspension lift!) currently live on enthusiast auction site Cars & Bids with no reserve. California-based Gotham Garage reportedly built this ForTwo for a show called Car Masters: Rust to Riches that aired on Netflix, and it looks like nothing was deemed off-limits to give the cheeky city car the kind of off-road prowess you'd normally find in a Jeep Wrangler. Riding on 30-inch tires, the ForTwo features a suspension system that's taller and a lot wider than stock, an exoskeleton-type roll cage, a front skid plate, and a 4,000-pound winch, among many other modifications. There is space on the roll cage to mount a gas can and a spare wheel. The end result is a ForTwo that looks like nothing else on the road — and like nothing else off the road, too. Imagine the look on a Ford Bronco driver's face when you zip by in a Smart on the Rubicon Trail. Inside, the little two-seater is surprisingly stock: the only modification is a nine-inch touchscreen. It doesn't sound like the drivetrain was touched, meaning that power comes from a rear-mounted, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine rated at 70 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. As of writing, bidding stands at $8,333 with three days left to go; the auction ends on April 25 at 10:30 a.m. California time, which is 1:38 p.m in New York. And, because this is a no-reserve auction, the winning bidder will be the one that takes this one-of-a-kind ForTwo home. There is another ForTwo currently live on Cars & Bids, and this one is pegged on the other end of the Smart spectrum. It's a limited-edition Crossblade, which was a concept car-like evolution of the original ForTwo that was exclusively sold in Europe. It has no doors, no roof, and a wind deflector instead of a windshield, and the example being auctioned has been displayed in the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Related Video

Smart Electric Drive ad offers blockbuster treatment for tiny car

Drama, suspense, romance, horror - just about everything you might want from a great big-budget flick has been packed into this minute-long masterpiece from Smart (or its ad agency, anyway).
Smart has been pushing its 2013 ForTwo fairly aggressively over recent weeks, debuting new series of commercials aimed at changing minds about the diminutive two-seater. This spot for the upcoming ForTwo Electric Drive is no different, but it may just be the best of the bunch.
Watch all the way through - it's worth it.