MONTR?AL, QC (January 15, 2009) ? The new 2009 smart fortwo BRABUS made its Canadian premi?re appearance today during the Montr?al International Auto show at the Palais des Congr?s. The smart fortwo BRABUS will be in Canadian showrooms as of February 2009.
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 expectations by offering special design elements in a sportier package that maintains the fortwo?s hallmark for fuel efficiency, fun and functionality. Drivers can choose between two BRABUS models that best suit their personal taste and lifestyle ? the smart fortwo BRABUS coup? or smart fortwo BRABUS cabriolet.
Enhanced Handling
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.
The BRABUS is powered by the same state-of-the-art, compact, three-cylinder gasoline engine as the current fortwo that produces an output of 70 hp. The vehicle?s five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode has been tuned for improved shifting, especially in the stop-and-go traffic of urban driving.
The Exterior ? Aggressive and Sporty
The BRABUS fortwo?s exterior appearance has developed a bold and sporty character and is proud to flex its muscles. The vehicle?s BRABUS ?Monoblock VII? alloy wheels measure 15 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear. 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 centre to accommodate dual chrome-plated tail pipes.
Consumers will be able to match their BRABUS model to their choice of lifestyle by selecting the ?open air? cabriolet with a fully automatic convertible top or a coup? with a panoramic roof. The vehicles are available in two colors: metallic silver and deep black. The metallic silver is matched to a metallic silver tridion safety cell, and the deep black has 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 Interior ? Best to the Last Detail
The BRABUS model is equipped with sports pedals made of brushed aluminium, stylish velour floor mats embroidered with the BRABUS logo, standard heated leather seats, power steering and additional dashboard instruments.
Each BRABUS model comes equipped with the same interior features of the standard smart fortwo passion coup? including: a panoramic roof in the coup? model, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, 3-spoke leather steering wheel with shift paddles and a leather gear knob, electronic power steering, and radio 10 with sound package and a 6-disc CD changer.
Safety Comes Standard
In keeping with the benchmark set with the original smart fortwo, the smart fortwo BRABUS is designed with the highest level of safety and technology. Full-size airbags for the driver and passenger, standard head and neck side airbags with belt tensioners and belt-force limiters, which provide greater protection in case of a frontal impact collision.
Electronic stability program (esp?) is a key safety feature that is standard on all smart models. The vehicle also features many other advanced safety technologies typically found on premium vehicles, including hill start assist, anti-lock braking system (abs) and a hydraulic dual-circuit brake system. The vehicle also features integral safety seats, drive lock, top tether for child restraint systems, panic button on the key fob, tire pressure monitoring system and a tire repair kit.
Both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performed crash tests on the smart fortwo. The IIHS gave the smart fortwo coup? a ?good? (highest possible rating) for Frontal Offset Crash and Side Crash. NHTSA gave the smart fortwo 5 stars (out of a possible 5 stars) for side impact protection.
Environmentally Friendly
In 2008, Natural Resources Canada awarded the smart fortwo an ecoENERGY for Vehicles award for being the most fuel efficient vehicle in the two-seater category, and the BRABUS model maintains smart?s commitment to the environment with excellent fuel economy and low vehicle emissions.
The ecology of the smart fortwo extends into its component materials and the manufacturing processes used to produce it. Up to ninety-five percent of the vehicle is recyclable, and the dash material is made from recycled synthetics. In addition, the ?smartville? factory in France, where the vehicle is produced, is one of the most modern and environmentally friendly plants in the world.
The 2009 smart fortwo BRABUS coup? starts at $21,900, and the BRABUS cabriolet starts at $24,900.
