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[cecil]

Happy new year all. We  even have a new Brabus to look forward to ..


https://www.netcarshow.com/brabus/2017-smart_forfour/

[CrazyG]

And just look at the 'sporty' performance figures 

"rated power and maximum torque have been increased by 5 kW and 23 Nm, respectively, to 80 kW/109 hp at 5750 rpm and 170 Nm at 2000 rpm. The result is a correspondingly sporty level of performance, with the smart BRABUS fortwo accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds, while the smart BRABUS forfour boasts a top speed of up to 180 km/h."

Wow....80Kw...170Nm and 109hp...hmmm 
And 9.5 secs to 100km/h.....smokin...... 
And 'up to' 180km/h.....  downhill with a tail wind eh
But hang on a minute....only the last figure is for the ForFour   
All the previous figures are for the ForTwo !
So ...as the ForFour is all metal then it'll be heavier than
the ForTwo...so not as good then   

Awesome    when one considers the old Gen.1 Brab was
130Kw....230NM...177hp.....and a max of 221km/h (claimed).

I'm sure the Gen.2 Brab ForFour will find some wealthy cash ladened
admirers/followers who want a 'fashionable' warm hatchback...
but it'll never be a hot hatch like the Gen.1

[mr singh]

i have to say the gen 2 forfour looks better than the new fortwo... BUT our forfour is better in every way...

my SB3 is more of a hot hatch than the claimed figures of the new brabus fortwo/forfour

[cecil]

http://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/forfour-hatchback/first-drive

So according to the review the Brabus name stands for individualization as much as it does high performance. 

[Big Brab]

Looks like Brabus got really LAZY on the MK2 Or they didn't have the funds to go all out like they did on the Mk1. This is NOT a hot hatch by far, many stock cars will put the Mk2 to shame very embarrassing of Smart to allow Brabus to put their stamp on it and even if they did a all out twin turbo , supercharged version,  I still think it's ugly but might be worth a engine transplant    .
 Sorry a little off track from Happy new year lol.

[Ocracoke]

I seem to recall a conversation on another forum about the DCT gearbox (the Brabus versions in the 453 series are all DCT only this time around) not being able to cope with very much more power from the engine.

[Problemchild]

you are forgetting this isn't really a new forfour, its a stretched fortwo

so while in the old days smart took a mitsubishi chassis and made it a smart, this time thy have worked with renault to create 3 very similar vehicles (twingo, forfour, fortwo)

so you can only compare the brabus forfour with the old brabus fortwo (which it seemingly does well against)

JJ

[mr singh]

i have to agree with you JJ, that the new forfour is a stretched fortwo... but so is the new XF, its a stretched XE and the F Pace is an XE on stilts with heavy duty suspension components, the Jetta is a Golf with a boot, the S40 is a Focus. manufactures are looking at ways to cut costs and if it means keeping the same floor pan and body but stretching it at a certain point means that costs are cheaper cos they dont have to develop a brand new chassis/floor for a new vehicle.

as for the comparison with the new brabus forfour and the old fortwo is a valid point BUT owners wont see it as that. they will see the badge reading forfour and compare it to our forfour and the same with the fortwo, although that would be a better comparison as they are both 2 seater city cars

[Big Brab]

Both very good points from both of you,  it would of been nice if Smart and Brabus tried a little harder on the performance side of it. It might of helped with sales someone looking for a extra special city car With the Brabus stamp.

[Big Brab]

Look at this on eBay  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182412466797
Just under 18k
What a joke for a two seater people must be mad to spend this amount of cash one .

[mr singh]

Thats what people though about the gen 1 brab

[CrazyG]

you are forgetting this isn't really a new forfour, its a stretched fortwo
......

Errrr....wrong...
The 453 ForTwo uses a cut down Twingo floor pan.

The Twingo and the 453 ForFour use the same 'standard' chassis.

As per the previous generation 454 ForFour/Mitsubishi Colt; which were
built on the same production line; the 453 ForTwo + ForFour and Renault
Twingo are built on a joint production line in one factory.

The Twingo was planned and ready to be put into production in Renault's
own factory before the co-operation with Smart came along.
Smart had always wanted a replacement for the 451 ForTwo to be released
before any new ForFour.
As it transpires, Renault and Smart got together and co-operated on a
joint model venture using the chassis of the new Twingo as the basis
for 3 cars....the Twingo the 453 ForTwo + the 453 ForFour, built at a
single production plant.
It was originally planned that the Twingo and the new 453 ForTwo
would be released simultaneiously, but Smart threw a spanner in the
works when they felt the need to remodel the front of the ForTwo and
the ForFour after the Press got hold of and released pre-launch pictures
of it.   Vanity or what !  And I for one think it looks worse because of that.

The length of the delay was unacceptable to Renault and they launched
their Twingo before the 're-faced' 453 ForTwo was ready.

But enough on that...I've digressed from the original thread too much....
so let's get back on topic, yes ?   Or maybe not.....?

[Problemchild]

potato potato

why did renault go totally against all their other model ranges (clio v6 or 5 turbo2 doesn't count) and put the engine in the back then?

only the daimler input would have pushed the engine back their surely

the twingo is a MUCH nicer looking car

p.s. i split the topic so the original topic IS about the new forfour haha

JJ

[lil.smartie]

As JJ says, MB chassis, Renault engine & manual box, MB DCT....

And fortwo still Hambach built like 450/451/452 & the forfour built in Renault factory (which is why we can't get that gorgeous red on the 2 seater.. renault colour )

The 90hp forfour is slower but better handling than the 90hp fortwo. Our forfour is mapped to over 120hp now though!

[CrazyG]

Nice one, and good to know lil.smartie.....
wouldn't mind a try of it one day maybe.

Was wondering, as the 'sports' suspension né Brabus suspension
set-up still leaves a lot to be desired in the lowerin stakes
(as in there's still too much gap between the body n tyre), do
you know or are you aware if anyone intends to bring out a
coilover set-up for the 453 ForFour (like a new B14 type)...
to really drop the ride height and make it look and handle even
better maybe ?