**Smart Roadster**

[alex_gt]

Looks like another concept? (That should be scrapped or produced depending on your opinion?) But it is infact confirmed to be hitting the showrooms for April :rscared:

But would you honestly buy one? :2cents: It's know orsche: as far as Roadsters go, but what are your thoughts? 💡

SMART ROADSTER

Coupe/Roadster thing hits the streets in April

April 2003 will see the launch of the much-awaited Smart 'Roadster-Coupe'. Whilst it may not excite die-hard sportscar fans, it's a significant development that will see plenty of these compact sports cars on the roads in the years to come. With their success we may see further innovations in the sector.

The car will come with around turbo charged three cylinder engine chucking out around 80 horsepower - not a lot in absolute terms - but the car will only weigh 790kg.

Smart promise direct handling, excellent cornering ability and yet still good comfort levels. The smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé are equipped with ESP (electronic stability program) as standard.

With a roof system consisting of a soft top and a hardtop which can be used together or alternatively, the smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé offer their owners good choice of open-air driving versus roof-on snugness. As well as a two-piece removable plastic hardtop that can be stowed and transported in the rear luggage compartment, an electrically operated folding soft top is available as an option for both the smart roadster and the smart roadster-coupé. This can be fully opened and closed even when driving at top speed.

The launch of the smart roadster and smart roadster-coupé next year is a first step towards extending the smart product range and also the brand itself. Expect to see more innovation - and even if you don't like the cars, it's worth recognising that the new ideas being introduced will certainly give other mainstream manufacturers a kick up the backside.

 

[Hooligan]

Sounds like a prime candidate for a rotary implant.

Other than the fact that it's seriously underpowered, It's a cute little bugger. I'm not a big fan of the two-tone design, but if you can get it all in silver.... Expressive, unique, but I don't think I'd buy one. It just feels too much like a plastic-covered motorbike.

 

[SaleenASL]

i think its cool that they are producing it....but i wouldnt buy one yet. there are far too many other cars i would want before it.

 

[vat_man]

Well, it's more cohesive than the Z4...

I'm not a big fan of each light having its own individual housing (my Liberty/Legacy has a similar fog light treatment in the front air dam - I don't much care for it), I personally think a well designed integrated headlight (or even separated from the high beam unit, such as the new E-Class) is much better looking - and would probably have worked better with that u-shaped plastic insert thing on the front.

I like the bulging wheel guards (kinda remind me of the Corvette Stingray) and the side vent though.

 

[Dudebusta]

BMW and TVR have been in bed together...

 

[bigwhlkid]

plastic "look" cars are extremely ugly.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Nice, a car smaller than a SLK (primarily a corporate parent DaimlerChrysler). Too bad it won't be arriving here in the US, thats why I didn't vote. But with the looks of it it could possibly land here.

The original Smart was test drove here in the US, it was featured in a British car magazine.