Typically reserved for AMG Mercedes, Brabus turns tuning prowess to 2016 Smart Fortwo

By Stephen Edelstein Published July 24, 2014

The recently-revealed 2016 Smart Fortwo may be more spacious and efficient than its predecessor, but it isn’t any more macho.

Perennial Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus plans to fix that. The company has upgraded virtually everything in the Daimler portfolio, including previous Smart cars, and it’s prepared to work its magic on the new Fortwo.

Recommended Videos

According to Auto Express, Brabus will tune the optional 898-cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine to produce more than 110 horsepower, a significant improvement over the stock version’s 90 hp.

While that’s not really enough for bar boasting, it should give the tiny Smart plenty of pep, especially when paired with the available five-speed manual transmission. You can’t get a clutch on an AMG Mercedes, after all.

Speaking of AMG, Mercedes’ in-house tuner won’t be involved in the Smart project at all. That was the case with previous Smart performance models, all of which were built by Brabus.

While AMG recently took the bold step of tuning a compact, front-wheel drive platform with the CLA45 AMG and GLA45 AMG, working on a Smart might be too much of a stretch anyway.

The Smart Fortwo will always be an acquired taste, but Brabus should be up to the task of giving it more attitude.

In addition to a boost in power, the company’s typical aesthetic upgrades should help. Expect bigger wheels, a body kit and, hopefully, a less-cheery coat of black paint.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Eaton, Treehouse to boost home capacity for EV charging, energy storage

eaton treehouse ev charging news releases

Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

Cars

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and EVs offer big incentives as year nears its end

chrysler dodge jeep ev incentives record my24 hybrid gallery 04 exterior desktop jpg image 1440

It’s no secret that automakers and dealerships typically climb over each other to offer the best incentives before the year ends. But this year’s sales season is expected to be particularly competitive, with slowing sales translating to greater urgency to clear inventory.

According to research from Kelley Blue Book, the respected vehicle-valuation firm, overall incentives on new vehicle sales were up by 60% in October compared to the previous year.

Cars

Jeep, Ram EREVs will get 690-mile range with new Stellantis platform

A 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger sits in a vineyard.

Stellantis, the giant automotive group, is betting big on extending the range of both its hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs).

Last month, the company, which owns the Jeep, Dodge, and Ram brands in the U.S., invested nearly $30 million into an advanced wind tunnel at its research center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The goal is to study airflow around a vehicle’s wheels and tires to further optimize its EVs and boost their range.